And I would have liked to known you,
But I was just a kid
Your life was such a tragedy,
Now you're a star
These lyrics are an homage to Syd Barrett, an English musician, singer, and songwriter who cofounded Pink Floyd. Although, the band achieved critical and commercial success, Barrett struggled with mental health and drug issues, leading him to depart from the band in 1968.
Comfortably Numb captures this sense of regret and missed connection; while the singer yearns to get to know Syd better; he only became acquainted when Syd was already deep in his battles with his own psyche. Barrett passed away in 2006 with his bandmates paying tribute to his significant contributions to their early sound and pioneering psychedelic music that shaped their iconic music style.