The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson · Epitaph, Vols. 1-4 [2007]
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 gentlely pulls the strings
And smiles as the puppets dance
In the court of the crimson king.
The Court Of The Crimson King
This track stands as a pivotal moment in the discography of King Crimson, marking a definitive shift toward progressive rock and jazz fusion. Recorded during the band's most experimental phase, the piece showcases the group's signature complex time signatures and intricate interplay between guitar, bass, and keyboards. The composition reflects the era's broader movement toward avant-garde structures, blending classical influences with modern rock energy. As a cornerstone of their catalog, it exemplifies the band's commitment to pushing musical boundaries and remains a defining work in the history of progressive rock. The recording captures the intensity and technical prowess that characterized King Crimson's output during this transformative period.