Confusion Will Be My Epitaph
I've been having a pretty difficult time figuring out what to write about. All musically related news seems to be rather insignificant at this time and no solid writing ideas are coming to mind. So I decided I would make a simple but fun post of asking everyone what is their favorite song and why? I realize quite often people don't have favorite songs, and this is understandable considering the plethora of songs out there and how ones listening varies on their mood. Although for me I can easily tell you my favorite song, this song has been my favorite for the past few years for the most part, well to be honest with you it was my second favorite for awhile behind "Echoes" by Pink Floyd, but once I heard a live version of this song my perspective completely changed. I'm sure you are all SO INCREDIBLY ANXIOUS to know what the song is, and it is "Epitaph" by King Crimson. As I said this song was dueling "Echoes" but when I came across what is now my favorite bootleg King Crimson Live at the Fillmore West in 1969 my mind was set on this song. Never have I heard such emotion put into a song, and when a vocalist has his heart and soul in a song one can clearly tell. Greg Lake put his all into this song, and some may say his vocals are "overblown" but nothing can be overblown when it is clear that their blood sweat and tears are in that piece. The song is haunting and incredibly powerful, and displays the height of King Crimson songwriting. A very pessimistic song drenched with pain and agony, and the instrumentation behind it serves as the perfect backdrop with Crimson even whipping out the mellotron. This is a perfect song on a perfect album, King Crimson is sadly not amongst bands that are still heavily recognized to this day like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles but those who haven't heard their genius are missing out on some of the most intelligent and moving music ever created. How could one pass up an all star lineup of Robert Fripp, Greg Lake, and Ian McDonald? Well anyway, what is your favorite song and why?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
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 Ill be crying,
Yes I fear tomorrow Ill be crying.
-King Crimson
posted by Jeff at 2:30 AM
4 Comments:
Jeff - Wow, deep lyrics. I've never heard that song before, but I have heard of the band.
To be honest with you, picking a favorite song is tough for me. There are just too many that come to my mind. I listen to everything. And then I got through stages where I'll find a song and just play it to death. I got like that with "Mr. Brightside," from The Killers recently. I must have played it 50 time in a row.
My range of favorite bands is just too long to single one out.
But since I'm not answering the question. I'll pick "one of my favorites."
"Drift Away, from Dobie Grey."
"Day after day I'm more confused.
So I look for the light in the pouring rain. You know that's a game that I hate to lose, I'm feelin' the strain, ain't it a shame?"
That whole song just plain kills.
Btw, I commented back to your question on JBI.
Catch you on the flip side.
Have a great weekend.
Peace,
- Neo
Oh my gosh Jeff, I just "got" how you came up with your blog name! I love it.
You know how
It's very difficult to pick a favorite song. I think I'd have to say "Crystal Ship" by The Doors.
I like Drift Away too Neo!
Jeff: Epitaph is an awesome song, and is certainly one of King Crimson's better songs. I've always enjoyed both the Greg Lake and John Wetton eras of KC-- there's a lot of great material from those eras of that band (btw, have you heard Starless from King Crimson's Red album? That's one of my faves by them). I've got a live recording with Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis), John Wetton, Chester Thompson (Genesis touring band), Ian MacDonald, and Julian Colbeck performing I Talk to the Wind from that album and it's honestly one of the best performances I've ever heard! They also do In the Court of the Crimson King on that set. It's on Steve Hackett's The Tokyo Tapes.
As for my favorite song, there are so many to choose from. It's tough to say, but I guess I'd have to go with Hold Me Now by John Wetton. Wetton doesn't have a "great" voice-- but what he lacks in vocal quality he more than makes up for in pure passion. Many may find Hold Me Now to be overwrought but it's so incredibly emotive:
Here ends another day
My emotions locked away
And my darkness is complete as the midnight sky
You steal my confidence
My smile is my defense
And I turn my face, so you won't see me cry
How can you be so cold, and so out of control?
As you pour salt into my deepest cut of all
My shattered heart, in pieces now And I'm gazing at the fragments of my life
Hold Me Now, maybe just pretend
I could be someone that you might have loved before
Hold Me Now, and let me
believe in a kiss that means nothing to you
'Cause it means the world to me
And Wetton says he wrote the song for his mother, although he's never elaborated as to whether the song reflects his relationship with his mum or his mum's relationship with his father (although I tend to believe it's the latter). At any rate the song is one of the most absolutely heartbreaking examples of unrequited love I've ever heard.
It's a brilliant song, somehow King Crimson always reminded me of Tull?
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