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.)
Moonchild including the Dream and the Illusion
King Crimson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dancing in the shallows of a river
Lovely moonchild
Dreaming in the shadow
Of the willow.
Talking to the trees of the
Cobweb strange
Waving silver wands to the
Night-birds song
Waiting for the sun on the mountain.
She's a moonchild
Gathering the flowers in a garden.
Lovely moonchild
Drifting on the echoes of the hours.
Sailing on the wind
In a milk white gown
Dropping circle stones on a sun dial
Playing hide and seek
With the ghosts of dawn
Waiting for a smile from a sun child.
The lyrics of "Moonchild" by King Crimson paint a vivid picture of a young girl who is in touch with nature and the spiritual world. She is described as "dancing in the shallows of a river" while "dreaming in the shadow of the willow." She is not just a typical girl, but a moonchild, someone connected to the moon and its cycles. The moon has always been associated with mystery, femininity, and the subconscious, so it's not surprising that the character of the moonchild is imbued with these qualities.
The lyricist goes on to describe the moonchild talking to trees in the cobweb strange and sleeping near a fountain. The moonchild is at one with nature and even has the ability to communicate with it. She wields silver wands and waits for the sun on the mountain. She is continuously gathering flowers in a garden and drifting on the echoes of the hours. She is almost in another dimension where she is playing hide and seek with the ghosts at dawn, waiting for the smile from a sun child.
The dream and illusion become synonymous with the depiction of the moonchild, who is depicted as wandering the earth with the power of the moon guiding her. The use of dreams and illusions is a metaphor, as the moonchild is in a spiritual state of mind and is often engaging with her own reflection. She is only beholden to her own imagination and her relationship with the natural world. The moonchild represents us all at our most introspective when we are alone, looking to the heavens, for guidance and to seek meaning in our existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Call her moonchild
Introduce this elusive and mystical character known as moonchild
Dancing in the shallows of a river
Moonchild enjoys graceful movement in the serene environment of a river
Lovely moonchild
Reinforce the admiration for the beauty of this moonchild
Dreaming in the shadow of the willow
Moonchild appears to be lost in thought, contemplative under the shade of a willow tree
Talking to the trees of the cobweb strange
Moonchild seems to possess a certain charm, even being able to communicate in some way with the strange cobwebbed trees
Sleeping on the steps of a fountain
Moonchild finds serene and undisturbed slumber on the steps of a fountain
Waving silver wands to the night-birds song
Moonchild conjures up spells or simply enjoys the music of the nocturnal birds, swaying magic silver wands in tune with the melody
Waiting for the sun on the mountain
Moonchild is patient for the rise of the sun on the mountain, possibly signalling a new day or change
She's a moonchild
Re-emphasize that the artist of the song is indeed a moonchild
Gathering the flowers in a garden
Moonchild continues their love for the natural world, picking flowers in a garden
Lovely moonchild
Restate and strengthen the appreciation for the moonchild's beauty
Drifting on the echoes of the hours
Moonchild seems to enjoy retracing the memories or moments that have passed already, drifting through their echoes
Sailing on the wind in a milk white gown
Moonchild appears to be swept away by the winds of change, with clothes or appearance resembling purity and innocence
Dropping circle stones on a sun dial
Moonchild participates in some sort of mystical or spiritual practice, placing stones on a sundial according to a circular pattern
Playing hide and seek with the ghosts of dawn
Moonchild seems to be unafraid to interact with otherworldly entities, even engaging them in a playful game of hide and seek in the early hours of the morn
Waiting for a smile from a sun child
Moonchild looks forward to the warmth of the sun, hoping for some sort of acknowledgment or recognition from it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARCELLA LEVY, SIOBHAN FAHEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cottoncandy7159
Moonchild
[Part I: “The Dream”]
Call her moonchild
Dancing in the shallows of a river
Lonely moonchild
Dreaming in the shadows of a willow
Talking to the trees of the cobweb strange
Sleeping on the steps of a fountain
Waving silver wands to the night-bird’s song
Waiting for the sun on the mountain
She’s a moonchild
Gathering the flowers in a garden
Lovely moonchild
Drifting in the echoes of the hours
Sailing on the wind in a milk white gown
Dropping circle stones on a sun dial
Playing hide and seek with the ghosts of dawn
Waiting for a smile from a sun child
@alexmendoza346
Llámala hija de la luna
Call her moonchild
Bailando en las aguas poco profundas de un río
Dancing in the shallows of a river
Hijo de la luna solitario
Lonely moonchild
Soñando en las sombras del sauce
Dreaming in the shadows of the willow
Hablando con los árboles de la telaraña extraño
Talking to the trees of the cobweb strange
Durmiendo en los escalones de una fuente
Sleeping on the steps of a fountain
Agitando varitas plateadas al canto de los pájaros nocturnos
Waving silver wands to the night birds song
Esperando el sol en la montaña
Waiting for the sun on the mountain
ella es una hija de la luna
She's a moonchild
Recogiendo las flores en un jardín.
Gathering the flowers in a garden
precioso hijo de la luna
Lovely moonchild
A la deriva en los ecos de las horas
Drifting on the echoes of the hours
Navegando en el viento con un vestido blanco como la leche
Sailing on the wind in a milk white gown
Dejar caer piedras circulares en un reloj de sol
Dropping circle stones on a sun dial
Jugando al escondite con los fantasmas del amanecer
Playing hide and seek with the ghosts of dawn
Esperando una sonrisa de un niño sol
Waiting for a smile from a sun child
@baddomingo6240
Call her moonchild
Dancing in the shallows of a river
Lonely moonchild
Dreaming in the shadows of the willow
Talking to the trees of the cobweb strange
Sleeping on the steps of a fountain
Waving silver wands to the night birds song
Waiting for the sun on the mountain
She's a moonchild
Gathering the flowers in a garden
Lovely moonchild
Drifting on the echoes of the hours
Sailing on the wind in a milk white gown
Dropping circle stones on a sun dial
Playing hide and seek with the ghosts of dawn
Waiting for a smile from a sun child
@progrockplaylists
Some people are hearing this for the first time and i can feel their day has changed completely
@Marova
here
@lifespanofafry1534
I’ll forget this pretentious nonsense by tomorrow. King Crimson is waaaaay in the back of my prog rock taste. If they even register at all.
@Marova
@Lifespan of a Fry dude why you even bother to comment then? I'd get this kind of comment with some of the commercial, social networking, influencer shit thats going on every where nowadays, but from a 1969 album?? And on a full of good vibes comment?? Lame. You are heading in the wrong direction person on the internet who I could care less of a shit, but let me tell you something: You are the one being pretentious and forgettable this time...
Saludos!
@gab_v250
one of them it's me. But I'm coming from Genesis, YES and italian progressive (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, PFM, Area...)
@alexanderhutton7514
Listening to this for the first time right now, and I can confirm that this is about to have a huge impact on my life
@suntrespasser9684
This was played at my mum's funeral, at her request. Miss you mum xxx
@ssballs
What greatness. Reads like she had great taste.
@rudigazortipek2987
Scintilstes in many an unearthly hue
@johnsosa991
Rest In Peace!