Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I - V)

Don't try to find out a metaphore in every line or word of the lyrics. this song is dedicated to syd barrett. this was said by the group members in more than one interview. somebody like to say (and perhaps is ture) that barret came in the studios during the recording of this song. two months ago i've seen a concert of Waters: while the band played this song, behind them the megascreen over the stage was showing pictures of barrett and the first pink floyd. i've interpreted this as a sort of celebration of the utter genius (in this i agree with FelixCloud) and the days gone by... it's true that Water had to kick him out of the band, but in my point of view "kick out" is a bit negative. One think as a not-english-speaker i'd like to know: how do explain the title? i mean: is it imperative, conjunctive or what? "you" and "crazy diamond" are both subjects or objects or what? thanx to whom answer. bye

It is a biographical song about Roger *Syd* Barrett, written love, respect and honesty.

To Killingfloor: Imagine a comma (,) in the title, like this, "Shine On, You Crazy Diamond." You'll see that the You Crazy Diamond is one construction, the subject of the phrase, as in: "You (Crazy Diamond) Shine On," Or "(You Crazy Diamond) Shine On." Consider the title a command sentence, where the "you" is implied. "You Crazy Diamond" is a similar construction grammatically to "We Three Kings" or "We the People" or "Bob the Builder". These are all one "subject" or noun-phrase. Hoping this helps, vozzy

Ive herd Floyd my whole life. But now is the first time i'm actually listening to them, if thats makes sense.

I am also of the view that this song is about their band member Syd Berrett who left Pink Floyd very early. They are missing him and wanted to say that he (Syd) considered himself as successful very soon and left. But now he is wasting his life , destroying himself... he was a shining like a start but now he is in gloom....

as lots of people said, this song is written for Syd Barrett. I know a lot about Syd, this is my interpretation: Remember when you were young - Waters, Gilmour and Syd were close childhood friends you shone like the sun - Syd was a very bright and smart child Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky - he turned into a psycho because of drug abuse You reached for the secret too soon - Barrett started doing drugs at quite a young age you cried for the moon - i got insane (crying for the moon like a wolf) Threatened by shadows at night - he also had signs of schitzophrenia, which was well fed by all of the drugs and exposed in the light - everyone saw him being high all the time come on you painter - i used to go to an artist collage because he was a well painter you piper - there was a Pink Floyd's album called "the piper at the gates of dawn" while syd was still in the band You prisoner - poor Barrett was a slave to his drug habbit.

Author may have thought it was about Syd, but it's about ego dissolution. In youth we chase approval, then fear the laughter of others rather than delight in it (we learn shame and guilt). "You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon." Let maya unravel at its own pace, don't rush it or you'll get paranoid and fearful. Ego is dissolved by the light. If you get too precise, carried by Blown on the steel breeze. becomes Rode on the steel breeze. We're blown and tossed by life when we try to explain precisely, be clever, or avoid madness, or try to see and interpret visions, express yourself, put your self in prison of conditional love, approval, satisfaction, or peace ego exposed by the light, when we let ego die, we shine.

I totally agree with Floydian. I grew up with Pink Floyd, and I have yet to tire of their music. This is an awesome song and everone should have to listen to it at least once. It's got something for every one. You can listen to country or metal and still like this song. Well.....I dunno bout country, but every thing else you could.

I always thought Piper could also be a reference to "Piper at the Gates of dawn."

"Shine on You Crazy Diamond", the title is a acronym for Syd Barrett, Shine You Diamond. S-Y-D. The whole album is a tribute to him.