Starting immediately after the cacophony that ends "21st Century Schizoid Man", the mood of this song is a stark contrast; it is relatively serene, simple and peaceful. Ian McDonald's flute begins the song, and is one of the lead instruments throughout. He also plays a classical-inspired solo in the middle of the song as a "C" section and a longer one at the end as a coda.
These themes would be revisited again by the band, notably on their second album, In the Wake of Poseidon. "Pictures of a City", with a similar mood as "21st Century Schizoid Man", would be followed by "Cadence And Cascade", another relatively calm song for the band.
A version of this song appears on the 1992 album Mind Fruit by the band Opus III.
The Shapir-O'Rama also cover this song on their 1988 debut El Mundo de Vapor y Valentia (Old Vienna).
The song was performed live in 1996 by Ian McDonald and later King Crimson member John Wetton with Steve Hackett on Hackett's Tokyo Tapes.
Another version of this song appears on the 2007 Jordan Rudess album The Road Home.
I Talk to the Wind
King Crimson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where have you been?
I've been here and I've been there
And I've been in between
I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind cannot hear
I'm on the outside looking inside
What do I see?
Much confusion, disillusion
All around me
I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind does not hear
The wind cannot hear
You don't possess me
Don't impress me
Just upset my mind
Can't instruct me or conduct me
Just use up my time
I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind does not hear
The wind cannot hear
I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind does not hear
The wind cannot hear
Said the straight man to the late man
Where have you been?
I've been here and I've been there and
I've been in between
In King Crimson's "I Talk to the Wind," the vocalist finds himself on the outside looking in, observing the state of confusion and disillusion around him. A "straight man" asks a "late man" where he has been, and the answer is that he has been everywhere and nowhere at the same time. He speaks to the wind, but his words are carried away, unheard and unheeded. The wind does not hear or respond, leaving the singer feeling disconnected and unheard.
The repeated use of the phrase "I talk to the wind" is metaphorical, expressing feelings of isolation and frustration. The singer feels like his words are all carried away without being heard or understood. The wind is an embodiment of the intransigence of the forces that imbue his world, serving the function of an unfeeling and uncaring symbol of the world beyond his control. He is simply an observer, with no power over his surroundings.
Overall, "I Talk to the Wind" is a reflection on the depersonalization of modern society, where individuals are often left feeling voiceless and powerless to act. The song captures the sense of frustration and lack of control many feel in a world saturated with unresponsive, chaotic forces.
Line by Line Meaning
Said the straight man to the late man
The straight man is questioning the late man about his whereabouts.
Where have you been?
The straight man is asking the late man where he has been.
I've been here and I've been there and I've been in between
The late man responds to the straight man's question by saying he has been in various places.
I talk to the wind
The artist is saying that he talks to the wind.
My words are all carried away
The artist's words are not heard by anyone or have no effect.
The wind does not hear
The singer acknowledges that the wind is deaf to his words.
The wind cannot hear
The singer reiterates that the wind is not capable of hearing.
I'm on the outside looking inside
The artist is observing a situation from a detached viewpoint.
What do I see?
The artist is questioning what he is witnessing.
Much confusion, disillusion all around me
The artist is encountering a lot of chaos and disappointment in his surroundings.
You don't possess me
The singer is declaring his independence and the fact that he cannot be controlled by others.
Don't impress me
The artist is not easily swayed by others' opinions or actions.
Just upset my mind
The singer is bothered or agitated by something, but not influenced by it.
Can't instruct me or conduct me
The singer cannot be taught or led by others.
Just use up my time
The singer feels that his time is being wasted by others.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Greg Lake, Ian Mcdonald, Michael Rex Giles, Peter John Sinfield, Robert Fripp
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@corazondehojaldre9922
[Verse 1]
Said the straight man to the late man
"Where have you been?"
I've been here and I've been there
And I've been in between
[Chorus]
I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind does not hear, the wind cannot hear
[Verse 2]
I'm on the outside looking inside
What do I see?
Much confusion, disillusion
All around me
[Chorus]
I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind does not hear, the wind cannot hear
[Verse 3]
You don't possess me, don't impress me
Just upset my mind
Can't instruct me or conduct me
Just use up my time
[Chorus]
I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind does not hear, the wind cannot hear
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Chorus]
I talk to the wind
My words are all carried away
I talk to the wind
The wind does not hear, the wind cannot hear
[Verse 1]
Said the straight man to the late man
"Where have you been?"
I've been here and I've been there
And I've been in between
[Instrumental Outro]
@youexpectedanamebutitwasmedio
Since no one ever commented here with a similar interpretation of the song how I do, I now leave my comment.
I'm a 22 y/o woman with ADHD and this is a great way of showing how people like us live and breathe. I'm an inattentive type and I always space out into a whole new dimension of reality.
I've noticed that I use a unique coping mechanism for myself. Since I also have trouble expressing my thoughts and emotions, venting to another person never helped me. They either misunderstood me, or don't understand me at all.
I personally cope with things by venting to my thoughts. I let loose when I daydream and I feel comforted by it. (Mostly when I ride the bus or train, I love to escape into my very own dimension of reality)
"I talk to the wind, my words are all carried away" is what expresses this the best I think.
And when people would ask me how I always manage to keep a good mood, I think to myself "If they only knew" :')
It's almost like the like
Said the straight man to the late man "where have you been"
"I've been here and I've been there and I've been in between"
This "between" is my dimension of reality, my escape.
Is there a person who by mere coincidence has a psychologist kinda title? I'm suspecting myself to be autistic since I catch myself having autistic tendencies. Does, what I said above, give you a clue? It would really help me if someone could answer this question.
@youexpectedanamebutitwasmedio
@@loucat2779 That's actually so sweet?? You've made my day better than it already was :') I did not expect such a heartwarming response to this comment.
I really hope that I can find that someone, just like you did. I'm very happy that a person who has a similar way of thinking, has found their other half. I'm sincerely happy for you :)
I'm still figuring out how my real identity is like without "adjusting myself according to the person or situation" so I kind of don't have a single clue what kind of person my someone would be like, or if I even need a someone.
Anyway, thanks again for that wholesome answer and I wish you a nice (whatever daytime it is at your place).
Love from Germany 🫶🏼
@flazzorb
I love this song for how open ended it is in interpretation.
"Said the straight man, to the late man" Is the straight man literally speaking to the late man, or only metaphorically?
"Where have you been?" Shows that the late man is, in fact, almost definitely dead, why would he be the "straight man" otherwise?
"I've been here and, I've been there and, I've been in between." Either; The late man is responding, saying he has been in the world of the living (presumably as a ghost of some sort), the afterlife, and in between, probably some form of limbo; or it is the straight man continuing to speak to the unresponsive late man (or likely, his grave).
"I talk to the wind... my words are all caried away... the wind does not/can not hear" Implies the late man is not responding, as the speaker does not feel heard, or that the late man is responding, but the straight man can not hear his response.
"I'm on the outside, looking in side, what do I see? Much confusion, disillusion, all around me."
Either; The straight man is speaking, and referring to how others around him perceive the death of others;
The straight man is speaking, and referring to how the dead perceive their own deaths;
The late man is speaking, and referring to how living people perceive their death, or the deaths of others;
The late man is speaking, and referring to how others come to grips with, or fail to come to grips with, their own death and the afterlife.
It's probably the last one, but the fact it's so open ended is incredible.
[Repeat chorus]
"You don't possess me, Don't impress me... Can't instruct me or conduct me" Possess as in own, or inhabit as a ghost? Impress as in to inspire admiration, or as in to force to act? Instruct as in teach or to order? Conduct as in to lead or conduct as a medium? Either the late man, or the straight man could be speaking and the line still makes sense.
"Just upset my mind... Just use up my time" Heavily implies that the straight man is speaking, and is dwelling in their grief in a way they know is unhealthy.
[Repeat chorus]
[Repeat opening]
Over all, the song is probably a partially one sided dialogue of a straight man, who is unable to move on, speaking to the late man, who is unable to respond. However, there are several lines where it is entirely unclear who is speaking to, or at, who. A very brilliantly written song.
Or of course, I'm over thinking this.
@pchristianzenner904
Back in 1978, I caught my Mom listening to this on my headphones. She said she loved this. Miss her so much.
@progrockplaylists
i was born in 2003 and can't even imagine what great fun you had back then. can't imagine being born in the 40s like your mother either
@pchristianzenner904
@@progrockplaylists late '20s. Glad to hear you're into this stuff. Good music is timeless. To quote a lyric..."teach your children". And we all take the memories with us. ✌
@goofygoobah9395
Off topic but I miss the old days of when electronics and other stuff was in its early stages ;-;
@daniel0-01
@@pchristianzenner904 I'm glad to know there is another generation of king crimson fans
@andreasballe7470
@@pchristianzenner904 You're born in the late 20s??? You're almost a hundred years old?
@humbertohinostroza4936
Rest in peace Grandpa 🙏🏼🕊️ 9/19 This is the last song you told me to play for you. ❤️
@tulyar57
"Where have you been?"
"I've been here and...I've been there and...I've been inbetween"
I used Peter Sinfield's lyrics to a teacher when i was late for school almost fifty years ago. Sadly, he didn't understand the philosophical content and I got one hours detention instead.
@AdeneTzr
F
@Burt472
Sorry about that, bro...You tried....