1. Kayak is a legendary Du… Read Full Bio ↴There are four bands with the name Kayak.
1. Kayak is a legendary Dutch progressive rock band, mostly known during the 1970’s. Formed from the ashes of the group High Tide Formation (who released only one single before disbanding), the early sound was typified by the contrasting songwriting styles of keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel and drummer Pim Koopman, as well as the distinctive vocals of Max Werner.
The band saw an increasing streamlining of their songwriting, as well as greater commercial fortunes, over the years, hitting their peak of popularity with the smash success of their single “Ruthless queen”, a sizable European hit from their 1979 album, Phantom Of The Night.
Kayak disbanded in 1981, after their semi-conceptual Merlin and subsequent live album Eyewitness. Ton Scherpenzeel subsequently joined progressive rock legends Camel and contributed to their 1984 album Stationary Traveller, as well as to 1999's Rajaz.
Kayak reunited in 2000, releasing one of their best albums yet: Close to the Fire, with a guest appearance of Andrew Latimer of Camel. Being active ever since, Kayak released two further conceptual opuses: Merlin: Bard of the Unseen (an elaboration of their 1981 album) and Nostradamus: The Fate of Man.
In 2007 the band released the live CD KAYAKoustic, to return in 2008 with a new studio album called Coming Up For Air. The coinciding tour celebrated their 35th Anniversary.
Current line up: Ton Scherpenzeel (keyboards) Pim Koopman (drums) Edward Reekers (voc) Cindy Oudshoorn (voc) Joost Vergoossen (guitr) Rob Vunderink (voc, guitr) and Jan van Olffen (bass).
On 23 November 2009, drummer Pim Koopman unexpectedly died of sudden heart faillure...all concerts were cancelled for the remainder of 2009 and for 2010
2. Hardcore/metal band from Moscow, Russia consisting of The Price of One Day ex-members.
3. Kayak is a new electronic artist from Zig-Zag Records
4. Ayong, the drummer of Chinese post-rock band 48V, produces electronic music using the name kayak (styled in lower case).
At Arthur's Court
Kayak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The council meets
The ladies choose their champions
All companions join
At Arthur's court
They tell their tales
Of glorious feats
The night's still young
At Arthur's court
Don't they know
That this feast isn't meant to last forever
Time will show
Who'll betray and who'll serve their king and lord
Still the jester laughs at Arthur's Court
Now every year
They take their seat
In loyalty and honour both
They swear their oath
At Arthur's court
They make a strange
Heroic breed
With damsels saved and monsters killed
Their cups are filled
At Arthur's court
Don't they know
That this feast isn't meant to last forever
Time will show
Who'll betray and who'll serve their king and lord
Still the jester laughs at Arthur's Court
The song "At Arthur's Court" by Kayak transports the listener to a time of knights, damsels, and jolly feasts. The lyrics describe the gathering of King Arthur's council and knights at his court, where they boast of their heroic feats and tell tales of battles won and dragons slain. However, amidst the revelry, the jester is the only one who seems to recognize that this frivolous gathering cannot last forever. He laughs, perhaps in irony or perhaps as a way of showing that he understands the inevitable betrayal and treachery that will come.
The lyrics suggest a contrast between the jovial atmosphere and the weight of responsibility that the knights have to their king and to their code of chivalry. They are a "heroic breed" who have saved damsels and killed monsters, but they have also pledged their loyalty and honor to Arthur. The oath they swear is not just a formality, but a solemn promise to defend their king and his kingdom. Yet despite the seriousness of their duty, the knights still enjoy the pleasures of the feast and drink from their cups until they are filled.
Overall, "At Arthur's Court" is a poignant and evocative portrayal of a bygone era, where chivalry and loyalty were held in high regard, but where the uncertainty of human nature still loomed.
Line by Line Meaning
The jester laughs
Amidst the seriousness of the council meeting, the jester makes light-hearted comments and laughs to entertain everyone else.
The council meets
A group of advisors gather to discuss and make decisions on important matters regarding King Arthur's kingdom.
The ladies choose their champions
The women present at the court select their most favored knights as champions to compete in future battles or quests.
All companions join
All those who are loyal to King Arthur come together to attend the gathering at the court.
At Arthur's court
The location where King Arthur and his courtiers assemble.
They tell their tales
The knights share their personal accounts of their heroic accomplishments and battles fought in the past.
Of glorious feats
The knights boast of their brave and honorable actions in the face of adversity.
Of dragons slain and battles won
The knights recount their victories over powerful mythical creatures and in various wars and conflicts.
The night's still young
Despite the late hour, the celebrations continue as nobody seems to be tired or wanting to leave.
Don't they know
The artist questions the knights' awareness of the fleeting nature of such festivities.
That this feast isn't meant to last forever
The singer reminds the knights that the merrymaking will soon come to an end and reality will set in.
Time will show
Only the passage of time will reveal who among the knights will remain steadfast in their loyalty to the king and who will turn against him.
Who'll betray and who'll serve their king and lord
In the context of the court's chivalrous code, the singer explores the theme of honor and loyalty to one's ruler and how some may choose to break that code for personal gain.
Still the jester laughs at Arthur's Court
Even with the underlying tension and uncertainty, the jester continues to bring joy and levity to the occasion.
Now every year
The court meets yearly to renew their oaths and allegiance to King Arthur.
They take their seat
The knights and advisors symbolically take their position as servants of the king in his court.
In loyalty and honour both
Their service to the king stems from their loyalty and commitment to always act honorably and justly.
They swear their oath
With hands on their swords, they pledge their lives and honor to protect and defend their king and his kingdom.
They make a strange
Their way of life, valuing honor and chivalry, may seem unusual or awkward to outsiders.
Heroic breed
The knights embody the ideals of courage, bravery, and honor that are epitomized in legends and myths about heroic warriors.
With damsels saved and monsters killed
The knights have lived and fulfilled their roles as protectors of the weak and vanquishers of evil forces, according to the chivalrous code.
Their cups are filled
The knights and other courtiers continue to feast and drink, enjoying the pleasures of life while they can.
Contributed by Thomas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.