Peter Sinfield Lyrics |
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Magnum Vaeltaja
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 01 2015 Location: Out East Status: Offline Points: 6777 |
Topic: Peter Sinfield Lyrics Posted: October 08 2016 at 13:04 |
Peter Sinfield was one of the most prolific prog lyricists way back when, and collaborated with some of the genre's biggest names.
Never mind the music, or the vocal delivery; which of these albums do you think represents his best lyrical work?
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when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents
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Mascodagama
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 30 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 5111 |
Posted: October 08 2016 at 13:28 |
I think he was generally a terrible lyricist - guilty of much pretentious, half-baked Sixth Form poetry.
Having said that, he did occasionally manage something decent, and the lyrics to 21st Century Schizoid Man still hold up rather well. So I voted ItCotCK. |
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EddieRUKiddingVarese
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 04 2016 Location: Aust Status: Offline Points: 1802 |
Posted: October 08 2016 at 15:08 |
King Crimson - In The Wake of Poseidon - Cat Food
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"Everyone is born with genius, but most people only keep it a few minutes"
and I need the knits, the double knits! |
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Mascodagama
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 30 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 5111 |
Posted: October 08 2016 at 15:10 |
That's the other one I like! |
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Tom Ozric
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 03 2005 Location: Olympus Mons Status: Offline Points: 15916 |
Posted: October 08 2016 at 17:47 |
Sinfield's lyrics on Love Beach are inspired
Actually, I've always loved his solo album Still. A beautiful work of discriptive poetry. |
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Dean
Special Collaborator Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout Joined: May 13 2007 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 37575 |
Posted: October 08 2016 at 18:14 |
Other: Land of Make Believe
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What?
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The Bearded Bard
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 24 2012 Location: Behind the Sun Status: Offline Points: 12859 |
Posted: October 08 2016 at 19:34 |
Islands, because of "The Letters". Love that track. Strong and moving lyrics. And the rest of the album (both lyrical- and musical-wise) ain't bad either, really underrated.
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Tom Ozric
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 03 2005 Location: Olympus Mons Status: Offline Points: 15916 |
Posted: October 08 2016 at 21:51 |
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Flight123
Forum Senior Member Joined: September 01 2010 Location: Sohar, Oman Status: Offline Points: 1399 |
Posted: October 09 2016 at 02:18 |
Other: 'Officer and Gentleman' by ELP - the line about 'central heating' is priceless!
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Manuel
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 09 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 12382 |
Posted: October 09 2016 at 09:47 |
Yes, his solo album's lyrics are quite good.
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Wanorak
Forum Senior Member Joined: December 09 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 4574 |
Posted: October 09 2016 at 10:28 |
BSS. His lyrics on Karn Evil 9 are amazing. Closely followed by ITCOTCK.
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A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!!
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someone_else
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: May 02 2008 Location: Going Bananas Status: Offline Points: 23996 |
Posted: October 09 2016 at 11:37 |
BSS followed by Islands.
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tszirmay
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: August 17 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 6673 |
Posted: October 10 2016 at 12:28 |
"The Seagoat casts aquarian runes through beads of mirrored tears" from his solo album remains a fave. And how about "Gargoyles chewing on wet cigars" for vivid imagery?
Pretentious is a big word used negatively by pretentious critics who slammed prog back in 1977 when it as the media's national sport.
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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
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Magnum Vaeltaja
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 01 2015 Location: Out East Status: Offline Points: 6777 |
Posted: October 10 2016 at 12:53 |
I also voted for Islands, in large part because of The Letters, although there are lyrics that I adore from every one of the first four KC albums. I certainly agree with you, it's a very underrated album, and took me a few years to truly appreciate it. The Letters has such phenomenally descriptive language: 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. Formentera Lady also has fantastic imagery. The first verse takes me right to the Mediterranean: 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. I think my all-time favourite Peter Sinfield song lyrics-wise is Islands, though. The whole thing is breathtakingly beautiful, but this line may be the one that stands out most for me: Gaunt granite climbs where gulls wheel and glide Mournfully glide o'er my island. As far as Sinfield lyrics from other albums that I adore, there's: Moonchild: Sailing on the wind In a milk white gown Dropping circle stones on a sun dial Playing hide and seek With the ghosts of dawn Waiting for a smile from a sun child In The Wake of Poseidon: Bishop's kings spin judgment's blade Scratch "Faith" on nameless graves. Their children kneel in Jesus till They learn the price of nails, Whilst all around our mother earth Waits balanced on the scales Cirkus: Night: her sable dome scattered with diamonds |
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when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents
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AZF
Forum Senior Member Joined: January 17 2012 Location: Wirral Status: Offline Points: 1079 |
Posted: October 10 2016 at 13:01 |
Voted Lizard and was delighted the poll result had three 6's until just recently!
Maybe Crimson King has the first initial shock of new, but compared "I Talk To The Wind" and "Happy Family" as lyrics, "Moonchild" to "Indoor Fireworks". The first album captured the lyrical innocence but Lizard is really (well for me) my get to for thinking of Pete Sinfield. The innocence replaced by this cackling resentful tongue. No wonder he left, but I can't think his lyrics for Islands were as inspiring as he was on Lizard. And yeah, Karn Evil 9, but he should never co_write lyrics! Edited by AZF - October 10 2016 at 13:03 |
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Michael P. Dawson
Forum Senior Member Joined: April 22 2016 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 197 |
Posted: October 10 2016 at 13:58 |
I voted for Islands, mostly for the title track. Sinfield could write some incredible nature poetry. Another terrific example from his solo album--though actually it dates from the pre-Crimson days:
High in the hawthorn tree Bee and butterfly Seek fortune in the leaves Under the sky. So simple and effective.
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Buy this thing!
https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/MichaelPDawson |
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dr wu23
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 22 2010 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 20468 |
Posted: October 11 2016 at 21:30 |
I'll go for Court because it's still my favorite though there are lyrics all over Poseidon, Lizard, and Islands that are excellent.
Edited by dr wu23 - October 11 2016 at 21:33 |
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin |
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KingCrInuYasha
Forum Senior Member Joined: September 26 2010 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1281 |
Posted: October 12 2016 at 12:16 |
Court, though the rest of the stuff he did with Crimson was pretty good.
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He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball!
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