‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ is a nine-part Pink Floyd composition written by David Gilmour, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright, which was first performed on Pink Floyd's 1974 French tour and appeared in Pink Floyd's 1975 concept album Wish You Were Here. The song is written about and dedicated to founder member Syd Barrett, who departed from the band in 1968 after dealing with mental problems and substance abuse.
The song, originated from a riff composed by guitarist David Gilmour and later developed by the guitarist himself, bassist Roger Waters and pianist Richard Wright, was conceived and written as a tribute and remembrance to Pink Floyd founder member Syd Barrett. He was replaced by his former school friend David Gilmour, who had initially been brought in as second guitarist. The remaining members of the band felt guilty about having removed him, but although they admired Barrett's creativity, they were concerned about his severe mental decline and felt it had been necessary. ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’ was first performed on Pink Floyd's 1974 French tour and was recorded for their 1975 concept album Wish You Were Here.
Roger Waters sang lead. He recorded the vocal line by line over and over again, and killed his voice in the process. That's why English folk singer Roy Harper was brought in to sing ‘Have A Cigar.’ He was close friend of the band's, as well as Led Zeppelin. On the album Wish You Were Here, this is split into two parts, with ‘Have A Cigar,’ ‘Welcome To The Machine,’ and ‘Wish You Were Here’ in between. It was going to be continuous, but Waters decided it should be split.
On 5 June 1975, Barrett, by this point heavyset, with a completely shaved head and eyebrows, wandered into the studio where the band were recording. They did not recognise him for some time because of his drastically changed appearance, but when they eventually realised who the withdrawn man in the corner was, Roger Waters became so distressed about Barrett's appearance that he was reduced to tears. Someone asked to play the suite again for Barrett and he said a second playback was not needed when they had just heard it. When asked what he thought of the song, Barrett said it sounded a "bit old". He subsequently slipped away during celebrations for Gilmour's wedding to Ginger Hasenbein, which took place later that day. Gilmour confirmed this story, although he could not recall which composition they were working on when Barrett showed up. Mason has also stated that he is not certain whether ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ was the piece being recorded when Barrett was there.
The episode is related by Wright as follows: “Roger was there, and he was sitting at the desk, and I came in and I saw this guy sitting behind him – huge, bald, fat guy. I thought, "He looks a bit... strange..." Anyway, so I sat down with Roger at the desk and we worked for about ten minutes, and this guy kept on getting up and brushing his teeth and then sitting – doing really weird things, but keeping quiet. And I said to Roger, "Who is he?" and Roger said "I don't know." And I said "Well, I assumed he was a friend of yours," and he said "No, I don't know who he is." Anyway, it took me a long time, and then suddenly I realised it was Syd, after maybe 45 minutes. He came in as we were doing the vocals for ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’, which was basically about Syd. He just, for some incredible reason picked the very day that we were doing a song which was about him. And we hadn't seen him, I don't think, for two years before. That's what's so incredibly... weird about this guy. And a bit disturbing, as well, I mean, particularly when you see a guy, that you don't, you couldn't recognise him. And then, for him to pick the very day we want to start putting vocals on, which is a song about him. Very strange.”
Labels – Harvest (UK), Columbia/CBS (US)
Songwriters – David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright
Producers - Pink Floyd
SONG LYRICS
[Part 1 (0:00-3:53): Instrumental][Part 2 (3:53-6:26): Instrumental]
[Part 3 (6:26-8:40): Instrumental]
[Part 4 (8:40-11:08)]
[Verse 1: Roger Waters]
Remember when you were young
You shone like the Sun
[Refrain: Roger Waters & David Gilmour]
Shine on, you crazy diamond
[Verse 2: Roger Waters]
Now there's a look in your eyes
Like black holes in the sky
[Refrain: Roger Waters & David Gilmour]
Shine on, you crazy diamond
[Chorus 1: Roger Waters]
You were caught in 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
[Verse 3: Roger Waters]
You reached for the secret too soon
You cried for the Moon
[Refrain: Roger Waters & David Gilmour]
Shine on, you crazy diamond
[Verse 4: Roger Waters]
Threatenеd by shadows at night
And exposed in the light
[Refrain: Roger Waters & David Gilmour]
Shinе on (Shine on), you crazy diamond (You crazy diamond)
[Chorus 2: Roger Waters]
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
[Part 5 (11:08-13:31): Instrumental]
[Part 6 (0:00 - 4:38): Instrumental]
[Part 7 (4:38 - 6:02)]
[Verse 5: Roger Waters]
Nobody knows where you are
How near or how far
[Refrain: Roger Waters & David Gilmour]
Shine on, you crazy diamond
[Verse 6: Roger Waters]
Pile on many more layers
And I'll be joining you there
[Refrain: Roger Waters & David Gilmour]
Shine on, you crazy diamond
[Chorus 3: Roger Waters]
And we'll bask in the shadow of yesterday's triumph
And sail on the steel breeze
Come on, you boy child, you winner and loser
Come on, you miner for truth and delusion, and shine!
[Part 8 (6:02 - 9:00): Instrumental]
[Part 9 (9:00 - 12:27): Instrumental]