| Wish You Were Here |
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| 1- Sine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I, II, III, IV & V) Written by: Gilmour, Waters, Wright Running Time: 13:40 Other Versions: P*U*L*S*E, In The Flesh RANKING (w/parts VI-IX): #3 ******** Comments: This is without a doubt, one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. Part I starts off with an easy, slow melody, then part II comes in with a few notes played in a succession more rapidly every time, and finally the drums come in, and an awesome rhythm takes over. A new melody comes in over the existing one on part III, and finally, the lyrics begin on part IV. These are painfully beautiful lyrics, with so much meaning and emotion packed behind them, it's hard to describe. After the second verse, the saxophone quickly takes over through part V and the fade-out. This long and beautiful song is continued later on the last track, with even more intense emotion. Lyrics: 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 far away 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 |
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| 2- Welcome To The Machine Written by: Waters Running Time: 7:31 Other Versions: In The Flesh Rating: ***** Comments: This is actually the weakest song on the CD, but it's still incredibly good. The opening is filled with machinery sound effects, and these continue throughout the song, which features heavy bass playing, and light guitar strumming. The lyrics have a simple, yet powerful meaning, and the music reinforces that power. Lyrics: welcome, my son welcome to the machine where have you been? it's alright, we know where you've been you've been in the pipeline, filling in time provided with toys and scouting for boys you bought a guitar to punish your ma you didn't like school, and you know you're nobody's fool so welcome to the machine welcome, my son welcome to the machine what did you dream? it's alright, we told you what to dream you dreamed of a big star, he played a mean guitar always ate in the steak bar, loved to drive in his jaguar so welcome to the machine |
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| 3- Have A Cigar Written by: Waters Running Time: 5:08 Rating: ***** Comments: This is an awesome song. It's got an excellent rhythm, strong music, and comedic lyrics. It's a welcome break from the dark, pessimistic previous track (not that there's anything wrong with pessimism). It's sung by Roy Harper, a man who just happened to be in the same studio at the time of recording, and he does a fine job of singing it. Lyrics: come in here, dear boy, have a cigar you're gonna go far you're gonna fly high you're never gonna die you're gonna make it if you try they're gonna love you well, i've always had a deep respect i mean that most sincerely the band is just fantastic, that is really what i think oh, by the way, which one's pink? and did we tell you the name of the game, boy? we call it riding the gravy train we're just knocked out we heard about the sell-out you've gotta get an album out you owe it to the people we're so happy we can hardly count everybody else is just green have you seen the chart? it's a hell of a start it could be made into a monster if we all pull together as a team and did we tell you the name of the game, boy? we call it riding the gravy train |
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| 4- Wish You Were Here Written by: Waters, Gilmour Running Time: 5:34 Other Versions: P*U*L*S*E, In The Flesh RANKING #10 ******* Comments: After an incredible transition in which "Have A Cigar" seems to blow out and come through a radio speaker, the station is changed a few times until the melody to "Wish You Were Here" is heard, and after a few seconds, the guitar starts to play another tune in harmony with the first. Then Gilmour begins to sing... these are absolutely amazing lyrics. This is such a simple, beautiful song. Light in music, but heavy with emotion, this melody reminds you of all those people in life whom you have left behind. It's truly haunting, and an absolutely maginificent song. Lyrics: 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? did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts? hot ashes for trees? hot air for a cool breeze? cold comfort for change? 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 |
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| 5- Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI, VII, VIII & IX) Written by: Waters, Wright, Gilmour Running Time: 12:31 Other Versions: P*U*L*S*E, In The Flesh RANKING (w/parts I-V): #3 ******** Comments: The highlight of this song is part VI. The transition from the previous track fades out to high winds, while this song begins to grow. There is a simple yet strong melody that develops, and then, all of a sudden it goes into a fast, powerful rhythm that really moves you. After lasting for a good long period of time, there are a few beats, and then a magnificent sudden transition in to part VII, where the lyrical part is reprised, with even deeper lyrics. The climax hits as the last verse ends, and continues on through part VIII. The climax dies away and part IX brings you back to a slow, easy melody to lead you out of the song, and out of this incredible album. The entire song, all parts combined, is just an unbelievably good piece of music, and keeps up the same level up intensity every time you listen to it. Lyrics: nobody knows where you are how near or how far shine on you crazy diamond pile on many more layers and i'll be joining you there shine on you crazy diamond and we'll bask in the shadow of yesterday's triumph sail on the steel breeze come on you boy-child, you winner and loser come on you miner for truth and delusion and shine |
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| Released: 1975 by Columbia Records Running Time: 44:24 Ranking: #5 out of 14 studio albums Album Highlight: Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part VI) Album Weak Point: (none) Average Song Rating: ******* Comments: This album is a song, containing multiple songs within the song. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", an extremely powerful and amazing masterpiece, opens the album up, and brings it to a close, while the other three tracks, each with a different emotion behind it, carry the flow of the album along. This is a terrific, solid piece of music, from beginning to end, with never a dull moment. The songs can bring you deep into your subconsious thoughts while wide awake, and make you feel emotions that you never even knew you could feel. |
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