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.)
MODEL
King Crimson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look for the symptoms
Look for the slight
Calm before the storm
I feel the silence
I feel the signals
I feel the strain
Well, what more can be said?
Not a model man
Not a savior or a saint
Imperfect in a word
Make no mistake
But I
Give you everything I have
Take me as I am
Look for the signs
Look for the symptoms
Look for the slight
Calm before the storm
I feel the silence
I feel the signals
I feel the strain
Tension in my head
Well, what more can be said?
Not a model man
Not a savior or a saint
Imperfect in a word
Make no mistake
But I
Give you everything I have
Take me as I am
Not a model man
Not a savior or a saint
Imperfect in a word
Make no mistake
But I
Give you everything I have
Take me as I am
Look for the signs
In these lyrics, the singer appears to be someone who is imperfect and flawed, but still willing to give everything they have to the person they are speaking to. The repeated refrain of “Not a model man, Not a savior or a saint, Imperfect in a word, Make no mistake, But I Give you everything I have, Take me as I am” seems to be a plea for acceptance despite their flaws. The overall tone of the song is one of vulnerability, as the singer acknowledges their imperfections but still offers all they have to give.
The repeated phrases of “Look for the signs, Look for the symptoms, Look for the slight, Calm before the storm” and “I feel the silence, I feel the signals, I feel the strain, Tension in my head” suggest a sense of anticipation or impending danger. It’s possible that the singer is referring to a particular situation or even a specific person, and they are trying to communicate their awareness and concern through these lyrics.
Overall, “Model” is a heartfelt and introspective song that showcases King Crimson’s ability to craft lyrically rich and emotionally evocative music.
Line by Line Meaning
Look for the signs
Pay close attention to the indications of what may happen next.
Look for the symptoms
Be aware of the signs of trouble that may arise.
Look for the slight
Pay attention to even the slightest bit of unusual behavior or circumstance.
Calm before the storm
The quiet before a significant and potentially volatile event or situation.
I feel the silence
A sense of stillness and quiet, possibly ominous, that is palpable.
I feel the signals
Picking up on the indications or hints of something about to occur.
I feel the strain
Feeling the stress and tension building up.
Tension in my head
Anxiety and stress manifesting physically.
Well, what more can be said?
No more explanation is necessary.
Not a model man
Not a person who conforms perfectly to societal expectations.
Not a savior or a saint
Not a heroic or godlike figure who can do no wrong.
Imperfect in a word
Flawed and fallible.
Make no mistake
Do not be deceived, misunderstand or underestimate me.
But I give you everything I have
Despite my imperfections, I offer all that I can give.
Take me as I am
Accept me for who I am, including my imperfections.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adrian Belew, Anthony Charles Levin, Robert Fripp, William Scott Bruford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nestorgos8178
Look for the signs
Look for the symptoms
Look for the slight
Calm before the storm
I feel the silence
I feel the signals
I feel the strain
Tension in my head
Well, what more can be said...
Not a model man
Not a saviour or a saint
Imperfect in a word
Make no mistake
But I
Give you everything I have
Take me as i am
Look for the signs
Look for the symptoms
Look for the slight
Calm before the storm
I feel the silence
I feel the signals
I feel the strain
Tension in my head
Well, what more can be said...
Not a model man
Not a saviour or a saint
Imperfect in a word
Make no mistake
But I
Give you everything I have
Take me as i am
Not a model man
Not a saviour or a saint
Imperfect in a word
Make no mistake
But I
Give you everything I have
Take me as i am
Look for the signs...
@mookiemfg2623
Look for the signs
Look for the symptoms
Look for the slight
Calm before the storm
I feel the silence
I feel the signals
I feel the strain
Tension in my head
Well, what more can be said...
Not a model man
Not a saviour or a saint
Imperfect in a word
Make no mistake
But I
Give you everything I have
Take me as i am
Look for the signs
Look for the symptoms
Look for the slight
Calm before the storm
I feel the silence
I feel the signals
I feel the strain
Tension in my head
Well, what more can be said...
Not a model man
Not a saviour or a saint
Imperfect in a word
Make no mistake
But I
Give you everything I have
Take me as i am
Not a model man
Not a saviour or a saint
Imperfect in a word
Make no mistake
But I
Give you everything I have
Take me as i am
Look for the signs...
@lightdotogam4734
Of course he's not a model man, he's wheels
@sherry-annsasmellyshrew6516
He Most Certainly is Moving Wheels my Friend, he's a 1952, Studebaker Coupe.
@purestress2597
Now there's a post card we've all seen before
@philippreichert6847
Strange spaghetti in this solemn city!!!
@vitordarksider
He's also a dinosaur
@Spungs
Also there's a postcard we've all seen before
@not_ryuka
Honestly, one of my favourite King Crimson songs.
@icanseeformiles9387
I came to say the same thing!
@corradogiunta6186
agree
@marcbungener1877
me too, I’m totally addicted to the sound of Tony Levin’s bass in this song