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.)
Einstein's Relatives
King Crimson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You have to be happy with what you have
To be happy with what you have
Happy with what you have to be happy with
You have to be happy with what you have
To be happy with what you have
You have to be happy with what you have to happy with
"Maybe we should do the demo of the record after the record's over"
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Put your head on my phone
Nobody loves me
Well, bugger me
Einstein's relatives are relatively positive
His universal theory was first espoused by his cousin Oz
"The piece has moved forwards towards final composition"
"We move forward by coming from"
"Although it'll change tomorrow anyway"
"Oh, isn't it sweet?"
"And it's dear old Uncle Bobby"
"I did get it right in there, you'll see"
"It was horrible"
The song Einstein's Relatives by King Crimson carries a meaning that isn't easy to decipher. It entails the idea of being happy with what you have, despite whatever that may be. The three repetitive lines of "happy with what you have to be happy with" and "You have to be happy with what you have to happy with" may be to express the importance of self-contentment while showing that it doesn't matter what you possess, rather being grateful for it.
The latter section of the song is bizarre, consisting of insights into the creative process involved with writing the song. The lyrics "We're already done, we've been playing for more than an hour" and "Maybe we should do the demo of the record after the record's over" could be interpreted to imply that they don't require more practice since they are content with their current state. The line "Put your head on my phone, nobody loves me" could represent a feeling of isolation, and loneliness by being on the phone with someone who doesn't want to communicate.
Overall, the song's meaning remains cryptic and unusual, but its main message of being content with what one has resonates with a wide audience.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy with what you have to be happy with
You must be content with your possessions to find happiness
You have to be happy with what you have
Happiness comes from being satisfied with what you already have
To be happy with what you have
Finding contentment in your current circumstances leads to happiness
You have to be happy with what you have to happy with
Being content with your possessions is a requirement for achieving happiness
We're already done, we've been playing for more than an hour
The performance is complete, having lasted more than 60 minutes
Maybe we should do the demo of the record after the record's over
It is suggested that the demo of the record be made after the completion of the record
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Non-lyrical vocalization, expressing excitement or joy
Put your head on my phone
Place your head upon my communication device
Nobody loves me
No person has strong feelings of affection for me
Well, bugger me
Exclamation of surprise or shock
Einstein's relatives are relatively positive
The descendants of Einstein maintain a generally optimistic outlook
His universal theory was first espoused by his cousin Oz
A relative of Einstein named Oz first introduced the concept of the theory of relativity
The piece has moved forwards towards final composition
The musical work has progressed towards its final form
We move forward by coming from
We progress through history by building upon what has come before us
Although it'll change tomorrow anyway
Despite current circumstances, things are changing and unpredictable
Oh, isn't it sweet?
Expression of affection or admiration for something endearing
And it's dear old Uncle Bobby
The person being referred to is a beloved family member, Uncle Bobby
I did get it right in there, you'll see
I successfully included my intended message, which will become clear later
It was horrible
Something was unpleasant or upsetting
Contributed by Mackenzie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vladd821
I've never heard this one before, its great!
@ernividal480
Geniuses of madness 💜👏👏
@21st_Century39
To do things differently, is a great achievement indeed.
@christopherjobin-official7440
Such funny guys.
@PrimitiveInTheExtreme
🎧▶🎶🧠