Shine on you Crazy Diamond (Parts VI – IX) by Pink Floyd

The final song from our Wish You Were Here series is it’s last track(s) Shine on You Crazy Diamond (Parts XI – IX). So, the album ends as it begins, and concludes what at times is a deeply reflective, critical and cynical album with hope. But first, the reality check. Life is full of uncertainty and we are all at risk of a fall:

Nobody knows where you are, how near or how far…  Pile on many more layers and I’ll be joining you there.

And’s what’s more. There are times when we embrace this ‘fall-back’ position:

And we’ll bask in the shadow of yesterday’s triumph.

Yet, ultimately, despite the challenges of life, we are encouraged to live with hope for the future. Encouraged to be those who will work hard to seek truth, victory and a meaningful life:

Come on you boy child, you winner and loser. Come on you miner for truth and delusion and shine.

Listening to the album again as a whole I am encouraged that yes, I we do need to adopt a ‘critical’ approach to life. Desiring to seek out that which is meaningful and true. And yes, there are structures and individuals which will try to take advantage of us. And even yes, sometimes we will be beaten by life and retreat and give up. But that ultimately, we can choose a life of hope.

Even with all the negative, and all the challenges we all face in life in different ways, we all have the opportunity and potential to choose to live a life of hope. This will take hard work and commitment on our part but will also allow us to shine as individuals seeking out something better. And that when we shine, others are encouraged to follow and forge their own route into a more hopeful future too.

So, my final thoughts on the album is that it has challenged me once again to seek to be an example to myself and others of someone living the sort of life I have the potential to live, a life knowing I am loved and liberated to truly live.

Need to re-find your way in life? Why not consider booking an appointment with the author, Dr Dave Wood?

Shine on you Crazy Diamond (Parts VI – IX) is taken from the Pink Floyd album Wish You Were Here: