Thursday’s Thunder ~ Epitaph ~ King Crimson

Written by Robert Fripp, Ian McDonald, Greg Lake, Michael Giles & Peter Sinfield.

Released in Oct. 1969

Robert Fripp – guitar
Greg Lake – bass guitar, vocals
Ian McDonald – harpsichord, mellotron, reeds and woodwind
Michael Giles – drums, percussion

Peter Sinfield – lyrics, illumination

Obviously the majority of songs I post are my favorites from a particular band or artist and it is no different with this one. Epitaph came from the very first album that King Crimson produced, In the Court of the Crimson King.

To me it is epic in which the lyrics and music were written & composed to enhance each other.

In the 1960s a lot of poets were introduced to us. And King Crimson were among the elite. They mixed psychedelia with progressive rock, with a flavour of jazz fused in with mind-blowing passion.

The lyrics speak for themselves for they were a true ring of reality then as well as now 42 years later. And all of them at one time or another have been apart of many periods in people’s lives as if the song sings our pain. But it is the frightening reality and existence of the chorus that reigns within us as we ever so gently walk upon the egg shells of our souls. More confident of cracking them open then conquering our enemies or demons.

Thus

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.

Even though King Crimson put out many more albums after this initial one in 69, I don’t believe any came close to the first. Only 5 songs on the entire album yet all 5 were composed like fined tuned opera’s leaving you wondering which one could get any better than the previous one.

For me Epitaph for what ever reason touched my soul and was a song that drew you into a journey while it played. It was like a trip without a drug almost resembling Pink Floyd’s ” Echoes ” only echoes took you even deeper and for a longer period of time.

Epitaph, when done you’ll be left to wonder if there will be another one.

Day that is.

 

 

 

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

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.

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.

 

 

 

Note: ” I Talk To The Wind ” was my other favorite off this album.