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Song Stories

“Wish You Were Here”

Pink Floyd | 1975

The tragic downfall of Syd Barrett following the former Pink Floyd guitarist's descent into drug-induced madness haunts the band’s 1975 album Wish You Were Here. Written by Roger Waters and David Gilmour, the title track is an ode to their fallen comrade. Eerily, Barrett showed up out of the blue at Abbey Road Studios during the recording of this song in such rough shape that no one recognized him at first. “He stood up and said, ‘Right, when do I put my guitar on?’” keyboardist Rick Wright told Rolling Stone. “And we said, ‘Sorry, Syd, the guitar’s all done.’”

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Song Stories

“My President”

Young Jeezy | 2008

Young Jeezy teams up with Nas on this track, in which he compare his own success with the idea of an African-American winning the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2008 presidential election. "When I pulled up in my car, that s--- was unbelievable to people in my neighborhood because they were like, 'We grew up with him. How the hell did he accomplish this?'" he told Rolling Stone. "I feel like it was the same way with Obama. I grew up all this time, but I've never seen a black man this close to running this country."

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