King Crimson was a progressive rock band formed in 1968 in London, England.… Read Full Bio ↴King Crimson was a progressive rock band formed in 1968 in London, England. The band draws inspiration from a wide variety of music, incorporating elements of classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal, gamelan, industrial, electronic, experimental music and new wave. They exerted a strong influence on the early 1970s progressive rock movement, including on contemporaries such as Yes and Genesis, and continue to inspire subsequent generations of artists across multiple genres. The band has earned a large cult following.

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.)

Coda: I Have A Dream
King Crimson Lyrics

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Tragedies of Kennedy's, refugees, AIDS disease
Photos of Hiroshima, the Holocaust, and Kosovo
Tim McVeigh, Saddam Hussein, the bombing of the World Trade
Hostages in Bosnia, atrocities, South Africa,
Abortion and Kevorkian, Vietnam, napalm,
Lady Di, and Lennon died a violent crime, Columbine,
"I have a dream that one day "Rodney King, O.J.,
Symbols of our life's and times, "One giant leap for mankind"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Coda: I Have A Dream" by King Crimson address a wide array of tragedies and difficulties that have marked the history of the modern world. The song pays tribute to the victims of the most infamous events of the 20th century, presenting an unequivocal condemnation of the violence, racism, and war that have plagued human society for generations. The lyrics reference some of the most shocking and upsetting events in American history, including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the Rodney King riots.

The lyrics also make reference to other atrocities and crises around the world, such as the AIDS epidemic, the Holocaust, and the Kosovo War. The song's chorus, "I have a dream that one day," is borrowed from the famous speech delivered by civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. The song also references cultural icons such as John Lennon and Lady Diana, both of whom were victims of violent crimes.

As a whole, the lyrics of "Coda: I Have A Dream" are a sobering reminder of the violence and injustice that continues to trouble our world today. The song serves as a call to arms for social justice and peace, urging listeners to move beyond the tragedies of the past and work towards a better future for all.

Line by Line Meaning

Tragedies of Kennedy's, refugees, AIDS disease
Reflecting on the past events like the assassination of John F. Kennedy, suffering of refugees, and the spread of AIDS that shaped our history.

Photos of Hiroshima, the Holocaust, and Kosovo
Recalling the devastating wars and genocides like the bombings of Hiroshima, the Holocaust, and the tragedies of Kosovo.

Tim McVeigh, Saddam Hussein, the bombing of the World Trade
Mentioning several terrorist attacks and individuals who caused worldwide panic such as Timothy McVeigh, Saddam Hussein, and the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Hostages in Bosnia, atrocities, South Africa
Bringing attention to the hostage situations in Bosnia, the unspeakable horrors of war, and the discrimination and apartheid in South Africa.

Abortion and Kevorkian, Vietnam, napalm,
Highlighting the controversial topics of abortion and physician-assisted suicide as well as the atrocities committed during the Vietnam War such as the use of napalm.

Lady Di, and Lennon died a violent crime, Columbine,
Recalling the deaths of Princess Diana and John Lennon as victims of violent crimes, and mentioning the tragic events of the school shooting at Columbine.

"I have a dream that one day "Rodney King, O.J.,
Referencing Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech and connecting it to modern-day incidents of police brutality and the O.J. Simpson trial.

Symbols of our life's and times, "One giant leap for mankind"
Concluding the song with a reflection on the events that shaped our world and humanity's remarkable accomplishment of landing on the moon, as symbolized by Neil Armstrong's quote.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADRIAN BELEW, PAT MASTELOTTO, ROBERT FRIPP, TREY GUNN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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