Shine On You Crazy Diamond

Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom,
blown on the steel breeze.
Come on you target for faraway laughter,
come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision,
rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!

[Shine On You Crazy Diamond (I-V)]



"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is a nine-part Pink Floyd composition with lyrics written by Roger Waters and music written by Waters, Richard Wright, and David Gilmour. It was first perfomed on their 1974 tour. It was recorded for the 1975 album Wish You Were Here.



The composition is a tribute to former band member Syd Barrett. Lyrics show strong appreciation for the contributions Barrett made to the band. The song's title also echoes Syd's name: Shine on You crazy Diamond.

Syd Barrett, the psychedelic pioneer, was Pink Floyd's original frontman in the early years. Barrett was a guitarist, singer and lyricist with Pink Floyd at its inception in 1965 and was recognised as a psychedelic musical innovator and important songwriting talent.

But his onstage behaviour became increasingly erratic as his LSD consumption compounded deep-rooted mental difficulties. He disappeared from the public eye, giving his last interview in 1971 and living quietly at his Cambridge home untill his death.

Syd leaves an extraordinary legacy that still rings strongly through popular music and likely always will. The Madcap still laughs...only in a different oz.

In the song "Dark Globe" he asks...

Won't you miss me?
Wouldn't you miss me at all?"

The answer to that is undoubtebly yes. Yes, we will miss you Syd.

Click here to download the song (REM cover)