EnglandKing Crimson

Artist rating: 81.16 % (ranking: not set)
Highest rating: 84.18 % (1969)
Most recent trend: 76.71 % (1981)
Highest trend: 89.18 % (1969)

Works
Tracks (A-Ö)

Statistics

Data

Formed: 1969-01-13

Formed 55 years ago
 

External links

Genres

Members

Adrian Belew, Bill Bruford, Boz Burrell, Mel Collins, David Cross, Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Gordon Haskell, Greg Lake, Tony Levin, Andy McCulloch, Ian McDonald, Jamie Muir, Peter Sinfield, Ian Wallace, John Wetton
1970
72.98 %
1970
80.50 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1973
65.20 %
1974
70.70 %

Islands

King Crimson - Islands
72.08 %
(2009-01-21)
Date released: 1971-12
Type: studio

In collection: CD
Average track length: 07:21
Average track rating:

Ranking

King Crimson:
6
/
8
Year (1971):
24
/
60
Decade (1970's):
147
/
597
Overall:
649
/
2711

Tracks

Credits

Band members

2Boz Burrell (25)
bass, lead vocals
2Mel Collins (24)
saxophones, flute, bass flute (6), backing vocals
2Robert Fripp (25)
guitar, mellotron, harmonium (6), sundry implements
2Peter Sinfield (27)
lyrics, sounds and visions
2Ian Wallace (25)
drums, percussion, backing vocals

Session works

Producers

Lyrics

Formentera Lady
10:16
Houses iced in whitewash guard a pale shore-line
Cornered by the cactus and the pine.
Here I wander where sweet sage and strange herbs grow
Down a sun-baked crumpled stony road.

Dusty wheels leaning rusting in the sun;
Snuff brown walls where Spanish lizards run.
Here I'm shadowed by a dragon fig tree's fan
Ringed by ants and musing over man.

I'll unwind my old strings while the sun shine down
Won't climb any high thing while the sun shine.
Formentera Lady sing your song for me
Formentera Lady sweet lover.

Lamplight glows on old guitars the travellers strum;
Incense children dance to an Indian drum.
Here Odysseus charmed for dark Circe fell,
Still her perfume lingers still her spell.

Time's grey hand won't catch me while the sun shine down
Untie and unlatch me while the stars shine.
Formentera Lady dance your dance for me
Formentera Lady dark lover.
Sailor's Tale
07:34
instrumental
The Letters
04:32
With quill and silver knife
She carved a poison pen
Wrote to her lover's wife:
"Your husband's seed has fed my flesh".

As if a leper's face
That tainted letter graced
The wife with choke-stone throat
Ran to the day with tear-blind eyes.

Impaled on nails of ice
And raked with emerald fire
The wife with soul of snow
With steady hands begins to write:

"I'm still, I need no life
To serve on boys and men
What's mine was yours is dead
I take my leave of mortal flesh"
Ladies of the Road
05:35
A flower lady's daughter
As sweet as holy water
Said: "I'm the school reporter
Please teach me", well I taught her.

Two fingered levi'd sister
Said, "Peace", I stopped I kissed her.
Said, "I'm a male resister",
I smiled and just unzipped her.

High diving chinese trender
Black hair and black suspender
Said, "Please me no surrender
Just love to feel your Fender".

All of you know that the girls of the road
Are like apples we stole in our youth.
All of you know that the girls of the road
Been around but are versed in the truth.

Stone-headed Frisco spacer
Ate all the meat I gave her
Said would I like to taste hers
And even craved the flavour

"Like marron-glaced fish bones
Oh lady hit the road!"

All of you know that the girls of the road
Are like apples we stole in our youth.
All of you know that the girls of the road
Been around but are versed in the truth.
Prelude: Song of the Gulls
04:15
instrumental
Islands
11:55
Earth, stream and tree encircled by sea
Waves sweep the sand from my island.
My sunsets fade.
Field and glade wait only for rain
Grain after grain love erodes my
High weathered walls which fend off the tide
Cradle the wind to my island.

Gaunt granite climbs where gulls wheel and glide
Mournfully glide o'er my island.
My dawn bride's veil, damp and pale,
Dissolves in the sun.
Love's web is spun - cats prowl, mice run
Wreathe snatch-hand briars where owls know my eyes
Violet skies
Touch my island, touch me.

Beneath the wind turned wave
Infinite peace
Islands join hands
'Neath heaven's sea.

Dark harbour quays like fingers of stone
Hungrily reach from my island.
Clutch sailor's words - pearls and gourds
Are strewn on my shore.
Equal in love, bound in circles.
Earth, stream and tree return to the sea
Waves sweep sand from my island, from me.