Deep Purple have had several line-up changes and were broken up for eight years from 1976 to 1984, with drummer Ian Paice being the band's only constant member. The first four line-ups, which constituted the band's original 1968–1976 run, are officially indicated as Mark I (1968–1969), Mark II (1969–1973), Mark III (1973–1975) and Mark IV (1975–1976). Mark I comprised the founding members of Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Rod Evans (vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards), Paice (drums) and Nick Simper (bass), while Mark II was the most commercially successful line-up, with Ian Gillan and Roger Glover replacing Evans and Simper respectively. Mark III saw David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes replace Gillan and Glover respectively, while Mark IV featured Tommy Bolin replacing Blackmore. The band split in July 1976 and Bolin died from a drug overdose five months later. In 1984, Deep Purple reformed with the Mark II line-up, which remained in place until Joe Lynn Turner replaced Gillan in 1989. Gillan rejoined in 1992, with Blackmore leaving for the second and final time the following year. He was replaced temporarily by Joe Satriani and then permanently by Steve Morse. In 2002 Don Airey replaced Jon Lord, which saw Deep Purple settle into its longest running line-up, unchanged for the next twenty years, until Morse announced his departure from the band in 2022. His place was taken by Simon McBride. Paice, Glover, Gillan, Airey and McBride comprise the current line-up of Deep Purple.
Deep Purple were ranked number 22 on VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock programme] and a poll on radio station Planet Rock ranked them 5th among the "most influential bands ever". The band received the Legend Award at the 2008 World Music Awards. Deep Purple (specifically Blackmore, Lord, Paice, Gillan, Glover, Coverdale, Evans, and Hughes) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
Clearly Quite Absurd
Deep Purple Lyrics
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The strangest thought occurred
I feel I ought to tell you
But it's clearly quite absurd
Wouldn't it be wonderful
If you could read my mind
Imagine all the stuff
How many words you waste
Before you're understood
Or simply sow some seeds
You'd do it if you could
Let me take a moment
Of your time
Inside you mind
I know what you're thinking
But I don't know what to say
The turmoil and the conflict
You don't have to feel that way
Look into my eyes
And feel my hand upon your heart
Holding us together
Not tearing us apart
How many words we waste
To justify a crime
Compare it to an act of love
That really takes no time
Why not take a moment
Of your time
Inside your mind
The song Clearly Quite Absurd by Deep Purple is a contemplative ballad that explores the idea of communication and how it can often be complicated and misunderstood. The opening lines of the song express this sentiment clearly, as the singer muses on the idea that even though they have spoken at length with someone close to them, they still feel like they have something to say that may come across as absurd. This idea of the disconnect between what we think and how we express ourselves is then expanded upon in the chorus, where the singer wonders what it would be like if we could all read each other's minds, thus eliminating the need for verbal communication altogether. The second verse delves deeper into this idea, as the singer reflects on the different ways we try to get our point across, whether it be through excessive talking or indirect actions like sowing seeds.
The middle section of the song takes a more personal turn, with the singer reaching out to someone who is clearly struggling with some kind of inner turmoil. The lyrics are poetic in nature, with the singer urging their subject to look into their eyes and feel their touch, as a way of connecting on a deeper level. The final verse serves as a kind of conclusion to the song's themes, as the singer suggests that we should all slow down and take a moment to reflect on our own thoughts and feelings before trying to communicate them to others. By doing this, we may be able to bridge the gap between what we mean to say and what is actually heard.
Line by Line Meaning
After all we said today
After our conversation today
The strangest thought occurred
An unexpected idea came to mind
I feel I ought to tell you
I feel compelled to share it with you
But it's clearly quite absurd
But it seems ridiculous or impossible
Wouldn't it be wonderful
Wouldn't it be great or ideal
If you could read my mind
If you could understand my thoughts without me speaking
Imagine all the stuff
Think about all the things
That we could leave behind
That we could forget or move on from
How many words you waste
How much time and energy you spend talking
Before you're understood
Before others comprehend or relate to what you're saying
Or simply sow some seeds
Or just plant an idea or suggestion
You'd do it if you could
You would if you were able
Let me take a moment
Allow me to have your attention briefly
Of your time
Of your valuable attention
Inside your mind
Within your thoughts or perspective
I know what you're thinking
I understand or sense your thoughts
But I don't know what to say
But I'm unsure of how to respond
The turmoil and the conflict
The inner turmoil or tension
You don't have to feel that way
You don't have to continue feeling that way
Look into my eyes
Make eye contact with me
And feel my hand upon your heart
And sense the warmth or comfort from my touch
Holding us together
Keeping our connection strong and positive
Not tearing us apart
Not breaking us apart or causing harm
How many words we waste
How much communication we waste on negative things
To justify a crime
To rationalize or excuse a wrongdoing
Compare it to an act of love
Compare it to a positive act or gesture
That really takes no time
That is simple and quick to do
Why not take a moment
Why not take a brief amount of time
Of your time
Of your attention
Inside your mind
Within your thoughts and feelings
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Don Airey, Ian Gillan, Ian Anderson Paice, Roger David Glover, Steven J. Morse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind