Michael Giles was the drummer in Giles, Giles & Fripp and a founding member… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Giles was the drummer in Giles, Giles & Fripp and a founding member of King Crimson. He recorded one solo album, called Progress, in 1978, and has also been involved with 21st Century Schizoid Band. Michael Giles (2008-2009) play in Michael Giles' Band with Ad Chivers and Dan Pennie. He was born on March 1, 1942 in Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire. His daughter, model Amanda Giles, is married to Jakko Jakszyk (ex-Level 42). His playing is free and flowing, owing heavily to the jazz tradition while also drawing from rock players such as Mitch Mitchell and Ginger Baker. His playing often had a very orchestral feel as well, as seen on many of the songs of the first King Crimson album, In the Court of the Crimson King. In concert, he was a monster player, creating a huge sound upon which guitarist Robert Fripp, bassist Greg Lake and saxophonist Ian McDonald played their symphonic jazz-rock. Giles left the group in late 1969, though he played as a session musician on the band's second album, In The Wake Of Poseidon. He joined Ian McDonald to record an album called McDonald and Giles, which was much lighter in style than King Crimson, but just as challenging musically. A solo album, Progress, was recorded in the late 1970s, but only released in the 2000s. He has continued to work as a session musician. Recently, he co-founded the 21st Century Schizoid Band, a group mostly comprising of old King Crimson members but also including his son-in-law Jakszyk. However, after one tour, he tired of live work and passed the drum stool over to Ian Wallace, another former Crimson drummer, who died in February 2007. Michael Giles had his first professional gig in 1964 with Trendsetters, Ltd., later moving on with his brother Peter Giles to become Robert Fripp's partner in obscurity as a member of Giles, Giles and Fripp in 1967. This of course led to the first incarnation of the mighty King Crimson, but almost as soon as the band was underway it was falling apart, with Giles and Crimson multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald turning in their notice and recording the much less aggressive McDonald and Giles in 1970. In the 1970s Giles worked as a session player for artists ranging from Steve Winwood and Kevin Ayers to Leo Sayer and Neil Sedaka. His own musical output in subsequent years has been almost nonexistent, the few exceptions being the soundtrack piece Ghost Dance (a collaboration with Jamie Muir and David Cunningham, recorded in 1983 but not released until 1996), and his only solo album Progress (recorded in 1978 but not released until 2003). In 2002 Giles joined with McDonald and his brother Peter, as well as former Crimson wind player Mel Collins, to form 21st Century Schizoid Band, a band primarily focused on rehashing songs from the early stages of King Crimson; he was replaced in 2003 by fellow King Crimson ex-drummer Ian Wallace. In late 2008, a new venture was announced, Michael Giles' MAD Band, with Ad Chivers and Dan Pennie.[1] A release and live shows are planned for 2009.

Moving
Michael Giles Lyrics

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Moving along
Moving on a holiday
Moving everyone
Moving far away

Where the ferryman
Sings to a feathery crowd
And they dance hand in hand

To an imaginary band

Moving away
Moving from the city air
Moving to the sea
Moving where the children play

In a castle of sand
Kings and Queens of the land
Sign their names and proclaim
The dirty rascal's lasting fame

The ferryman sings
To a feathery crowd

And they dance hand in hand
To an imaginary band

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Moving" by Michael Giles are open to interpretation, but one possible interpretation is that the song is about a group of people who are moving away from their current city or town to escape its dreariness and congestion. They're in search of a new beginning, a fresh start; and they're moving to the sea, where they can enjoy the freedom and simplicity of living near the water. The ferryman mentioned in the lyrics seems to represent the guide who helps them cross the threshold between their old lives and their new ones. The feathery crowd might symbolize the lightness and innocence of their new lives.

The part about the castle of sand, kings, and queens could be a metaphor for the frivolity and creativity they'll be able to indulge in once they've left their old lives behind. It could also represent the temporary nature of their new lives, since castles of sand are prone to collapse. But the final verse, where the ferryman sings to the feathery crowd and they dance to an imaginary band, suggests that they're happy and carefree in their new lives, even if it's only for a fleeting moment.

Some possible themes in the song could include escaping from the mundane or oppressive aspects of modern life, seeking simplicity and freedom, and finding happiness through shared experiences and imagination.

Line by Line Meaning

Moving along
Continuing to move forward

Moving on a holiday
Going on vacation or taking a break from the usual routine

Moving everyone
Taking everyone along on the journey

Moving far away
Going a great distance away from the current location

Where the ferryman
At the place where the person who operates a ferry is located

Sings to a feathery crowd
The ferryman is singing to a group of light, delicate-looking people

And they dance hand in hand
The people are holding hands while dancing

To an imaginary band
They are dancing to music that is not actually being played

Moving away
Going away from the current location

Moving from the city air
Leaving the polluted air of the city behind

Moving to the sea
Going to a location near the ocean