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)
Wreck
Gentle Giant Lyrics
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Just one sorry scream and a desperate cry heyeheh Hold on
Their lives pass before them before they die heyeheh
The sea yawns around like a boiling hell heyeheh hold on
And souls disappear with the toll of that bell heyeheh hold on
The arms of the sea they are dragging them down heyeheh hold on
And sorrows and sins they are lost as they drown heyeheh
How strange when you think that the sea was their way,
And a meaningless death is the price they pay
For their living was made from the deep
To their people in comfort and keep
Keep all their people and places there
Never to be seen again, never to be loved and their last embrace
And the kiss has a salt bitter taste
Now all that remains is the deep cruel sea heyeheh hold on
And wreckage of things that used to be heyeheh hold on
No stone marks the place of that watery grave heyeheh hold on
Together they die both the weak and the brave heyeheh hold on
The arms of the sea
are a powerful force that can take lives and destroy the legacy of those who relied on it. The lyrics to Gentle Giant's "Wreck" describe the tragic scene of a shipwreck and the toll it takes on those onboard. The initial lines of the chorus convey the sense of urgency as the ship rises from the sea and their fate seems sealed. The imagery of their lives passing before their eyes adds to the sense of finality and desperation of this moment.
The verses describe the sea as a "boiling hell" and souls disappearing with the toll of a bell. This paints a dark picture of the destruction that the sea can bring upon those who rely on it. The lyrics also touch upon the irony of the sea being the vessel of their living, but also the cause of their death. The final lines resonate with the emotional impact of the tragedy, as loved ones and places are lost forever, leaving only the "deep cruel sea" and "wreckage of things that used to be."
Overall, the lyrics of "Wreck" serve as a poignant reminder of the devastating power of nature and the fragility of life. The song is a somber elegy to those who were lost at sea and their untold stories.
Line by Line Meaning
The ship's rising up from the sea to the sky heyeheh Hold on
The ship is being lifted out of the water towards the sky and the passengers must hold on for dear life
Just one sorry scream and a desperate cry heyeheh Hold on
One final cry of regret and despair is all that can be made as the ship meets its fate
Their lives pass before them before they die heyeheh
As they face death, their entire lives flash before their eyes
The sea yawns around like a boiling hell heyeheh hold on
The ocean is like a terrifying, infernal landscape that threatens to swallow everything in its path
And souls disappear with the toll of that bell heyeheh hold on
As the ship goes down, souls are lost, symbolized by the sound of a bell tolling
The arms of the sea they are dragging them down heyeheh hold on
The ocean's deadly grip is pulling the passengers towards their inevitable demise
And sorrows and sins they are lost as they drown heyeheh
All of their guilt and sadness vanishes as their bodies sink beneath the waves
How strange when you think that the sea was their way,
It's ironic that the very thing that allowed them to travel and survive is now the cause of their deaths
And a meaningless death is the price they pay
Their deaths were pointless and avoidable, yet they paid the ultimate price for their journey
For their living was made from the deep
Their livelihood was dependent on the ocean and its natural resources
To their people in comfort and keep
Their families relied on them for financial support and security
Keep all their people and places there
Their loved ones and communities are forever intertwined with the ocean they depended on
Never to be seen again, never to be loved and their last embrace
Their final moments were spent alone and unloved, with the ocean as the only witness to their tragic end
And the kiss has a salt bitter taste
Even in death, the ocean's saltwater invades their senses and leaves a bitter taste
Now all that remains is the deep cruel sea heyeheh hold on
After the ship has sunk, all that remains is the vast, merciless ocean
And wreckage of things that used to be heyeheh hold on
The debris of the once mighty vessel now litters the surface of the water
No stone marks the place of that watery grave heyeheh hold on
There is no physical monument to mark the spot where the ship sank and the passengers perished
Together they die both the weak and the brave heyeheh hold on
In their final moments, all passengers are equal in death, regardless of their strength or bravery
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK SHULMAN, KERRY MINNEAR, PHILIP SHULMAN, RAYMOND SHULMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind