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.)
Doctor Diamond
King Crimson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chaos in the streets above, to me it's all the same
I shake your houses, then I'm gone keeping time down here below
I could drive my train to hell, not a soul would know
I am the driver of an underground train
Just imagine who I am and breathe the letters of my name
Any time you say the word my wheels and humming on the line
I am the driver of an underground train
The lonely life can't bother me, far away from wind and pain
I come upon the station lights with a mighty rushing sound
Listen for the hiss of brakes in tunnels underneath your town
I am the driver of an underground train
Climb aboard, just climb aboard, your loss is my eternal gain
Squeeze your precious body in before I quickly close the doors
Come riding in the smoky dark, where you are mine, and I am yours.
The lyrics of King Crimson's Doctor Diamond revolve around the driver of an underground train who seems to be unfazed by the chaos in the streets above. The lyrics are suggestive of a character who is aloof, powerful, and enigmatic. He operates the train in the underworld, in a space that is far away from wind and pain, where he reigns supreme. He takes pride in his job and feels like he has complete control over his domain.
The opening lines of the lyrics suggest that the character is aware of the chaos that is happening above ground, but he is not affected by it. He sees himself as a force to be reckoned with, capable of shaking the houses of those above the surface. He is confident that he can drive his train to hell, and nobody would know. The second verse is particularly intriguing as it suggests that the character is aware of his power over the train and how people respond to it. The mention of the danger sign and the idea of meeting beyond it suggest that the character is aware of the danger associated with the train and how people might fear it. Still, he sees himself as someone who can offer something to those who are brave enough to come aboard.
The final verse of the song presents an intriguing question of whether the driver is a villain or a hero. He invites the listener to climb aboard his train, suggesting that they will be in a smoky dark place where they are his, and he is theirs. The mention of him gaining eternal gain from the loss of the listener suggests that he is indeed a villain. However, the seductive invitation could insinuate that he might not necessarily be seen as a villain from the perspective of his passenger.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the driver of an underground train
I am the one who controls a hidden transportation system
Chaos in the streets above, to me it's all the same
The noise and unrest on the surface doesn't affect me below
I shake your houses, then I'm gone keeping time down here below
My train movements cause vibrations but I keep moving underground
I could drive my train to hell, not a soul would know
I have the power to go anywhere unnoticed in the underground world
Just imagine who I am and breathe the letters of my name
My identity is shrouded in mystery, but imagine me and utter my name
Any time you say the word my wheels and humming on the line
I respond to my name being called by starting my train engines
We'll be meeting face to face, somewhere beyond the danger sign
If you call my name, we will have a hidden rendezvous beyond the danger sign
The lonely life can't bother me, far away from wind and pain
My isolated life below ground doesn't bother me, I am removed from surface struggles
I come upon the station lights with a mighty rushing sound
My train arrives at the station with a loud and rushing sound
Listen for the hiss of brakes in tunnels underneath your town
When my train stops at a station, you can hear the brakes hissing in the underground tunnels
Climb aboard, just climb aboard, your loss is my eternal gain
Board my train, your departure from the surface is my gain, and you may never return
Squeeze your precious body in before I quickly close the doors
Hurry and board, I will close the doors quickly as I depart
Come riding in the smoky dark, where you are mine, and I am yours
Come ride with me in the underground darkness, where we both belong to each other
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID FRANCIS CROSS, JAMES RICHARD WILLIAM PALMER, JOHN KENNETH WETTON, ROBERT FRIPP, WILLIAM SCOTT BRUFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oystersoupgaming592
I am the driver of an underground train
Chaos in the streets, above to me it’s all the same
I shake your houses, then I’m gonna give you time
I never know, I could drive my train to hell and not a soul would know
I am the driver of an underground train
It doesn’t matter exactly who I am and breath in the letters of my name
Before he said a single word, I called the foreman on the line
When he looked at me in the face and you made the fatal sign
I am the driver of an underground train
The lonely life can’t bother me far away from wind and rain
I come upon the station lights with a mighty rushing sound
Then hiss of glory for the private life I drive around
I am the driver of an underground train
Climb abroad just climb aboard your loss is my eternal gain
Squeeze your precious body in before I quickly close the door
Come riding in the smoking dark, your life is mine, my life is yours
@matthewfinger2381
It's a shame this song was only ever played live and never recorded in the studio, it deserves more attention.
@HEHEHE_I_AM_A_MASKED_WARRIA
John Wetton actually did record a studio version in 1997 for his Monkey Business album, but I can't find any uploads of it anywhere. I did find a fanmade edit that combined it with the Crim version, however:
https://youtu.be/zFcL1Y8msDE
@lastofvandals.proximetoext1316
Same thought, they could have summarized the Title track in 4:40, added Dr. And the LP would have gained.
@Columbine621
Thanks Finger.
@cbot72
King Crimson: "Oh no! We don't have enough songs for our new album! Gotta get the live jams!"
Guts On My Side and Doctor Diamond: "dude we're right here"
@saurogalli6269
But it'snt so easy make good music in live jams, it's very very rare....
@HEHEHE_I_AM_A_MASKED_WARRIA
Guts actually wasn't written until after this album was recorded, and Doc hadn't been reworked yet (after '73 it was shelved until late spring '74, which had a much different middle section).
@benjaminseelig8675
@HEHEHE I AM A MASKED WARRIA why did this song not make it on Red though?
@HEHEHE_I_AM_A_MASKED_WARRIA
@@benjaminseelig8675 According to John Wetton, they "forgot about it" IIRC.
@dr.weaklicksofcrashedcurse4535
I am listening to every bit of the re-releases and of course I am happy about unexpected things like this. Maybe the attribute great is not necessarily appropriate, but yes, I like this stuff!