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.)
Happy Family
King Crimson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brother Judas, ash and sack, swallowed aphrodisiac
Rufus, Silas, Jonah too sang, "We'll blow our own canoes"
Poked a finger in the zoo, punctured all the ballyhoo
Whipped the world and beat the clock, wound up with their share of stock
Silver Rolls from golden rock, shaken by a knock, knock, knock
Happy family, wave that grin, what goes round must surely spin
Uncle Rufus grew his nose, threw away his circus clothes
Cousin Silas grew a beard, drew another flask of weird
Nasty Jonah grew a wife, Judas drew his pruning knife
Happy family one hand clap, four went on but none came back
Happy family, pale applause, each to his revolving doors
Silas searching, Rufus neat, Jonah caustic, Jude so sweet
Let their sergeant mirror spin if we lose the barbers win
Happy family one hand clap, four went on but none came back
The song "Happy Family" by King Crimson is a sarcastic critique of the idealized portrayal of a perfect family. It starts with the line "Happy family, one hand clap, four went by and none come back," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The "one hand clap" references the idea that a family needs both parents present, while the subsequent line implies that all four members of this happy family are missing. Then, the song goes on to describe the family members and their peculiarities, such as Brother Judas who swallowed an aphrodisiac and Judas who drew his pruning knife.
As the song progresses, it becomes apparent that the family members are not happy as they are portrayed to be. Rather, they are discontent and searching for something more. Uncle Rufus grows his nose, and Cousin Silas grows a beard, which can be seen as acts of rebellion against societal norms. Nasty Jonah grows a wife, and Judas seems sweet, but the fact that she drew her pruning knife implies underlying bitterness. The last verse of the song can be interpreted as a reference to the cyclical nature of life, where everyone goes their separate ways and finds their own revolving doors.
Overall, "Happy Family" is a satirical commentary on the idealized version of family life and how it can be far from perfect.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy family, one hand clap, four went by and none come back
A family that appears happy on the surface, but there is a sense of something missing or lost. Four members of this family have disappeared and never came back.
Brother Judas, ash and sack, swallowed aphrodisiac
One of the family members, Brother Judas, is in a state of despair and has resorted to taking drugs to cope with his problems.
Rufus, Silas, Jonah too sang, "We'll blow our own canoes"
Three members of the family are determined to make their own way in life, and not follow the traditional family route.
Poked a finger in the zoo, punctured all the ballyhoo
The family members are unconventional and have a tendency to disrupt or challenge established norms or conventions.
Whipped the world and beat the clock, wound up with their share of stock
Despite their nonconformity, the family has been successful in achieving their goals and accumulating wealth.
Silver Rolls from golden rock, shaken by a knock, knock, knock
Their success is fragile and can easily be rocked by external forces.
Happy family, wave that grin, what goes round must surely spin
The family tries to maintain a facade of happiness, but there is an awareness that their past actions might catch up with them eventually.
Cheesecake, mousetrap, Grip-Pipe-Thynne cried out, "We're not Rin Tin Tin"
The family members are asserting their individuality and rejecting traditional stereotypes or expectations placed on them.
Uncle Rufus grew his nose, threw away his circus clothes
One family member, Uncle Rufus, is shedding his past and trying to move forward with a new identity.
Cousin Silas grew a beard, drew another flask of weird
Another family member, Cousin Silas, is embracing eccentric behavior and possibly substance abuse.
Nasty Jonah grew a wife, Judas drew his pruning knife
Two family members, Jonah and Judas, are making life-altering decisions. Jonah is getting married, while Judas is taking a drastic step possibly to harm others or himself.
Happy family, pale applause, each to his revolving doors
The family has lost its sense of connection and people are drifting apart and going their separate ways.
Silas searching, Rufus neat, Jonah caustic, Jude so sweet
Each family member is unique in their personality and behavior, and they are all trying to find their own path in life.
Let their sergeant mirror spin if we lose the barbers win
This line suggests that the family is caught in a cycle of losing and winning, with no clear resolution in sight.
Happy family one hand clap, four went on but none came back
The family appears to be falling apart, and various members have disappeared and are never coming back.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Peter John Sinfield, Robert Fripp
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anon8586
Happy family, one hand clap, four went by and none come back
Brother Judas, ash and sack, swallowed aphrodisiac
Rufus, Silas, Jonah too sang, "We'll blow our own canoes"
Poked a finger in the zoo, punctured all the ballyhoo
Whipped the world and beat the clock, wound up with their share of stock
Silver Rolls from golden rock, shaken by a knock, knock, knock
Happy family, wave that grin, what goes round must surely spin
Cheesecake, mousetrap, Grip-Pipe-Thynne cried out, "We're not Rin Tin Tin"
Uncle Rufus grew his nose, threw away his circus clothes
Cousin Silas grew a beard, drew another flask of weird
Nasty Jonah grew a wife, Judas drew his pruning knife
Happy family one hand clap, four went on but none came back
Happy family, pale applause, each to his revolving doors
Silas searching, Rufus neat, Jonah caustic, Jude so sweet
Let their sergeant mirror spin if we lose, the barbers win
Happy family one hand clap, four went on but none came back
@CoolioTops
King Crimson making Happy Family while having the most dysfunctional band in existence
@cesarincamendozaloyola4407
Because they were singing about a dysfunctional band that broke up acrimoniously
@VanNessy97
Ah. This was their farewell song
@dubsboxOG
@@VanNessy97 No... and sort of
@yourwifesboyfriend42069
There's better examples of dysfunctional bands like pink floyd. The narcissistic psychopathic behavior of the family is worse than this band c'mon. The nuclear family is cringe bro
@alejandrotermine1554
su música muestra que eran una banda disfuncional / their music shows they were a dysfunctional band
@jeanbonnefoy1377
Maybe the funniest/sharpest/pinpoint comment about the Fab Four ever written. Worth hundred pages or scenes of Get Back/Let it Be.
@jeanbonnefoy1377
And btw, a fun fact: by both its theme and construction (from the opening Cirkus to the closing Big Top) this 3rd album can be read as a subtle tribute to Sergeant (and not a minor one!)
@sqTake2
Is it safe now to admit this is one of my favorite pieces of music ever? Beam it out into space & see what sort of response comes back.
@thanatos_0.
YES