Founded by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald and lyricist Peter Sinfield, the band initially focused on a dramatic sound layered with Mellotron, McDonald's saxophone and flute, and Lake's powerful lead vocals. Their debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King (1969), remains their most commercially successful and influential release, with a potent mixture of jazz, classical and experimental music. Following the sudden simultaneous departures of McDonald and Giles, with Lake also leaving very shortly afterwards, Fripp and Sinfield assumed direction of the group for In the Wake of Poseidon (1970), Lizard (1970), and Islands (1971) with Mel Collins, Boz Burrell and Ian Wallace among the band members during this period. In 1972, Fripp changed the group's instrumentation and approach, drawing from European free improvisation, and developing ever more complex compositions. With Bill Bruford, John Wetton, David Cross and briefly, Jamie Muir, they reached what some saw as a creative peak on Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973), Starless and Bible Black (1974), and Red (1974). Fripp disbanded this group in 1974.
In 1981, Fripp and Bruford reformed King Crimson with another change in musical direction. The new group also included Adrian Belew and Tony Levin. They drew influence from African music, gamelan, post-punk and New York minimalism. This group lasted three years, resulting in the trio of albums Discipline (1981), Beat (1982) and Three of a Perfect Pair (1984). Following a decade-long hiatus, Fripp revived the group as a sextet he called the "double trio" in 1994 adding Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn. This group participated in another three-year cycle of activity that included the release of Thrak (1995), and multiple concert recordings. There was a hiatus between 1997 to 2000. Four members of the previous sextet reunited in 2000 as a more industrial-oriented King Crimson, called the "double duo", releasing The Construkction of Light (2000) and The Power to Believe (2003). After a five year hiatus, the group expanded (in the person of new second drummer Gavin Harrison) for a 2008 tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of their 1968 formation.
Following another hiatus (2009–2012), during which Fripp was thought to be retired, King Crimson came together again in 2013; this time as a septet (and, later, octet) with an unusual three-drumkit frontline, and new second guitarist and singer Jakko Jakszyk. This version of King Crimson continued to tour from 2014 to 2021, and released multiple live albums, rearranging and reinterpreting music from across the band's entire 50-year career for the first time.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KingCrimson
Studio albums
In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
In the Wake of Poseidon (1970)
Lizard (1970)
Islands (1971)
Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973)
Starless and Bible Black (1974)
Red (1974)
Discipline (1981)
Beat (1982)
Three of a Perfect Pair (1984)
Thrak (1995)
The Construkction of Light (2000)
The Power to Believe (2003)
(NOTE: Album covers, band images and YouTube links are not available due to certain legal restrictions imposed on Last.fm by King Crimson's management.)
05 MAN WITH AN OPEN HEART 1
King Crimson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or be a servant to a telephone ring
She could be sleeping in the comfort of another bed
It wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
It wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
It wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
Here comes right now
She could be moody, dramatic as a play
Or be evasive as a shadow in the shade
Could be irregular and singing in her underwear
It wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
It wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
It wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
Here comes right now
Here comes right now
Her wild and wise womanly
Introspectiveness
Her faults and files of foolishness
It wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
It wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
It wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
Here comes right now
Here comes right now
Here comes right now
Here comes right now
The lyrics of King Crimson's "Man with an Open Heart" describe the qualities one would seek in a partner if they truly had an open heart. The song suggests that the man in question is not concerned with superficial qualities, such as physical appearance or a woman's ability to cater to his every need. He is instead interested in a woman who is true to herself, even if she comes with imperfections, moodiness or idiosyncrasies.
The lyrics mention how this woman could be "sleeping in the comfort of another bed", meaning that she could potentially be with someone else, but it wouldn't matter to the man who truly loves her with an open heart. Similarly, the woman could be evasive, moody, or irregular, yet this man would still love her for who she is regardless of her flaws.
The song hints at the idea that true love is unconditional and overlooks the imperfections of one's partner. This message is embodied in the title of the song itself, "Man with an Open Heart," which suggests that this man is willing to embrace someone entirely with their virtues and defects.
Line by Line Meaning
She wouldn't need to be a bird without a wing
She doesn't have to be perfect, flawless or complete to be loved
Or be a servant to a telephone ring
She doesn't have to be bound by expectations or demands of others
She could be sleeping in the comfort of another bed
She doesn't have to be with him all the time, she can have her own life
It wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
True love is unconditional and accepting, even of imperfections
Here comes right now
He is ready to accept and love her as she is
She could be moody, dramatic as a play
Her emotions and behavior are accepted without judgment or criticism
Or be evasive as a shadow in the shade
She doesn't have to reveal everything or be completely open to be loved
Could be irregular and singing in her underwear
She can be herself without fear of being rejected or judged
Her wild and wise womanly
Her strength, intelligence, and unique qualities are appreciated and valued
Introspectiveness
Her thoughtful and reflective nature is understood and respected
Her faults and files of foolishness
Her mistakes and imperfections are seen as part of her human nature, and not judged or criticized
Wouldn't matter to a man with an open heart
True love is accepting and forgiving, even of flaws and mistakes
Here comes right now
He is ready to love and accept her completely
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adrian Belew, Anthony Charles Levin, Robert Fripp, William Scott Bruford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Collector
i never thought i live to see dancing chicks into a Crimson song....what a time to be alive
One Wish Carnival
. Playing poly rhythms on top of the four on the floor kick. That's what made folks dance. Geniuses
2003Cpayne
I've never seen this before. Thanks for uploading. Dancing girls and King Crimson? Interesting.
Kruegerisgod
Lol
Eli C
Gotta love Man With An Open Heart. Definitely my favorite KC song.
M.K. Null
The people dancing is an easy choice to make as 80s Crimson has huge roots in New Wave and African music as well as proto Math, Thrash, and Industial Rock but in the process of making Discipline they decided they wanted to make music more people could enjoy so that they could diversify there sound and be commercially successful. Sleepless was actually apart of Larks III but they split them so that they could have a self serving dance song. The cool thing about 80s Crimson is that you can dance, be enveloped, or analyze each song very easily ans in the process finds a new sound that is totally unique to anything before or sense, and put in place countless developments in music through this era of the band but also there popularization of early crimson, and also imo this is a perfect era to start king crimson, I got in through Beat and went through the discography with ease as before it was so inaccessible. Also each member kicks ass so hard no one can even compete in later incarnations, not even themselves!
Ralph Conner
Thanks! I never saw the fretless guitar played live. Awesome!
Michael Buehl
Fripp smiling is way more odd than the dancing. These songs groove!
Chris Byars
The bass guitar Tony is playing is the same one he played in 2017 in Red Bank, New Jersey. Nice!
guitarandgraves
The paint job on Tony's bass is pristine. There are young people in the audience. Not only that but attractive young ladies dancing. Wow I'm old.