KING CRIMSON


In The Court Of The Crimson King
(HQCD)

(1969)



1. 21st Century Schizoid Man Including Mirrors 7'23
(Robert Fripp / Ian McDonald / Greg Lake / Michael Giles / Peter Sinfield)
2. I Talk To The Wind 6'05
(Ian McDonald / Peter Sinfield)
3. Epitaph
Including March For No Reason and Tomorrow And Tomorrow 8'48
(Robert Fripp / Ian McDonald / Greg Lake / Michael Giles / Peter Sinfield)
4. Moonchild
Including The Dream and The Illusion 12'13
(Robert Fripp / Ian McDonald / Greg Lake / Michael Giles / Peter Sinfield)
5. The Court Of The Crimson King
Including The Return Of The Witch andThe Dance Of The Puppets 9'22
(Ian McDonald / Peter Sinfield)

Total Time: 43:51


  • Robert Fripp - Guitar
  • Ian McDonald - Reeds, Woodwind, Vibes, Keyboards, Mellotron, Vocals
  • Greg Lake - Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals
  • Michael Giles - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
  • Peter Sinfield - Words and Illumination

    Produced by KING CRIMSON
    Engineer: Robin Thompson
    Assistant Engineer: Tony Pa
    Cover by Barry Godber
    Equipment by Vick and Dik.

    All Songs Published by E.G. MUSIC Ltd.

    Recorded at WESSEX SOUND STUDIOS, London, June-August 1969





    1. 21st Century Schizoid Man

      Cat's foot iron claw
      Neuro-surgeons scream for more
      At paranoia's poison door.
      Twenty first century schizoid man.

      Blood rack barbed wire
      Polititians' funeral pyre
      Innocents raped with napalm fire
      Twenty first century schizoid man.

      Death seed blind man's greed
      Poets' starving children bleed
      Nothing he's got he really needs
      Twenty first century schizoid man.

    2. I Talk To The Wind

      Said the straight man to the late man
      Where have you been
      I've been here and I've been there
      And I've been in between.

      I talk to the wind
      My words are all carried away
      I talk to the wind
      The wind does not hear
      The wind cannot hear.

      I'm on the outside looking inside
      What do I see
      Much confusion, disillusion
      All around me.

      You don't possess me
      Don't impress me
      Just upset my mind
      Can't instruct me or conduct me
      Just use up my time

      I talk to the wind
      My words are all carried away
      I talk to the wind
      The wind does not hear
      The wind cannot hear.

    3. Epitaph

      The wall on which the prophets wrote
      Is cracking at the seams.
      Upon the instruments if death
      The sunlight brightly gleams.
      When every man is torn apart
      With nightmares and with dreams,
      Will no one lay the laurel wreath
      As silence drowns the screams.

      Between the iron gates of fate,
      The seeds of time were sown,
      And watered by the deeds of those
      Who know and who are known;
      Knowledge is a deadly friend
      When no one sets the rules.
      The fate of all mankind I see
      Is in the hands of fools.

      Confusion will be my epitaph.
      As I crawl a cracked and broken path
      If we make it we can all sit back
      and laugh.
      But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying,
      Yes I fear tomorrow I'll be crying.

    4. Moonchild

      Call her moonchild
      Dancing in the shallows of a river
      Lovely moonchild
      Dreaming in the shadow
      of the willow.

      Talking to the trees of the
      cobweb strange
      Sleeping on the steps of a fountain
      Waving silver wands to the
      night-birds song
      Waiting for the sun on the mountain.

      She's a moonchild
      Gathering the flowers in a garden.
      Lovely moonchild
      Drifting on the echoes of the hours.

      Sailing on the wind
      in a milk white gown
      Dropping circle stones on a sun dial
      Playing hide and seek
      with the ghosts of dawn
      Waiting for a smile from a sun child.

    5. The Court Of The Crimson King

      The rusted chains of prison moons
      Are shattered by the sun.
      I walk a road, horizons change
      The tournament's begun.
      The purple piper plays his tune,
      The choir softly sing;
      Three lullabies in an ancient tongue,
      For the court of the crimson king.

      The keeper of the city keys
      Put shutters on the dreams.
      I wait outside the pilgrim's door
      With insufficient schemes.
      The black queen chants
      the funeral march,
      The cracked brass bells will ring;
      To summon back the fire witch
      To the court of the crimson king.

      The gardener plants an evergreen
      Whilst trampling on a flower.
      I chase the wind of a prism ship
      To taste the sweet and sour.
      The pattern juggler lifts his hand;
      The orchestra begin.
      As slowly turns the grinding wheel
      In the court of the crimson king.

      On soft gray mornings widows cry
      The wise men share a joke;
      I run to grasp divining signs
      To satisfy the hoax.
      The yellow jester does not play
      But gentle pulls the strings
      And smiles as the puppets dance
      In the court of the crimson king.