Lyric discussion by killingFloor 

Don't try to find out a metaphore in every line or word of the lyrics. this song is dedicated to syd barrett. this was said by the group members in more than one interview. somebody like to say (and perhaps is ture) that barret came in the studios during the recording of this song. two months ago i've seen a concert of Waters: while the band played this song, behind them the megascreen over the stage was showing pictures of barrett and the first pink floyd. i've interpreted this as a sort of celebration of the utter genius (in this i agree with FelixCloud) and the days gone by... it's true that Water had to kick him out of the band, but in my point of view "kick out" is a bit negative.

One think as a not-english-speaker i'd like to know: how do explain the title? i mean: is it imperative, conjunctive or what? "you" and "crazy diamond" are both subjects or objects or what? thanx to whom answer. bye

I'm not a native English speaker either, but I disagree with the reply above, by vozzy. We, the people, bla bla bla" is one kind of construction, in which "the people" explains to whom the term "we' refers."You crazy diamond" is a vocative, which is a word or phrase used to address a reader or listener directly. This "you" is just a way of calling a person by one of their characteristics. Like; "Stop it, you jerk!" Or "Come over here, you pretty girl". It took me a while to understand this kind of phrase, as in Portuguese, we use...

As a brazilian, I totally understand what Veronica said. I think the title is just a very gentle way of letting someone go, but at the same time, understanding the greatness and the importance of the one your are separating from your life. Like you are being mad at someone, but in a more gentle way! And the whole 12 years thing, that is far away from being a problem! :D

@killingFloor About your last paragraph when you ask about how to analyze the title, "shine on" is imperative, kind of like "keep going". "You crazy diamond" is different from "crazy diamond" because the "you" makes it definite and signals that the speaker is speaking to the "crazy diamond". HTH, even though it's pretty much what Veronica said.

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