"Hey You" by Pink Floyd

Hear the desperate plea in Pink Floyd's "Hey You," a powerful progressive rock anthem from The Wall. This haunting track captures the moment of realization and regret from behind a wall of isolation. Experience Pink Floyd's masterful portrayal of alienation and the yearning for connection.

As a crucial piece on Pink Floyd’s 1979 progressive rock epic The Wall, "Hey You" marks a significant turning point in the conceptual narrative. Written by Roger Waters, it powerfully conveys the protagonist Pink's despair after completing his metaphorical wall. This rock track showcases the band's ability to blend intimate acoustic sections with powerful, full-band moments to drive the story's emotional arc within the album's ambitious progressive structure.

"Hey You" exemplifies Pink Floyd's signature progressive rock sound, featuring atmospheric production, dynamic shifts between acoustic vulnerability and electric intensity, and poignant lyricism. The track is also notable for a characteristically emotive guitar solo by David Gilmour. Its sophisticated arrangement and thematic depth make it a standout rock composition, demonstrating Pink Floyd’s skill in crafting musically rich songs that also serve a powerful narrative purpose within their larger works.

SONG MEANING: "Hey You" expresses the profound isolation and regret felt by Pink, the protagonist of The Wall, after he has completely shut himself off from the world. It's a desperate cry for help and connection from behind the metaphorical wall he built. The lyrics convey his realization that his self-imposed isolation is a trap ("Hey you, out there on your own... can you help me?") and his dawning despair.