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.)
Ladies of the Road
King Crimson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As sweet as holy water
Said, "I'm the school reporter
Please teach me", well I taught her
Two fingered levi'd sister
Said, "Peace", I stopped I kissed her
Said, "I'm a male resister",
High diving Chinese trender
Black hair and black suspender
Said, "Please me no surrender
Just love to feel your Fender"
All of you know that the girls of the road
Are like apples you stole in your youth
All of you know that the girls of the road
Been around but are versed in the truth
Stone-headed Frisco spacer
Ate all the meat I gave her
Said would I like to taste hers
And even craved the flavor
"Like marron-glaced fish bones
Oh lady hit the road!"
All of you know that the girls of the road
Are like apples you stole in your youth
All of you know that the girls of the road
Been around but are versed in the truth
The lyrics to King Crimson's "Ladies of the Road" describe encounters with different women and their sexual desires. The first verse talks about a flower lady's daughter who wants to become a reporter and is asking for guidance. In the second verse, the singer meets a "two-fingered levi'd sister" who identifies as a "male resister" and is seeking peace. The singer ends up kissing her and unzipping her pants. In the third verse, the singer meets a "high diving Chinese trender" who wants to feel the singer's guitar, but also wants him to surrender to her. The final verse describes a "stone-headed Frisco spacer" who asks the singer to taste her after she has tasted him.
The song is essentially about the sexual liberation of women and their desire to explore their sexuality. The line "All of you know that the girls of the road are like apples you stole in your youth" implies that these women are tempting and irresistible but have also been around and have gained knowledge and experience. The song can also be interpreted as a commentary on gender roles and expectations, with women being portrayed as the initiators of sexual encounters rather than passive objects of male desire.
Line by Line Meaning
A flower lady's daughter
A girl who comes from a family of florists
As sweet as holy water
She was very sweet and innocent
Said, "I'm the school reporter
She introduced herself as a reporter for the school newspaper
Please teach me", well I taught her
She asked to learn from the artist, who then taught her something
Two fingered levi'd sister
A young woman wearing Levi's jeans and using only two fingers to gesture
Said, "Peace", I stopped I kissed her
The woman greeted the singer with a message of peace and he was so moved by her that he kissed her
Said, "I'm a male resister"
She identified herself as someone who resisted typical gender norms
I smiled and just unzipped her
The artist smiled and then proceeded to have sexual relations with her
High diving Chinese trender
A Chinese woman who was known for her high diving skills
Black hair and black suspender
She had dark hair and was wearing black suspenders
Said, "Please me no surrender
She asked for sexual satisfaction, but with no strings attached
Just love to feel your Fender"
She would enjoy feeling the artist's guitar (also referred to as a Fender) during sex
All of you know that the girls of the road
The singer assumes that everyone listening is familiar with the idea of women who travel and engage in sexual relationships
Are like apples you stole in your youth
These women are reminiscent of the thrill of stealing apples in one's youth; they're exciting and maybe even a little dangerous
Been around but are versed in the truth
These women are experienced in life and therefore wise to its ways
Stone-headed Frisco spacer
A woman from San Francisco who is stubborn and resistant to change
Ate all the meat I gave her
She consumed all of the artist's offering of meat (both literally and metaphorically)
Said would I like to taste hers
She offered up herself for the singer to enjoy
And even craved the flavor
She thoroughly enjoyed the experience
"Like marron-glaced fish bones
She compared a part of herself to a delicacy of fish bones in a sweet chestnut glaze.
Oh lady hit the road!"
The artist sings a line encouraging the woman to leave and continue her adventures
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Peter John Sinfield, Robert Fripp
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-js6el7vn2r
Дорожные подруги (Ladies On The Road)
Была сладка, как освященная вода,
Цветочной продавщицы дочь.
«Я – репортерша стенгазеты. Обучите, господа».
Ну, как я мог ей не помочь?
Сказала: «Миру – мир» джинсовая сестрица.-
Ее поцеловал я, тормознув.
«Долой самцов!»,- сказала бунтовщица. -
Я улыбнулся, ей замочек расстегнув.
К утехам склонна китаянка-отчаюга.
Подвязка, волосы черны, как смоль.
«А где твой Фендер? Покажи мне друга,
Не откажи, и ощутить его в себе позволь».
Все знают, что дорожные подруги
Как яблоки, что в детстве воровал.
Все знают, что дорожные подруги
Так опытны, но это – правды карнавал.
Во Фриско вхлам обкуренная шлюха
Смела мной купленное мясо все,
Сказав, что я теперь могу попробовать ее,
И настоятельно просила хоть понюхать.
«Мне даже видеть эти ребра просто худо,
Давай, вали-ка ты отсюда!»
Все знают, что дорожные подруги
Как яблоки, что в детстве воровал.
Все знают, что дорожные подруги
Так опытны, но это – правды карнавал.
@markcharig1
I had a wonderful time playing the cornet on this album. Robert and the rest of the crew there were such an awesome group to be around. Being able to feature on an album created by rock legends was an experience I will never forget.
@dhollsynthmusic
lovely to hear from someone who was really in the thick of it! hope you've made a ton of musik since :)
@geraividet
Your work in this era always impressed me. king crimson, Centipede, and more. I was always impressed with your tone and subtle contributions. You were an important part of musical history!
@mullhollandmace7271
The jazziest of Crimson albums and my favorite.
@thenextpoetician6328
Feather in your hat. :) Love the album to pieces.
@jeddbowman
Absolute classic album, well done 👍
@fr1endsh1p
Boutta start calling this album “seKCs”
@raydarable
Why?
@mounsterchef
@@raydarable SEX, that's why.
@canti7951
Sex-