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!

Syd Barret
Founder member Pink Floyd...Born January 6, 1946 Died July 7 2006

An eccentric genius. He was the Pink Floyd frontman and lead guitarist...
He made just one album with the Floyd. But that stands out as a brilliant composition, Pipers at the Dawn.
He is remembered not just for his compositions but the profound impact he had on his fellow band mates...especially his childhood friend Roger Waters...
Syd fell into the influence of LSD. The LSD overabuse led to his mental disintegration. It is said to have triggered some inherent mental disease.
His performance started dippind in stage shows and eventually he was replaced by his friend Dave Gilmour.
Syd then went on a break and started painting in his sparetime.
He did make a couple of solo albums which are pretty good. (I have just listened to one of them called Barrett, the first one was The Madcap Laughter)
But after 1972 he completely went on a recluse and faded out of picture...
His legacy was too big to fade though...

I became interested in Barrett after reading about an incident during the making of the album Wish you were here.

The album itself is a sort of tribute to Syd Barrett and the old comraderie in the band, which was now lost.
During the recording of the song Shine on You crazy Diamond. (S Y D!), a fully shaved obese man appeared in the studio.
No one recognised him, but suddenly they realised it was the mad Syd who somehow came in there. No contact for 7 years and he shows up when his song was to be recorded.
He looked very lost and started jumping up and down brushing his teeth. Seeing this Roger Waters burst into tears.
They sang the song for him and he left after that. No contact again...

This had a great impact on me...I felt a sharp sting in my heart due to this...

Syd Barrett lived his parents home along with his sister. He disliked any contact from his past. He is said to have died from complications arising due to Diabetes.

His songs had a vivid imagery...a poetic painting...simple words with a childlike quality in them...
Check out the lyrics of his song...
See Emily Play

Emily tries but misunderstands, ah ooh
She often inclined to borrow somebody's dreams till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play
Soon after dark Emily cries, ah ooh
Gazing through trees in sorrow hardly a sound till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play
Put on a gown that touches the ground, ah ooh
Float on a river forever and ever, Emily
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play

Bike (this is absolutely a childish delight!)

I've got a bike, you can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings
And things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, everything if you want things.

I've got a cloak it's a bit of a joke.
There's a tear up the front. It's red and black.
I've had it for months.
If you think it could look good, then I guess it should.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, everything if you want things.

I know a mouse, and he hasn't got a house.
I don't know why I call him Gerald.
He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, everything if you want things.

I've got a clan of gingerbread men.
Here a man, there a man, lots of gingerbread men.
Take a couple if you wish. They're on the dish.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, everything if you want things.

I know a room full of musical tunes.
Some rhyme, some ching, most of them are clockwork.
Let's go into the other room and make them work.