"Marks" (1972), their first release, is mostly instrumental with a highly jazzy feel. Quite versatile, it features snippets of calypso, circus music, Dixieland and (of all things!) country music. Their best progressive effort, however, is their second album "Mountain Queen" (1973) which features long instrumental passages with prominent lead guitar, whirling Hammond organ, dual saxophones, electric violin and catchy choruses in a slightly Canterbury style. With the release of "Nobody Can Wait Forever" (1975) and "Best Kept Secret" (1976), however, the band went for a more hard rock sound with shorter, more accessible tunes. Two live albums as well as six compilation cd's of their material were subsequently released by Polydor and various other record labels.With the band's cameback in 2003 they released "Blue Planet" (2005) and "Sailors & Sinners" (2009).
The symphonic style of "Mountain Queen" should appeal to progsters; "Nobody Can Wait Forever" is recommended if you like a more bluesy/funky approach.
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Mountain Queen
Alquin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somewhere up the mountain, stretching out his furcate arms to chase the sparrows from the sky, there lived a treeman, waiting for someone to take his place, but no one ever passes by.
Waving with his leaves of gold and green, whispering endless letters to his Mountain Queen, but no one ever reached that heart of stone, she's so alone.
Slumbering mountain maiden, watch her as a golden sunset.
Suddenly sets her tops on fire.
She wears an antfly apron abd honey-dew abd fragant flowers are filling Thomas with desire.
Somewhere underneath that chasmic skin morning goblins waiting till the day begins.
But no one will reach that heart of stone, she's so alone.
All my stresses will sooon be fadin' away.
And the things you do to me make me feel it's good to be beack, good to be back home.
Come to my house tomorrow and I'll show you the morning glory.
Walk the velvet valleys with your love, so fair.
The sun creeps up the chalkhill.
Placid stand the planetrees rising on forever, in the sky so bright.
Take your time and join me and I'll tell you an endless story.
Rest your head beside me in that fadin' light.
I have seen them come and go again.
Fierce and gentle.
Stack bodies in my skin till they pine away and the new life begins.
Years of waiting made me wise and blind.
Rain of ages, drained and tranquillized my mind.
Oh, you should have seen how the orange meets green.
How the orange meets green.
How the orange meets green.
How the orange meets green...
The song "Mountain Queen" by Alquin is a vivid portrayal of a mystical and enchanted world, where a treeman resides atop a mountain, waiting for someone to take his place, but no one ever comes. The lyrics paint a picture of the treeman wistfully waving his golden and green leaves, whispering endless love letters to his Mountain Queen, who is described as having a heart of stone and being very alone. The Mountain Queen is portrayed as a slumbering mountain maiden, whose tops are set ablaze by the golden sunset. She wears an antfly apron, and fragrant flowers fill the air. The lyrics describe morning goblins waiting underneath her chasmic skin, but no one can ever reach her heart of stone.
The song's lyrics are infused with symbolism and imagery, and the story seems to be a metaphor for unrequited love, where the treeman represents a person waiting for a love that will never be reciprocated. The Mountain Queen is portrayed as an unattainable object of desire, who remains forever out of reach. The lyrics suggest that the singer has found solace in the Mountain Queen's cradle, and that being in her presence makes all his stresses fade away. The song ends with the singer inviting the listener to his house, promising to show them the morning glory, and telling them an endless story.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere up the mountain, stretching out his furcate arms to chase the sparrows from the sky, there lived a treeman, waiting for someone to take his place, but no one ever passes by.
There is a treeman waiting on the mountain for someone to replace him but no one ever comes. He spends his time chasing the sparrows.
Waving with his leaves of gold and green, whispering endless letters to his Mountain Queen, but no one ever reached that heart of stone, she's so alone.
The treeman whispers to his Mountain Queen but she is unresponsive and remains alone as no one can reach her.
Slumbering mountain maiden, watch her as a golden sunset.
The Mountain Queen slumbers and witnesses a beautiful golden sunset.
Suddenly sets her tops on fire.
The Mountain Queen's tops are suddenly set on fire.
She wears an antfly apron abd honey-dew abd fragant flowers are filling Thomas with desire.
The Mountain Queen wears an apron made of antfly and smells like honey-dew and fragrant flowers which fill Thomas with desire.
Somewhere underneath that chasmic skin morning goblins waiting till the day begins.
Below the Mountain Queen's surface, morning goblins are waiting for the day to start but no one can reach her heart.
But when I'm in youre cradle, you are so good to me, yes you are.
When the singer is in the Mountain Queen's cradle, he feels good.
All my stresses will sooon be fadin' away.
The singer's stressors will soon fade away.
And the things you do to me make me feel it's good to be beack, good to be back home.
The Mountain Queen's actions make the singer feel like he is back home and safe.
Come to my house tomorrow and I'll show you the morning glory.
The singer invites someone to his house to show them the morning glory.
Walk the velvet valleys with your love, so fair.
The singer invites someone to walk the velvet valleys with their fair love.
The sun creeps up the chalkhill.
The sun slowly rises over the chalkhill.
Placid stand the planetrees rising on forever, in the sky so bright.
Planetrees stand forever and placidly rising towards a bright sky.
Take your time and join me and I'll tell you an endless story.
The singer invites someone to take their time and join him for an endless story.
Rest your head beside me in that fadin' light.
The singer invites someone to rest their head beside him in the fading light.
I have seen them come and go again.
The singer has seen people come and go repeatedly.
Fierce and gentle.
These people can be both fierce and gentle.
Stack bodies in my skin till they pine away and the new life begins.
The singer has stacked bodies in his skin until they fade away and a new life begins.
Years of waiting made me wise and blind.
Years of waiting have made the singer both wise and blind.
Rain of ages, drained and tranquillized my mind.
The rain of ages has drained and tranquillized the singer's mind.
Oh, you should have seen how the orange meets green.
A description of how the orange meets the green.
How the orange meets green.
A repetition of the description of how the orange meets the green.
How the orange meets green.
A repetition of the description of how the orange meets the green.
How the orange meets green...
A final repetition of the description of how the orange meets the green.
Contributed by Reagan T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Terry Platt
Track listing with clickable timestamps:
1. The Dance (0:00)
2. Soft-Eyed Woman (12:59)
3. Convicts Of The Air (19:34)
4. Mountain Queen (28:00)
5. Mr. Barnum's Jr.'s Magnificent And Fabulous City (34:21)
6. Don And Dewey - Theme by Don Bowman (41:00)
Marcelo Ramos
Obra prima..ótimos músicos. .técnica instrumental incrível. .
Frank de jong
Alquin weer na 30 jaar ontdekt...? Nog steeds een genot om naar te luisteren
Denis Denis
Otro excelente disco de la banda!!! gracias por compartir estas exquisitas melodías.
Yesfan59
Just discovered this band. I’m impressed by them.Good music
Hans Langendijk
Absoluut brilliant . Ik was ze even vergeten . Jammer dat ik Alquin nooit live gezien heb.
Steve Hollins
Still great after all these years drowning in nostalgia
Keith Gordon
Class act, which an album that brings back memories of 70's freak/hippie gig going psychedelia. The best track for me is 'Convicts Of The Air'. I know I saw these live as a support, but can't remember who the main band was.
Simon Morris
Golden Earring perhaps? Or maybe Focus?
Golden Peacock
Could it the head-liner be Ekseption? or Supersister?