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)
Take Me
Gentle Giant Lyrics
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Cool is the fool with the eagle eye
Spending my time
Drunk and living fast
Nobody knows what lies in my past
I'm lookin' back
My life is cryin' out
What did I do?
Oh, take me
Save me from my misery
Oh, take me
I want to be free
Oh, take me
Take my hand and help me on
Oh, take me
I will soon be gone
Good-timin', all-nightin' in the shade
No thinkin' nobody's had it made
Stole no control on my evil hands
I tossed a coin blind to where it lands
My, how the time flies
It just passes by
I turned around
It looked me in the eye
Good-timin', all-nightin' in the shade
No thinkin' nobody's had it made
Stole no control on my evil hands
I tossed a coin blind to where it lands
My, how the time flies
It just passes by
I turned around
It looked me in the eye
My, how the time flies
It just passes by
I turned around
It looked me in the eye
My, how the time flies
It just passes by
I turned around
It looked me in the eye
This song by Gentle Giant, titled "Take Me In," is a reflective piece that tackles the emotions of a person looking back on their life with regret. The lyrics are set in the form of a rock ballad, and the musical accompaniment is slow and solemn. The singer of the song describes themselves as a person who has spent their life partying and drinking, trying to escape their past. They are now at a moment of realization, where their past has come back to haunt them, and they are looking for a way to be saved from their misery. They seek redemption and freedom from their past actions.
The first verse establishes the character's personality as a smooth-talker who lives fast and is comfortable with lying. They are cool and have the eagle eye of a predator. They have spent their life partying and drinking, and now their past is catching up to them. They are looking back at their life and questioning it, wondering what they did wrong, and what they were all about. In the chorus, they plead for someone to save them from their misery and help them be free from the burden of their past. They want someone to take their hand and help them move on from their mistakes.
In the second verse, the singer describes themselves as someone who has never thought about the consequences of their actions. They have had a good time, but they have not made anything of their life. They have no control over their actions and have tossed a coin to see where it lands. They reflect on how time flies by, and how they have turned around to see their past catch up with them. The song ends with a repetition of the last lines, highlighting the singer's realization of how time passes by so quickly.
Overall, the song is a cautionary tale of living life without thought. It is a reminder that time passes swiftly and that it is essential to make something of one's life. The singer's desperation to be saved shows that redemption is still possible and that hope can still be found.
Line by Line Meaning
Smooth-talkin', slow-walkin' tell no lie
I am deceitful and manipulative as I move slowly and speak smoothly to avoid being caught in a lie.
Cool is the fool with the eagle eye
I am foolish to believe that I can see and control everything, even though I am detached and indifferent to others.
Spending my time
I am wasting my life on fleeting pleasures and distractions without any meaningful purpose or direction.
Drunk and living fast
I am numbing my senses and my conscience with alcohol and reckless behavior, as I am afraid to face the consequences of my actions.
Nobody knows what lies in my past
I am hiding the secrets and scars of my past from others, as I fear being judged, rejected or punished for them.
I'm lookin' back
I am reflecting on my life so far and feeling regretful, resentful or disappointed about what I have done or failed to do.
My life is cryin' out
My inner voice or conscience is telling me that I have been wrong, that I need to change, to heal or to grow, but I am not listening to it.
What did I do?
I am questioning the value or the morality of my actions, as I realize that they have not brought me happiness, wisdom or fulfillment.
What was I all about?
I am questioning the meaning or the purpose of my life, as I realize that I have lost track of my identity, my values or my goals.
Oh, take me
I am pleading for help, support or guidance from someone or something, as I acknowledge my own weakness, vulnerability or limitations.
Save me from my misery
I am asking to be rescued from the pain, the loneliness or the despair that I feel, as I am unable or unwilling to face them alone.
I want to be free
I am expressing my desire to break free from the chains, the addictions, the fears or the expectations that are holding me back from being my true self.
Take my hand and help me on
I am reaching out for someone's hand to guide me, encourage me, challenge me or comfort me, as I am unable or afraid to do it by myself.
I will soon be gone
I am acknowledging my own mortality, fragility or impermanence, as I know that I cannot escape the consequences of my actions, thoughts or feelings.
Good-timin', all-nightin' in the shade
I am escaping from reality and responsibility by indulging in temporary pleasures or distractions, without considering the long-term effects or the consequences.
No thinkin' nobody's had it made
I am ignoring the fact that nobody can truly have it all and that everyone has their own struggles, doubts and insecurities, as I compare myself to others and feel inferior or superior.
Stole no control on my evil hands
I have lost control of my actions, my thoughts and my feelings, as I let my own darkness, my addictions or my fears dictate my choices and my life.
I tossed a coin blind to where it lands
I have taken reckless and impulsive risks without considering the potential harm, the probabilities or the benefits, as I am driven by a sense of thrill, excitement or escape.
My, how the time flies
I am realizing how quickly time passes, how much I have missed or lost, and how little I have achieved or learned, as I look back on my life with regret or nostalgia.
It just passes by
Time does not wait for me or care about my plans, dreams or fears, as it keeps moving forward, indifferent to my struggles or my achievements.
I turned around
I have stopped or paused for a moment to reflect, to evaluate, to appreciate or to regret what has happened or what is happening in my life.
It looked me in the eye
Reality, truth or consequences are staring me in the face, challenging me to face them, to embrace them or to accept them, as I am mature enough to do so.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEREK SHULMAN, JOHN WEATHERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind