Cody Jinks’ cover of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” stays mostly true to the original, with the opening distinctive motif creating that airy familiarity that we associate with the song. His “Wish You Were Here,” though, sits comfortably in a country vein. The guitars already have a relatively twangy feeling in the original, so amping that up in the Jinks version seems appropriate. The instrumentation and vocal harmony throughout the song stay very true to the original too.
Considering all of these similarities, what sets this version apart from the original is Jinks’ bass voice, delivering the lyrics in a somber tone. It’s more a lament than the biting tenor of the original.
Of particular note in the intro, however, is Jinks’ omission of the fairly long guitar solo from the Pink Floyd original. It’s an interesting choice given how distinctive and beautiful the guitar work is in that opening sequence. Previous renditions of “Wish You Were Here” opted for the same truncated intro-check out The Milk Carton Kids and their finger picking rendition which contains barely a whisper of the main motif let alone the guitar solo. Perhaps it’s a nod to the shorter attention spans of today, but in making that decision, some of the soul is lost.
It’s a well thought out homage to the original that is worth a listen whether you are a Floyd fan, a country buff, or both.
