So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
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 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
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
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
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
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by nasses321
Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 1-5 Lyrics as written by George Roger Waters David Jon Gilmour
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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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.
If you watch both interviews on Syd from Waters, and Gilmour; you'll hear both mention this song very much is about Syd. Also mentioning influences throughout The Wall.
@machinebor The artist usually knows what a song is about, because (t)he(y) wrote the song.