Despite the band's German origin and progressive rock stylings, they are not usually classified as krautrock.
The British-born John Lawton (Uriah Heep 1977-1979) was vocalist for a group called Stonewall. Peter Hecht, Dieter Horns, Peter Hesslein, and Joachim Reitenbach were members of a band called the German Bonds. The five joined together to record an album under the band name of Asterix in 1970, then changed their name to Lucifer's Friend and continued under that name. Another group called the Pink Mice was a side project by some of the members in 1971 minus Lawton.
The early albums were released on the Vertigo Records label in Europe, but in the United States those albums were released on a series of small independent record labels (Billingsgate, Janus, Passport), often a year or more after their release in Europe. Thus, despite airplay in some markets and a cult following, the band's albums were hard to find and commercial success eluded them. The band was finally signed to Elektra Records in the late 1970s who released three albums with a more commercial pop oriented sound, but by then interest in the band had waned; those albums were even less successful than the earlier ones.
Lucifer's Friend was known for changing musical styles and influences on each album. The self-titled 1970 debut had dark lyrics and a stripped-down guitar and organ style heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. That album is still sought after by fans of early heavy metal music. The second album, Where the Groupies Killed the Blues, took an entirely different direction; it was a very experimental album of progressive and psychedelic rock, mostly composed by John O'Brien Docker. On the third album, I'm Just a Rock & Roll Singer, they changed direction again, this time in the straightforward rock style popularized by such groups as Grand Funk Railroad, and gritty "life on the road" themes in the lyrics. Banquet featured extended, multi-layered jazz fusion compositions and a 30-piece backup band, alternating with some shorter tracks reminiscent of Chicago and Traffic. Those first four albums are all concept albums of a sort and along with the self-titled Asterix album are the most sought after today.
Mind Exploding established a holding pattern and tried to combine the jazz of Banquet with the garage-rock of Rock & Roll Singer, but was not as well received as the earlier albums. Vocalist John Lawton left in 1976 to join Uriah Heep, but returned for the 1981 album Mean Machine. On the two albums without Lawton they moved to a more commercial sound, on 1978's Good Time Warrior and 1980's Sneak Me In.
John Lawton's 1980 solo album on RCA, Heartbeat, was a Lucifer's Friend album in everything but name, with the lineup from Sneak Me In performing as backup musicians on that project. Lawton's official return, Mean Machine, found the band returning to heavy metal, this time in the vein of Foreigner and Bad Company. The band officially broke up in 1982 but briefly reformed in the early 1990s to release a new CD, Sumo Grip.
Dirty Old Town
Lucifer's Friend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the changing of life seems to move me
Seasons of guide in a song on a time
Under things that are really confusing
Help me to find in your face in the crowd
Help me now, let me find my big giving
I tried and I'm trying but the thoughts keep inside
Just a smile, just clampsys in fear
I need the touch of a hand
Fanting she's caught with the shadow of doubt
Too late for the law that I found
Dirty old town, what's your name what you're doing
Dirty old town, won't you leave them alone
Dirty old town, it's a shame what you're thinking
Don't give a hand, let it be
Dirty old town, can't you see in the future
Dirty old town, don't need in your name
Oh I hear songs you're telling the gods
Don't let the guide slip away, slip away
I wonder in man in a valley of flames
In a dream that's slowing unwending
The season of guide in a song with no rhyme
On a thought that is really unending
I found in your face and I found in your mind
And I dont really need my big giving
Too late for your souls and your stories untold
Turn the page for the pucks that's reading
Just a smile, just a clampsys in fear
No need for the touch of a hand
Fanting she's caught with the shadow of dawn
Too late for the lawn that you found
Dirty old town, what's your name what you're doing
Dirty old town, won't leave them alone
Dirty old town, it's a shame what you're thinking
Don't take a hand, let it be
Dirty old town, can't you see in the future
Dirty old town, don't need for your name
Oh I hear songs you're telling for gods
Don't let the guide slip away, slip away
The lyrics to Lucifer's Friend's song Dirty Old Town present a dream-like sequence of thoughts and emotions. The singer reflects on the changing nature of life and the confusion it brings, seeking guidance and validation from someone amidst the chaos of the crowd. The imagery in the lyrics suggests that the singer is struggling with a sense of disorientation and uncertainty, represented by the lack of rhyme and the use of non-standard phrases such as "clampsys in fear." As the song progresses, the singer seems to become more jaded and disillusioned, realizing that the law and the established order offer no real solutions to life's problems. The repeated refrain of "Dirty old town" serves as a powerful metaphor for the sense of decay and despair that permeates the lyrics, implying that the world is corrupted and lost beyond redemption.
One interesting interpretation of the lyrics is that they reflect the cultural and political upheavals of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The song was released in 1974, a time of great social and political ferment in many parts of the world. The references to confusion, disillusionment, and the failure of established institutions to provide meaningful answers to people's problems could be seen as a commentary on the failures of traditional politics and social norms. The repeated refrain of "Dirty old town" could also be seen as a critique of the decaying urban environments that many people found themselves living in.
Another interpretation of the lyrics is that they reflect the personal struggles of the singer or the band. The imagery of the dream-sequence and the repeated refrain of "Help me now, let me find my big giving" suggest a desire for validation, recognition, and a sense of meaning in life. The song could be seen as a plea for someone, anyone, to help the singer find his or her place in the world and to provide some kind of guidance in the midst of confusion and uncertainty.
Overall, the lyrics to Dirty Old Town are open to multiple interpretations and suggest a deep-seated sense of dislocation and despair. The imagery is dream-like and non-linear, reflecting the sense of disorientation and confusion that many people feel when confronted with the complexities and challenges of contemporary life.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream when I saw it was weak
In a moment of vulnerability, I dreamt of weakness in myself
But the changing of life seems to move me
Despite this vulnerability, the passage of time moves me forward
Seasons of guide in a song on a time
Experiences shape us like the seasons, each with its own unique melody
Under things that are really confusing
Often, it's beneath the surface that true confusion lies
Help me to find in your face in the crowd
Amidst a sea of faces, help me to see and recognize yours
Help me now, let me find my big giving
Assist me in discovering the purpose and passion that drives me
I tried and I'm trying but the thoughts keep inside
Despite my efforts, my innermost thoughts remain trapped within me
He can struck but my future is bending
Challenges may come, but my future is malleable and adaptable
Just a smile, just clampsys in fear
Sometimes, all it takes is a simple smile to enact positive change
I need the touch of a hand
Human connection is vital and irreplaceable
Fanting she's caught with the shadow of doubt
The fear of the unknown can take hold of us and hold us back
Too late for the law that I found
The rules and regulations that once governed my life are no longer relevant
Dirty old town, what's your name what you're doing
A town may be shrouded in mystery, begging the question of its identity and purpose
Dirty old town, won't you leave them alone
A town or its inhabitants may be causing trouble, and it's time to move on
Dirty old town, it's a shame what you're thinking
The thoughts and actions of a town are disappointing and shameful
Don't give a hand, let it be
Sometimes, it's best to let things be and not interfere
Dirty old town, can't you see in the future
A town may be unaware of what the future holds
Dirty old town, don't need in your name
A town might not need to reveal its identity in order to move forward
Oh I hear songs you're telling the gods
The town's song reaches even the divine beings
Don't let the guide slip away, slip away
Don't let the opportunity to be guided and to guide others slip away
I wonder in man in a valley of flames
In times of trial, one might feel as though they are burning alive
In a dream that's slowing unwending
A dream that never seems to end can be exhausting and disorienting
The season of guide in a song with no rhyme
Sometimes, guidance comes in unexpected ways and in unconventional forms
On a thought that is really unending
Some thoughts can seem to stretch on forever
I found in your face and I found in your mind
I found not only your physical presence, but also your depth of thought and feeling
And I dont really need my big giving
The need to give back and contribute isn't always necessary or relevant
Too late for your souls and your stories untold
It's too late to uncover the souls and untold stories of others
Turn the page for the pucks that's reading
It's time to move on and give way to new stories and experiences for those who are reading
Fanting she's caught with the shadow of dawn
The fear continues to grip and control us even as light begins to emerge
Too late for the lawn that you found
The once green and fertile land is now deceased and barren
Dirty old town, what's your name what you're doing
The town's true identity and intentions remain unclear
Dirty old town, won't leave them alone
The town's troubles continue to affect and harass others
Dirty old town, it's a shame what you're thinking
The town's thoughts and actions are shameful and disappointing
Don't take a hand, let it be
It's best to let things be and not interfere, even when it's difficult
Dirty old town, can't you see in the future
A town may be unaware of what the future holds
Dirty old town, don't need for your name
A town might not need to reveal its identity in order to move forward
Oh I hear songs you're telling for gods
The town's song reaches even the divine beings
Don't let the guide slip away, slip away
Don't let the opportunity to be guided and to guide others slip away
Contributed by Reagan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
nazzare79
Their best album ever...with a great cover too!
groundhog713
Great song! This should have been a top 10 hit in my book!
CecileLisle
The final track of their album "Banquet", a masterpiece of progressive rock.
charles watkins
Totally agree.
Rockkerle
LF is totally underrated in Rock history.The band works together abolutely well and the singing parts are creativ and fantastic.
stefan persson
Thanks, very good band and album, top notch
EggsZachtly
@nettencm Thanks. Ya.. Banquet was a GREAT album. I haven't had a chance to see if the rest of it is on here. If not, I'll try and fill in the missing pieces. =)
EggsZachtly
@baller895 Agreed. The self-titled and Banquet albums are mainstays on my Droid. =)
Tarkonomist
I wish the last part was it’s own album
Dennis Leon
R.I.P John Lawton..