Pink Floyd were founded in 1965 by Syd Barrett (guitar, lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). Under Barrett's leadership, they released two charting singles and the successful debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health. Waters became the primary lyricist and thematic leader, devising the concepts behind the band's peak success with the albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977) and The Wall (1979). The musical film based on The Wall, Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982), won two BAFTA Awards. Pink Floyd also composed several film scores.
Following personal tensions, Wright left Pink Floyd in 1979, followed by Waters in 1985. Gilmour and Mason continued as Pink Floyd, rejoined later by Wright. They produced two more albums—A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994)—and toured in support of both before entering a long hiatus. In 2005, all but Barrett reunited for a one-off performance at the global awareness event Live 8. Barrett died in 2006, and Wright in 2008. The last Pink Floyd studio album, The Endless River (2014), was based on unreleased material from the Division Bell recording sessions. In 2022, Gilmour and Mason reformed Pink Floyd to release the song "Hey, Hey, Rise Up!" in protest of the Russo-Ukrainian War.
By 2013, Pink Floyd had sold more than 250 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and these albums and Wish You Were Here are among the best-selling albums of all time. Four Pink Floyd albums topped the US Billboard 200, and five topped the UK Album Chart. Pink Floyd's hit singles include "See Emily Play" (1967), "Money" (1973), "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" (1979), "Not Now John" (1983), "On the Turning Away" (1987) and "High Hopes" (1994). They were inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, Pink Floyd were awarded the Polar Music Prize in Sweden for their contribution to modern music.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd
Studio albums
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
More (1969)
Ummagumma (1969)
Atom Heart Mother (1970)
Meddle (1971)
Obscured by Clouds (1972)
The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Wish You Were Here (1975)
Animals (1977)
The Wall (1979)
The Final Cut (1983)
A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
The Division Bell (1994)
The Endless River (2014)
Shine on You Crazy Diamondtrack=1
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 in the crossfire of childhood and stardom
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
The lyrics to Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" are deep and profound, telling a story of a once shiny and bright star that has lost its shine and fallen into darkness. The song begins by reminiscing about a time when the subject was young and full of life, shone like the sun and was full of potential, but now is a mere shadow of their former self. The phrase "Like black holes in the sky" is both visually striking and metaphorically significant, suggesting that whatever pain the subject is experiencing is vast and all-consuming. The song goes on to acknowledge that the subject has struggled with finding a balance between the pressures of childhood stardom, and the scrutiny that comes along with it.
The second verse delves further into the struggles of the subject, this time painting a picture of somebody who has been worn down and exposed in the harsh light of the world. The lyrics suggest that the subject has pushed themselves too hard, yearning for things that were beyond their reach, and succumbed to the darkness that surrounds them. The final verse is a call to action, asking the subject to regain their strength and shine once again. It acknowledges the valuable contributions the subject has made to the world, be it through art, music, or some other form of creative expression, and urges them not to let their light go out.
Overall, "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" can be interpreted as a song about mental health struggles, creative burnout, or the danger of pushing oneself too hard. It's a beautifully melancholic piece about the fragility of life, the weight of expectation, and the importance of perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when you were young
Think back on when you were a child and had a bright future ahead of you.
You shone like the sun
You were talented and full of potential.
Shine on, you crazy diamond
Despite your struggles, don't give up on your dreams and your brilliance.
Now there's a look in your eyes
You can see the wear and tear that life has had on you.
Like black holes in the sky
The darkness that you've experienced in life is reflected in your eyes.
You were caught in the crossfire of childhood and stardom
Being in the public eye from a young age has had a profound impact on your life.
Blown on the steel breeze
The winds of life have taken you to many different places and have been both challenging and exhilarating.
Come on, you target for faraway laughter
You've been the object of ridicule and scrutiny, but don't let that stop you from pursuing your passions and goals.
Come on, you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine
Be proud of who you are and all that you've accomplished, even in the face of adversity.
You reached for the secret too soon
You tried to find the answers to life's big questions before you were ready.
You cried for the moon
You had unrealistic expectations and desires.
Threatened by shadows at night
The uncertainty and fear that come with the darkness of the night have weighed heavily on you.
And exposed in the light
In the daylight, your flaws and insecurities are made visible.
Well, you wore out your welcome with random precision
You've outstayed your welcome in certain parts of your life, sometimes without even realizing it.
Rode on the steel breeze
You've been carried along by the winds of change, sometimes with little control over where you end up.
Come on, you raver, you seer of visions
Embrace your wild side and let your imagination lead you to new heights.
Come on, you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine
Don't let anything or anyone hold you back from showing the world what you're capable of.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: David Jon Gilmour, George Roger Waters, Richard William Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K'du PROD
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
anonymous
7:15
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
Litigation Tips
Great work. This song is teaching me to properly bend. Thank you for creating such a high quality recording, with tab.
Uncle Boobs
I second this
R.L. Jeffries
Hell yeah, I hope it's going well for you. Hitting perfect bends is elevating.
Jake D
Teaches you feel as well. Play this note for note without deviation, and you just sound robotic.
kk
Yup, it also teaches vibrato as well. Perfect song for learning both techniques.
Jose Churruca
Thank you! :-)
Matthias J. Maly-Persy
wow this is the first tab in 30 years of playing guitar i can read and play along to the song … thank you mr. floyd for the realy slow hand licks
Jose Churruca
Thank you! :-)
Kim Albrecht
Absolutely outstanding work Jose. Just what I needed. Thank you very much
Jose Churruca
Thank you Kim!