KING CRIMSON


In The Wake Of Poseidon

(1970)



1. Peace - A Beginning 0'50
(Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield)
2. Pictures Of A City
Including 42nd At Treadmill 8'01
(Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield)
3. Cadence And Cascade
* 4'38
(Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield)
4. In The Wake Of Poseidon
Including Libra's Theme 7'57
(Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield)
5. Peace - A Theme 1'15
(Robert Fripp)
6. Cat Food 4'55
(Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield / Ian McDonald)
7. The Devil's Triangle
Including Merday / Hand Of Sceiron / Garden Of Worm 11'35
(Robert Fripp)
8. Peace - An End 1'52
(Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield)

Total Time: 41:03


  • Robert Fripp - Guitar, Mellotron & Devices
  • Keith Tippett - Piano
  • Mel Collins - Saxes & Flute
  • Peter Giles - Bass
  • Michael Giles - Drums
  • Greg Lake - Vocals (except *)
  • Gordon Haskell - Lead Vocals *
  • Peter Sinfield - Words

    Produced and Directed by Robert Fripp & Peter Sinfield for E.G. RECORDS
    Engineer: Robin Thompson - Engineer
    Assistatnt Engineer: Jeff & Tony
    Sleeve Design & Painting: Peter Sinfield
    Cover Painting "12 Archetypes" by Tammo De Jongh in 1967 with reference to his books "The Magic Circle" and Richard Gardeners "The Purpose Of Love". The Community, 10 Lady Sommerset Rd, NW.

    The twelve faces in the picture are as follows:
    The Fool (Fire and Water): The laughing man with a wispy beard.
    The Actress (Water and Fire): The Egyptian girl with long pearl earrings and many pearl necklaces around her neck, she has tears in her eyes.
    The Observer (Air and Earth): A scientist type person with round spectacles pushed up above his brow,mostly bald head with white hair at the sides; his left hand is held up to his chin, he looks thoughtful.
    The Old Woman (Earth and Air): A woman with much wrinkled face wrapped up against the cold.
    The Warrior (Fire and Earth): A dark and powerful warrior's face in blacks and reds. He wears a steel helmet, broad square face, open mouth with square teeth and a full black beard.
    The Slave (Earth and Fire): A black African with large gold earrings and a ring through his/her nose; the lips are full and pink, the eyes half-closed, sultry and sensuous; the expression is warm and friendly.
    The Child (Water and Air): a picture of innocence; a girl with delicate sweet smile and butterfly shaped bows at each side in her long golden hair; her eyes are large and watery and she has a delicate sweet smile on her mouth. She wears a gold chain, on the end of which is a small golden key.
    The Patriarch (Air and Water): An old philosopher, with a long face and long white hair and long white beard and moustache; white bushy eyebrows; all around are shapes like flowers or snowflakes; the brow is furrowed upwards from the nose in a fan-like fashion.
    The Logician (Air and Fire): A scientist or wizard type man with long face, dark hair and long dark beard; he appears to hold a long stick or wand with his right hand and his left is held aloft and surrounded by stars.
    The Joker (Fire and Air): Picture in bright reds and yellows is of a smiling twinkle-eyed 'court jester' with gold-stuccoed, triangular hat reminiscent of a matador.
    The Enchantress (Water and Earth): A sad girl with watery eyes gazing at the observer; her long dark hair is blown sideways across her face and brow from right to left.
    Mother Nature (Earth and Water): Lying asleep in the long grass; their face in silhouette is viewed from the left side and all around are the flowers and butterflies.

    STUDIO WESSEX SOUND, London

    Mel Collins of "CIRCUS" appears by Courtesy of TRANSATLANTIC RECORDS
    Gordon Haskell appears by Courtesy of
    CBS RECORDS





    1. Peace - A Beginning

      I am the ocean
      Lit by the flame
      I am the mountain
      Peace is my name
      I am the river
      Touched by the wind
      I am the story
      I never end.

    2. Pictures Of A City

      Concrete cold face cased in steel
      Stark sharp glass-eyed crack and peel
      Bright light scream beam brake and squeal
      Red white green white neon wheel.

      Dream flesh love chase perfumed skin
      Greased hand teeth hide tinseled sin
      Spice ice dance chance sickly grin
      Pasteboard time slot sweat and spin.

      Blind stick blind drunk cannot see
      Mouth dry tongue tied cannot speak
      Concrete dream flesh broken shell
      Lost soul lost trace lost in hell.

    3. Cadence And Cascade

      Cadence and Cascade
      Kept a man named Jade;
      Cool in the shade
      While his audience played.
      Purred, whispered, "Spend us too:
      We only serve for you".

      Sliding mystified
      On the wine of the tide
      Stared pale-eyed
      As his veil fell aside.
      Sad paper courtesan
      They found him just a man.

      Caravan hotel
      Where the sequin spell fell
      Custom of the game.
      Cadence oiled in love
      Licked his velvet gloved hand
      Cascade kissed his name.

      Sad paper courtesan
      They knew him just a man.

    4. In The Wake Of Poseidon

      Plato's spawn cold ivyed eyes
      Snare truth in bone and globe.
      Harlequins coin pointless games
      Sneer jokes in parrot's robe.
      Two women weep, Dame Scarlet Screen
      Sheds sudden theatre rain,
      Whilst dark in dream the Midnight Queen
      Knows every human pain.

      In air, fire, earth and water
      World on the scales.
      Air, fire, earth and water
      Balance of change
      World on the scales
      On the scales.

      Bishop's kings spin judgement's blade
      Scratch "Faith" on nameless graves.
      Harvest hags Hoard ash and sand
      Rack rope and chain for slaves
      Who fireside fear fermented words
      Then rear to spoil the feast;
      Whilst in the aisle the mad man smiles
      To him it matters least.

      Heroes hands drain stones for blood
      To whet the scaling knife.
      Magi blind with visions light
      Net death in dread of life.
      Their children kneel in Jesus till
      They learn the price of nail;
      Whilst all around our mother earth
      Waits balanced on the scales.

    5. Peace - A Theme

    (instrumental)

    6. Cat Food

      Lady Supermarket with an apple in her basket
      Knocks in the manager's door;
      Grooning to the muzak from a speaker in shoe rack
      Lays out her goods on the floor;
      Everything she's chosen is conveniently frozen.
      "Eat it and come back for more!"

      Lady Window Shopper with a new one in the hopper
      Whips up a chemical brew;
      Croaking to a neighbour while she polishes a sabre
      Knows how to flavour a stew.
      Never need to worry with a tin of 'Hurri Curri':
      "Poisoned especially for you!"

      No use to complain
      If you're caught out in the rain;
      Your mother's quite insane.
      Cat food cat food cat food again.

      Lady Yellow Stamper with a fillet in a hamper
      Dying to finish the course;
      Goodies for the table with a fable on the label
      Drowning in miracle sauce.
      Don't think I am that rude if I tell you that it's cat food,
      "Not even fit for a horse!"

    7. The Devil's Triangle

    (instrumental)

    8. Peace - An End

      Peace is a word
      Of the sea and the wind.
      Peace is a bird who sings
      As you smile.
      Peace is the love
      Of a foe as a friend;
      Peace is the love you bring
      To a child

      Searching for me
      You look everywhere,
      Except beside you.
      Searching for you
      You look everywhere,
      But not inside you.

      Peace is a stream
      From the heart of a man;
      Peace is a man, whose breadth
      Is the dawn.
      Peace is a dawn
      On a day without end;
      Peace is the end, like death
      Of the war.