The band's onetime stated aim was to "expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of becoming very unpopular," although this stance was to alter significantly with time. While never achieving the commercial heights of progressive rock contemporaries such as Jethro Tull, Genesis, Yes or Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Gentle Giant was considered to be one of the most experimental bands in the genre (as well as one of the most experimental rock bands of the 1970s).
Gentle Giant's music was considered complex even by progressive rock standards, drawing on a broad swathe of music including folk, soul, jazz, and classical music. Unlike many of their progressive rock contemporaries, their "classical" influences ranged beyond the Romantic and incorporated mediaeval, baroque, and modernist chamber music elements. The band also had a taste for broad themes for their lyrics, drawing inspiration not only from personal events but from philosophy and the works of both François Rabelais and R. D. Laing.
Band members:
Members of classic lineup listed in bold.
Derek Shulman - lead vocals, saxophone, recorder, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, "Shulberry" (3-string custom electric ukulele) (1970-1980)
Ray Shulman - bass, trumpet, violin, vocals, viola, drums, percussion, recorder, guitar (1970-1980)
Kerry Minnear - keyboards, lead vocals (on recordings only), cello, vibraphone, xylophone, recorder, guitar, bass, drums (1970-1980)
Gary Green - guitar, mandolin, vocals, recorder, bass, drums, xylophone (1970-1980)
John Weathers - drums, percussion, vibraphone, xylophone, vocals, guitar (1972-1980)
Phil Shulman - lead vocals, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, recorder, percussion (1970–72)
Martin Smith - drums, percussion (1970–1971)
Malcolm Mortimore - drums, percussion (1971–1972)
His Last Voyage
Gentle Giant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Searching in the ocean, did what he should do,
Seeking not adventure, just a way of life,
Sky above turned grey, wind cut like a knife.
This was his last voyage, this was his last time.
Pulling up the anchor, letting go the rope,
Then as bow was broken, water soon to rise,
For they would have nothing, Nature's trust unwise,
Through his boat and fortune, not for him that day,
If he went to God, for him they would pray,
As the tempest thundered, as the storm broke free,
Suddenly in darkness, fear there none to see,
Visions in his memory, what was meant to be,
When the storm was over, nothing could be seen,
Life and boat were taken, God knows what it means.
Rose in early morning, as the light came through,
Searching in the ocean, did what he should do,
This was his last voyage, this was his last time.
Pulling up the anchor, letting go the rope,
Age rules over all things, fate rules over hope.
The lyrics to Gentle Giant's “His Last Voyage” tell the story of a sailor who sets out on what would become his final journey. The first stanza describes the sailor rising early in the morning and heading out to sea, with no particular sense of adventure or excitement – it’s just a way of life. However, as the day progresses and the weather worsens, the tone of the song changes. The sailor pulls up the anchor and lets go of the rope, symbolizing the surrender of control over his fate to the ravages of age and the power of nature. The storm intensifies, and the sailor’s boat is lost at sea along with his life, leaving his loved ones to mourn and regret.
The repetition of the line “this was his last voyage, this was his last time” emphasizes the finality and inevitability of the sailor's fate. The use of language throughout the song is evocative, with images of the sky turning gray and the wind cutting like a knife. The song also illustrates the power and unpredictability of nature, which can show no mercy in the face of the frailties of humanity. Ultimately, “His Last Voyage” is a haunting and powerful meditation on the fragility of life and our inability to fully control our own destinies.
Line by Line Meaning
Rose in early morning, as the light came through,
The sailor woke up early as the sun rose, and started his day.
Searching in the ocean, did what he should do,
He then set sail, doing his job of searching the ocean for something.
Seeking not adventure, just a way of life,
He wasn't looking for excitement or danger, just living his everyday life as a sailor.
Sky above turned grey, wind cut like a knife.
The weather started to turn bad, with dark grey clouds and strong winds.
This was his last voyage, this was his last time.
Little did he know, this would be his final journey.
Pulling up the anchor, letting go the rope,
He started to prepare and get ready to leave the port.
Age rules over all things, fate rules over hope.
He realized that no matter how much hope he had, fate and age would ultimately control his life.
Then as bow was broken, water soon to rise,
Suddenly, the front of his boat was damaged and water started to enter.
For they would have nothing, Nature's trust unwise,
He foolishly trusted in nature, but it betrayed him, leaving him with nothing.
Through his boat and fortune, not for him that day,
Despite his boat and wealth, luck was not on his side that day.
If he went to God, for him they would pray,
His fellow sailors would pray for him if he were to meet his end and go to God.
As the tempest thundered, as the storm broke free,
The storm grew stronger, with thunder and lightning lighting up the sky.
Suddenly in darkness, fear there none to see,
The darkness of the storm made it impossible to see, but he remained fearless.
Visions in his memory, what was meant to be,
He had visions of his past and what was supposed to happen, but now it was too late.
When the storm was over, nothing could be seen,
Once the storm passed, there was nothing left to see or salvage.
Life and boat were taken, God knows what it means.
He lost both his life and his boat, and only God knows the meaning behind it all.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@neroribeiro
Gentle Giant - His Last Voyage
Rose in early morning, as the light came through,
Searching in the ocean, did what he should do,
Seeking not adventure, just a way of life,
Sky above turned grey, wind cut like a knife.
This was his last voyage, this was his last time.
Pulling up the anchor, letting go the rope,
Age rules over all things, fate rules over hope.
Then as bow was broken, water soon to rise,
For they would have nothing, Nature's trust unwise,
Through his boat and fortune, not for him that day,
If he went to God, for him they would pray,
As the tempest thundered, as the storm broke free,
Suddenly in darkness, fear there none to see,
Visions in his memory, what was meant to be,
When the storm was over, nothing could be seen,
Life and boat were taken, God knows what it means.
Rose in early morning, as the light came through,
Searching in the ocean, did what he should do,
This was his last voyage, this was his last time.
Pulling up the anchor, letting go the rope,
Age rules over all things, fate rules over hope.
@kathymiljevich9434
Does anyone else think this subtle bass line.is gorgeous?
@neilparnell5712
Ray Shulman is a genius.
@davidfindlay4547
Beautiful. Perfectly played
@percronholm8536
@@neilparnell5712 Sadly, this is no longer completely true, he WAS a genius. But of course he will always live on in our memories.
@neilparnell5712
@@percronholm8536 Just heard of his passing. Gutted. What a sad loss of a fantastically talented and humble musician. What with Chris Squire and John Wetton already up there they will have some great jams !
@1ouncebird
@@neilparnell5712 Along with Greg Lake. The low end is well represented.
@boomsounds9432
This masterpiece will be played at my funeral, and loud! Mr.Kerry Minnear, so underrated as a songwriter and musician.
@kevinokeefe5709
Saw them do the “Free Hand” concert as a teenager in the late 1970’s and I sat there with my jaw on the floor. I’ve been a jazz drummer my whole life so very much into the prog of that age- Peter Gabriel Genesis- King Crimson, Weather Report, Passport, etc.- GG was SO original I never blinked! “Funny Ways” with the 5 man drum solo and their muted but beautiful light show- plus they were SO tight!! Still love them till this day. 🌴😎🥁🌴
@davidfindlay4547
@Kevin O’Keefe at the risk of spouting superlatives...this band totally changed the way I thought of music. Forever.
@dreamcruise2009
Only underrated if you don't, "know."