Syd Barrett died recently. I can't really describe myself as a 'big fan', just because I am not really an aficianado. My acquaintance is relatively shallow. However, I did notice the news with some interest and sadness, and I do like his music. Strangely, Mr Wu lent me a copy of The Madcap Laughs only the other day, with the David Bowie album that he also lent me. (David Bowie was a Syd fan, too, and covered the wonderful track, See Emily Play.)
On the train home from work today, I overheard an American gentleman telling his son (?) about Syd Barrett. "Do you know who Syd Barrett is? He's the first member of Pink Floyd. No, he's not in the band now. He hasn't been with them for years."
His son seemed to know a little. I heard him ask something like, "So, why did he go crazy?"
The man gave his son the newspaper and let him read the article.
I believe that the Pink Floyd song Shine on You Crazy Diamond was about Syd, and recently Roger Waters dedicated a rendition of Wish You Were Here to him, too.
I reproduce the lyrics of those two songs here in memory of Syd, whom I never knew:
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!
Wish You Were Here
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here.