Roger Waters was the main lyricist for the classic British rock band Pink Floyd. He, along with Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, formed the band in 1965 and released their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn in 1967. In 1968, Syd Barrett was replaced by guitarist/singer David Gilmour. He and Gilmour were the main creative forces behind the albums Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, and Wish You Were Here; Waters eventually became the primary songwriter, being the driving force behind Animals, and The Wall as well as the sole songwriter of The Final Cut. Waters became well-known for being an intense perfectionist and his controlling nature alienated the rest of the band. The Final Cut, released in 1983, was essentially a Roger Waters solo album "performed by Pink Floyd" as the credits stated. This would be the group's last album with Waters. David Gilmour decided to carry on with Pink Floyd and Waters, believing that Pink Floyd was a "non-entity" without him, sued the rest of the band to retire the Pink Floyd name. His lawsuit ultimately failed, and Pink Floyd released three more studio albums and two double live albums, without him.
The feud between David Gilmour and Roger Waters lasted for decades, and it wasn't until Live 8 in 2005 that they finally decided to set their differences aside and perform a brief set for the charity gig. This would be the last time that Pink Floyd would ever perform together in their "classic" lineup. Shortly after the show, there was much speculation that Pink Floyd would get back together for a full reunion tour, but Gilmour ultimately nixed the idea, stating that although the Live 8 gig was fun, the rehearsals were not.
Much to everyone's surprise, Gilmour and Waters reunited once again on July 11, 2010 for a charity performance for “The Hoping Foundation,” an organization that supports Palestinian refugee kids. At Ronnie Scott’s club in London, the duo performed four songs together: “To Know Him Is to Love Him” (a cover of the old Teddy Bear’s song), “Wish You Were Here,” “Comfortably Numb,” and finally (after a special request) “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2.” Once again, just like after the Live 8 Reunion, speculation began regarding future reunions. No official Pink Floyd reunion has yet been set, but Gilmour did promise that he would join Roger Waters for one show on his 2010-11 “The Wall” tour, performing “Comfortably Numb.” Gilmour fulfilled his promise on May 14, 2011 in London.
Waters has so far released the following solo albums:
* Music from The Body soundtrack with Ron Geesin(1970)
* The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (1984)
* When the Wind Blows soundtrack with contributions from other artists as well (1986)
* Radio K.A.O.S. (1987)
* The Wall: Live in Berlin (1990)
* Amused to Death (1992)
* In the Flesh live (2000)
* Flickering Flame: The Solo Years, Vol. 1 (2003)
* Ça Ira (Opera) (2005)
*Is This the Life We Really Want? (2017)
*Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale (2018)
*The Lockdown Sessions (2022)
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Roger Waters 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 of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Roger Waters are most commonly interpreted as a tribute to Syd Barrett, the original lead singer of Pink Floyd, who was a close friend and founding member of the band but left after numerous mental health issues. In the first verse, the lyrics reminisce about a younger version of the subject, who once shone like the sun but is now haunted by a look in their eyes like "black holes in the sky". This imagery suggests a sense of darkness and emptiness that has overtaken the person, possibly as a result of their experiences in the music industry or mental health struggles.
The chorus "Shine on you crazy diamond" is a sign of admiration and encouragement to the person in question, despite their difficulties. The second verse references the challenges of being a child star and then reaching for fame too quickly, implying that this contributed to the person's downfall. The line "You cried for the moon" suggests a sense of unattainable longing or desire for something beyond reach. The chorus is repeated, followed by a reference to being threatened by shadows at night and exposed in the light, possibly indicating a sense of vulnerability or paranoia.
The final verse mentions wearing out one's welcome with "random precision" and the image of riding on a steel breeze, both of which suggest a struggle to maintain control over one's life. The lines "Come on you raver, you seer of visions / Come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!" could be interpreted as a call to embrace one's artistic or creative spirit despite the struggles, or a nod to the various roles the person has played in their life. Overall, the lyrics of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" portray a mixture of admiration, nostalgia, and concern for the person in question.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when you were young
Think back to your youth
You shone like the sun
You had a bright, radiant energy
Shine on you crazy diamond
Keep being bright and eccentric
Now there's a look in your eyes
You seem troubled
Like black holes in the sky
Your gaze conveys deep darkness
Shine on you crazy diamond
Don't let that trouble dim your unique light
You were caught in the crossfire of childhood and stardom
You had to navigate growing up while in the public eye
Blown on the steel breeze
Life has taken you for a ride
Come on you target for faraway laughter
People have ridiculed you from afar
Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
But keep being the enigmatic figure you are
You reached for the secret too soon
You yearned for understanding before you were ready
You cried for the moon
Your desires were lofty and perhaps unrealistic
Shine on you crazy diamond
Keep reaching for the stars
Threatened by shadows at night
You're tormented by demons within
And exposed in the light
Your flaws are made glaringly apparent
Shine on you crazy diamond
But don't let that dim your brilliant eccentricity
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision
There are those who don't accept you anymore
Rode on the steel breeze
You navigate life's challenges with grace
Come on you raver, you seer of visions
Maintain your visionary outlook
Come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!
Keep creating and inspiring others, even in the face of adversity
Contributed by Riley K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jake B
Please... you can't just disregard Waters' lyrical and compositional genius. Pink Floyd without either Gilmour or Waters isn't Pink Floyd.
Inkedvillan80
Doyle is the man...great homage to SRV in this one...my favorite moments of the whole show
spongebot64
Honestly, I like this more upbeat version, even if it's not as close to the original solos by David Gilmour. And besides, I'm sure Pink Floyd was renown for experimentation/improv in their performances, so letting Doyle express his playing just feels like a fresh interpretation of the song
Wednesday Addams
Pelo amor de Deus...Isso é muita perfeição em forma de música!!! Roger Waters Forever! Pink Floyd forever!!!! Rock'n Roll forever!!!!!!
superbacana
Bramhall é o cara na guita solo ... muito bom mesmo ... um dos melhores ...
C Drane
The first time I heard this song was in the car, no video... and when the first solo broke out I almost pulled over in disbelief - "When did Stevie Ray Vaughan play with Roger Waters???" I couldn't believe it. Sure enough, it was Doyle, who's mentor was Stevie. They were very close. This is, quite obviously, Roger allowing Doyle to express his own "wish you were here" to SRV - the imitation is dead on. So, to all the haters, there are plenty of straighter versions, truer to he original. Let this one be appreciated for what it is, a tribute to both Syd and Stevie.
João Silva silva
Syd Barrett É uma pessoa especial, uma Mente Brilhante, um Génio pelo que introduziu na musica Rock mas também no próprio concerto, como por exemplo as luzes psicadelicas que hoje vemos em concertos de diversos estilos mas tambem nas discotecas por exemplo, introduziu tambem os lazlings que são colunas de som cujos autifalantes são giratórios o que provoca uma sensação , eu diria: "estereo espacial" Syd : I MISS YOU
Octavio Lopez Sr.
I just went to Roger Waters concert (2022) and it is palpable the love and pain he still feels for Syd. I admire how Mr. Waters turned his pain into many (many) master pieces. There is no Pink floyd without Waters, there is no Pink floyd without Gilmore.
BullhornGuy
Doyle is such a monster! My son and I have great seats to the first US Wall show in Chicago...hope Doyle is playing.
daniscorona
the only bad thing about this, is that its not the complete version :( but its incredible