They released only one album, The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp in 1968 by Deram Records.
In 2002 a second release came out, The Brondesbury Tapes, featuring various recordings throughout 1968, with the group augmented by Ian McDonald on saxophone and flute, and Judy Dyble on vocals.
Michael Giles, Fripp and McDonald went on to form the first King Crimson line-up, rounded out by bassist/vocalist Greg Lake and lyricist Peter Sinfield. Peter Giles would go on to appear on the second Crimson album In the Wake of Poseidon in 1970, and more recently joined with 21st Century Schizoid Band. Judy Dyble came from Fairport Convention and would go on to join Trader Horne.
Digging My Lawn
Giles Giles & Fripp Lyrics
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As I slid from my double-bed what could I see?
Standing outside as the night turned to dawn
There was a man who I didn't know digging my lawn
Was it her husband, I pondered, or was he a crook?
Why was he taking car numbers down in a book?
I started to ring and I rung ninety-nine
She was half German, half out of bed
Which half was which doesn't have to be said
Turning her head
Her face was red
"He is my husband," she whispered; I started to sweat
Just my luck when I'd only done this for a bet
Standing outside as the night turned to dawn
There was a man who I didn't know digging my lawn
The lyrics of Giles Giles & Fripp's song Digging My Lawn tells a story of an unexpected and mysterious event that takes place on a Sunday morning. The singer wakes up early and notices a stranger digging up their lawn. This raises several questions in the singer's mind, and he wonders whether the man is the husband of someone he knows or a thief trying to take something valuable. He starts to call the police but is stopped by a woman who identifies herself as the stranger's wife. This woman is half-German and is shown to be in bed with someone. Though the singer's situation is unclear, it suggests that he has somehow gotten himself into a dubious situation. The lyric's tone is light, and it highlights the absurdity of the situation.
The lyrics of the song display a sense of mistaken identity and suspicion. The singer's suspicion about the stranger digging his lawn reflects a sense of paranoia in society. The story shows how people can jump to conclusions and misinterpret events, just as the singer assumed the stranger digging his lawn was a thief. However, the twist at the end, where the woman identifies the stranger as her husband, highlights the sense of absurdity that can occur in everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
Early one Sunday – well, anyway, early for me
It was a Sunday morning, and although it was early for the singer, it wasn't necessarily early for everyone else.
As I slid from my double-bed what could I see?
The singer woke up and immediately noticed something strange outside.
Standing outside as the night turned to dawn
There was someone, specifically a man, on the singer's lawn early in the morning.
There was a man who I didn't know digging my lawn
The man on the artist's lawn was digging it, and the artist had no idea who he was or why he was doing it.
Was it her husband, I pondered, or was he a crook?
The artist thought about the possibilities of who the man could be, whether he was the woman's husband or a criminal.
Why was he taking car numbers down in a book?
The singer noticed the man taking down car numbers and wondered why he was doing it.
I started to ring and I rung ninety-nine
The singer called emergency services, specifically the number 99.
"Nein, you must not," she said
The woman on the phone, who was half German, told the artist not to call the police.
She was half German, half out of bed
The woman on the phone was partially awake and partially German.
Which half was which doesn't have to be said
The artist acknowledges that the woman's identity is not particularly relevant.
Turning her head
The woman on the phone moved her head, likely in response to something happening on the singer's end of the line.
Her face was red
The woman on the phone may have been embarrassed or angry, as her face was red.
"He is my husband," she whispered; I started to sweat
The woman on the phone confessed that the man on the lawn was her husband, which made the singer nervous.
Just my luck when I'd only done this for a bet
The singer was participating in some sort of bet or dare that led to them encountering this situation on their lawn.
There was a man who I didn't know digging my lawn
The song ends on the same line as the beginning, emphasizing the strangeness of the situation and the unknown identity of the man on the lawn.
Contributed by Jason O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
freudastaire
King Crimson before the dark side. beautiful.
Arthur Guimaraes
Early one Sunday, well any way, early for me,
As I slid from by double-bed, what could I see?
Standing outside as the night turned to dawn,
There was a man who I didn't know, digging my lawn.
Was it her husband, I pondered, or was he a crook,
Why was he taking car numbers down in a book?
I started to ring, and I rung ninety-nine,
Nein, you must not, she said.
She was half-German, half out of bed,
Which half was which didn't have to be said,
Turning her head, her face was red.
"He is my husband," she whispered, I started to sweat,
Just my luck when I'd only done this for a bet.
Standing outside as the night turned to dawn,
There was a man who I didn't know, digging my lawn.
Dan Summers
She was half German, half out of...bed
Alejandro Esparza
She was her hyurven
EPurpl3
hahahahahahahaha, i bet that photo is sarcastic knowing what they will do next :D
Jeremy Juckett
"... But Rodney did not want to meet fat and ugly girls."
Efrain Mcshell
thanks.