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.)
Cage
King Crimson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
social fanatics, they're a dime a dozen and they carry guns
[Chorus]
Halloween, every other day of the week
Living in a cage in the USA
Living in a cage in the USA
Holy smoke, somebody blew up the pope
All around us the rules are changing
Taller walls and stronger cages
Nothing is sacred or too outrageous
Taller walls and stronger cages
What in the world is happening to the world?
What in the world?
Driving in your Mercedes you think you're safe, but you're never safe in a world of hate with criminal minds with guns and
knives who say "gimme your ride or give your life"
[Chorus]
What in the world is happening to the world?
What in the world?
The lyrics of King Crimson's song Cage is about the state of society in the USA (United States of America) in the late 80s. The song talks about a society that is filled with deadbeat addicts, social fanatics, and people with criminal minds who carry guns and knives. The song opens with a question asking the listener if they stare at their feet and never let their eyes meet the freaks. The chorus of the song comments on the state of living in a cage in the USA and that it feels like Halloween every other day of the week.
The lyrics in the second verse of the song continue to paint a picture of a dangerous and unsafe world. It highlights that even if you drive a Mercedes, you are never safe in a society full of people with criminal minds who carry weapons. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the theme of the song's words, which is a commentary on the world's state, which has stronger cages and taller walls, with nothing too outrageous.
In summary, King Crimson's song Cage is a commentary on the state of society in the USA in the late 80s. It talks about the dangerous and unsafe world full of people with criminal minds who carry guns and knives who make people feel like they are living in a cage every day.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking down the street do you stare at your feet and never do you let your eyes meet the freaks, The deadbeat addicts, social fanatics, they're a dime a dozen and they carry guns
Are you so scared that you can't even look at the people around you, the outcasts and rebels? They are everywhere in the society and some of them can be dangerous.
Halloween, every other day of the week
Living in a cage in the USA
Living in a cage in the USA
Holy smoke, somebody blew up the pope
Living in a cage in the USA
All around us the rules are changing
Taller walls and stronger cages
Nothing is sacred or too outrageous
Taller walls and stronger cages
Every day feels like a horror movie in a country where people feel trapped and confined, like they are living in a cage. There is chaos and destruction everywhere and the authorities are making it harder to escape or be free.
What in the world is happening to the world?
What in the world?
The state of the world is causing confusion and disbelief, with no clear explanation for the problems and suffering.
Driving in your Mercedes you think you're safe, but you're never safe in a world of hate with criminal minds with guns and knives who say "gimme your ride or give your life"
Even if you are privileged and have a fancy car, you cannot avoid the danger that exists in a society filled with hate and violence. Criminals with weapons may target you for robbery or even murder.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM SCOTT BRUFORD, ROBERT FRIPP, TREY GUNN, ANTHONY CHARLES LEVIN, PAT MASTELOTTO, ADRIAN BELEW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
So Juorn Er
Love this song. Sounds like the proper bridge between "Discipline" era KC and "Vroom" era. I've always wished they had done a complete album in this vein.
EL BOSCO
Suena como el puente adecuado entre la era "Disciplina" KC y la era "Vroom".
Totalmente de acuerdo.
Y también siempre deseé un álbum completo en este sentido, pero no fue así. Optaron por otros derroteros sin dejar de ser King Crimson.
French Toasted
discipline-vrooom are my favorite eras
JuanK Gonzalez
This EP needs so much more love. Simply mind-blowing lineup and musicianship
Anni Runaway
I purchased this EP in my teens. I bought so many Projekts discs, too, along with as much classic vinyl I could get. A bit obsessed? Well, this was amazing. I had already heard Mahavishnu Orchestra, Pat Matheny Group and Weather Report as a pre teen so yay! when I napped Discipline before hitting my teens. Immediately obsessed. I love Adrian Belews music, too. He is so amazing, plays many instruments and writes absolutely wonderful music ❤
Jacek B
Beautiful version.I know this track (short one) for 27 years.Hearing this version was beautiful experience.🎸🎸
EL BOSCO
Muy buena versión. Me gusta este King Crimson.
Gracias por el aporte, desde ciudad de Canelones Uruguay.
Aes Cyprium
If I got hit in the head with a shovel, I bet this is what would play in my brain at all times.
Here's hoping!
Robert Keddie
The video description contains licensing details - how did you get copyright clearance? (I tried writing to DGM so I could use some of Robert Fripp's music on my channel but they didn't reply.)
Manish Jude
I did not get prior copyright clearance to post this. The video was automatically copyright claimed by YouTube which detected the music and applied the song details. I do not know how or if DGM is involved with this. In my experience, it seems that DGM takes down things directly related to the King Crimson discography, but I cannot be certain of this.