Although several of their singles are coveted by collectors of British 1960s rock, Les Fleur de Lys never came close to getting a hit. The group did release a number of fine singles in the mod-psychedelic style that has latterly become known as "freakbeat", with more of a soul music influence than most such British acts.
Les Fleur de Lys changed lineups about half a dozen times during their recording career, which roughly spanned 1965-1969. Drummer Keith Guster was the only constant member; some of the musicians passing through went on to commercial success with Journey and Jefferson Starship (keyboardist Pete Sears) and King Crimson (bassist Gordon Haskell). At the outset they recorded a couple of singles for the Immediate label that were produced by Jimmy Page (there remains some controversy about whether he played guitar on these as well). A cover of the Who's "Circles" featured the fluid, slightly distorted guitar lines that would become Les Fleur de Lys's most distinguishing characteristic. The 45s made no commercial impact, however, and Les Fleur de Lys helped sustain themselves in the late '60s by backing relocated South African singer Sharon Tandy.
Continuing to record intermittently on the side, the band managed a few decent slabs of freakbeat with "Hold On", "Mud in Your Eye", and their most psychedelic outing, the memorably titled "Gong with the Luminous Nose". As if the musical chairs of personnel weren't enough, they further confused record buyers with tracks issued under different names like Shyster and Chocolate Frog, as well as playing on singles by Tandy, Waygood Ellis, and John Bromley. One single issued under the moniker Rupert's People, the Procol Harum-like "Reflections of Charlie Brown", became a European hit of sorts; subsequent singles by Rupert's People, however, are not Les Fleur de Lys playing under an assumed name. They finally disbanded in 1969.
Keyboardist Pete Sears went on to play with Sam Gopal Dream then was a founding member of Jefferson Starship and went on to play with Hot Tuna, bassist Gordon Haskell replaced Greg Lake in King Crimson before going on a successful solo career, while guitarist Bryn Haworth recorded solo albums in the 1970s.
A compilation of their work was issued in 1996 under the name Reflections.
Gong With a Luminous Nose
Les Fleur De Lys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Til he fell in love with a Jumblie girl who came to shore one day
Wandering through the forest was the Gong with the Luminous Nose
Playing his pipe with silvery sqeaks, looking for his Jumblie girl
But she's gone away in a plastic sieve to quite another world
Over the hills of Shankley Bore, was the Gong with the Luminous Nose
Oblong oysters growing in that Grambolian sieve
Over the hills of Shankley Bore was the Gong with the Luminous Nose
The Gong with the Luminous Nose
The Gong with the Luminous Nose
Said the Gong with the Luminous Nose
Gong with the Luminous Nose
Gong with the Luminous Nose
Gong with the Luminous Nose
The lyrics of Les Fleur de Lys's song Gong With a Luminous Nose tell a whimsical tale of a Gong, which used to be happy and gay until it fell in love with a Jumblie girl that came to shore one day. The story goes that the Gong, with his luminous nose, ventured into the forest playing his pipe with silvery squeaks in search of his beloved Jumblie girl. However, she had gone away in a plastic sieve to quite another world, and the Gong was left wandering over the hills of Shankley Bore in search of her.
As the Gong continued his search, he landed near the Zemmery Fidd, just where the Jumblies lived, and found Oblong oysters growing in that Grambolian sieve. Despite this discovery, the Gong was still hopelessly searching for his Jumblie girl and continued to wander over the hills of Shankley Bore with his luminous nose. The repeated line of "Gong with the Luminous Nose" at the end of the song serves to emphasize the eccentricity of the tale and accentuate the mysterious character of the Gong.
The story behind the song is inspired by the nonsensical poem "The Dong with a Luminous Nose" by Edward Lear. The Gong is a character specific to Les Fleur de Lys's adaptation of the poem.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten long years ago, the Gong was happy and gay
Many years before, the Gong was cheerful and joyful
'Til he fell in love with a Jumblie girl who came to shore one day
Until he fell in love with a Jumblie girl who arrived on the shore one day
Wandering through the forest was the Gong with the Luminous Nose
The Gong with the Luminous Nose was walking aimlessly through the forest
Playing his pipe with silvery sqeaks, looking for his Jumblie girl
He played his pipe with high-pitched squeaking sounds while searching for his Jumblie girl
But she's gone away in a plastic sieve to quite another world
But she had gone away in a plastic sieve to a completely different world
Over the hills of Shankley Bore, was the Gong with the Luminous Nose
The Gong with the Luminous Nose was beyond the hills of Shankley Bore
Landing at eve near the Zemmery Fidd, just where the Jumblies live
He landed in the evening near the Zemmery Fidd, where the Jumblies reside
Oblong oysters growing in that Grambolian sieve
There were oblong oysters growing in that Grambolian sieve
Over the hills of Shankley Bore was the Gong with the Luminous Nose
The Gong with the Luminous Nose was beyond the hills of Shankley Bore
The Gong with the Luminous Nose
The Gong with the Luminous Nose
The Gong with the Luminous Nose
The Gong with the Luminous Nose
Said the Gong with the Luminous Nose
The Gong with the Luminous Nose said
Gong with the Luminous Nose
Gong with the Luminous Nose
Gong with the Luminous Nose
Gong with the Luminous Nose
Gong with the Luminous Nose
Gong with the Luminous Nose
Contributed by Sophie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.