The Incredible String Band was formed in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by folk musicians Robin Williamson, Mike Heron, and Clive Palmer (1943 - 2014). They recorded their eponymous debut album in 1966, a lighthearted affair which revealed only the merest hint of the psychedelic adventures to come. After that, the band broke up. Palmer decamped for the Trail to Afghanistan and Williamson visited Morocco from where he returned laden with exotic instruments like the famous gimbri, which was, much later, eaten by rats. In 1967 Heron and Williamson recorded 'The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion', an audaciously eclectic mix of bookish folk music, hippy love songs and Eastern modalities. They soon became the-name-to-drop-in-interviews for luminaries such as Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan, and in their annum mirabilis of 1968 they practically defined the hippy counterculture in the extraordinary albums 'The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' and 'Wee Tam and the Big Huge'. By then the group consisted of Williamson, Heron, Rose Simpson and Licorice McKechnie - the same line up played at Woodstock in 1969 at the wrong time, having refused to play in the pouring rain the previous day (seen by manager Joe Boyd as a great missed opportunity).
In 1970 Robin Williamson attempted to fuse the music with his theatrical fantasies in a quixotic multi-media spectacular at London's Roundhouse called 'U'. It was "a surreal parable in dance and song" and highlighted the fact that they were never destined to make much money out of things. After that they lasted another four years. By 1974 tension between Williamson and Heron, who was pushing the band into prog-rock territory, had become unbearable and they split up.
Williamson soon formed "Robin Williamson and His Merry Band" which toured and released three albums of eclectic music with a Celtic emphasis. Within a few years, he went on to a solo career, moving increasingly into traditional Celtic styles. He also produced several recordings of humorous stories. Heron formed the rock group "Heron" and later released occasional solo albums. Responding to a comment by Joe Boyd in 1997 that they hadn't spoken since the breakup in 1974, the pair got back together for two concerts. This was followed by a full reunion of the original three members plus Williamson's wife Bina and Lawson Dando in 1999. By 2001 both Robin and Bina Williamson had left. Heron, Palmer and Lawson, and new member Fluff toured regularly around the United Kingdom and internationally until an end to the tour was announced in 2006.
The music of the ISB ranges from quite conventional folk songs to innovative “art song” and hybrid forms that were a precursor to World Music. In 1967-8 they were sometimes described as part of pop music's "avant-garde", which had emerged in the wake of the more adventurous work of The Beatles, with whom they were often compared. Although they lacked the Beatles' broad pop appeal, the ISB showed a similar interest in extending the boundaries of their music. Both Mike Heron and Robin Williamson would break apart a traditional song structure, inserting seemingly unrelated sections in a way that has been described as "always surprising, laughably inventive, lyrically prodigious". While at times this resulted in a lack of conventional unity, it also opened up the song musically and thematically to allow greater depth and exploration. This aspect of their music, combined with Williamson’s soaring melismatic vocal ornamentation (perhaps influenced by Islamic chanters heard during his visit to Morocco, as well as by the Scots-Irish traditional singing with which he had grown up) made for music that still sounds fresh forty years later.
Creation
The Incredible String Band Lyrics
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Flew backwards into whose galloping arms
And the impassioned Phoenix
Drawls a sad goodnight to fiction's tomb
Then come to me secretly
And with your silken feather
And with your silken feather
Never, in fact, as he gazed amazed
At two lost eyebrows lisping into the unexpected
And the archetypal postman delivering your seed letters
Whose eyes are black eggs really
Upon a long shore, upon a long shore
Open your door, open your door
“Ask anyone”, he muttered, as he spat a small
Brilliant blue insect, whirring into the gauze
I would advise stilts for the quagmires
And camels for the snowy hills and any survivors
Their debts I will certainly pay
There's always a way, there's always a way
I smiled with that gallantly concealed forceful nervousness
That has proved that oysters cry
And that I have come to know and accept as myself
And plucking a barbed feather from the morose universe
I called him deathless, and he left before he could reply
Open your eyes, open your eyes
Our first father, Abraham, whose bosom
Was the unique soul of the humans
Was certainly as bewildered as we are
If not infinitely more so, and with an ancient
Ceremonial gesture of dismissal, he pointed forward
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
The first day was golden
And she colored the Sun
And she named it Hyperion
And she made it a day of light and healing
The second was silver
And she colored the Moon
And she named it Phoebe
And she made a day of enchantment and the living waters
And the third was many-colored
And she colored the Earth
And she made a day of joy
With the scarlet strength of seed
In the fourth black and white were mingled into quicksilver
And she colored Mercury
And she made a day of wisdom
And the signs that are placed in the firmament
The fifth was bright blue
And she envisaged Jupiter
And she made a day of awe and circles, circles
And she sent it to guide the blood of the universe
The sixth was burning with icy, green flames that glowed white
And of her beauty she made Venus
And she made a day of love
Whereby all beings are united
The seventh was rich purple of the mollusks
And she colored Chronos
And she made a day of idleness and repose
Whereon all beings cease from struggle
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
I am the pebble in your very own eye
I am the sword and your enemy dies
I am the storm and the hurricane wind
I am the thorn of an unkind friend
I am desire what color my eyes?
I am Loki, wizard of lies
Catch me, find me, see me if you can
I am the guilt of an honest man
I am the pebble in your very own eye
I am the sword and your enemy dies
I am the storm and the hurricane wind
I am the thorn of an unkind friend
I am desire what color my eyes?
I am Loki, wizard of lies
Catch me, find me, see me if you can
I am the guilt of an honest man
Then seven times we raised our arms
And with cat-stretch
Sent our foot spells
Yawning into the multitudes
In need we called upon the mother of all living
Three times for succor, but with ambitious spears
They made us change, they crouched behind
Their mirrors and fought on
I will not allow them praise
That broke the harmonious globe in splintered fragments
And yet, they moved perforce with a perfect pattern
And complemented harmony with discord, and light with darkness
It was then
That we stepped out of our world machine
Between the palm and the fingers
Peeling like gloves
And for each eye that shed one tear
We made of that tear an ocean
And in the five directions
We loosed our several craft
Wild sea, I say today
Please, be a sweet cow for me
Amethyst galleon, out on the rolling sea
Gentle as lightning, easily
Take me to the root of the world tree
Amethyst galleon, out on the rolling sea
Your face is consumed in a bruised sky's glance
By the brazen wall with your sword and lance
Where [Incomprehensible]
Where dappled maidens, endless danced
'Round the root of the world tree
Wild sea, I say today
Please, be a sweet cow for me
Amethyst galleon, out on the rolling sea
[Incomprehensible]
Wild sea, my love is salty for me
Every ripple in her body is a wave in me
Amethyst galleon, out on the rolling sea
Hold tight, sleep tight
[Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible]
The Incredible String Band's song "Creation" is a poetic exploration of mythology, spirituality, and the vastness of the universe. The opening lines of the song speak of messengers with sharpened heels flying backwards into someone's galloping arms, setting the tone for the surreal imagery and dreamlike narrative that follows. The references to the Phoenix and its sad goodnight to fiction's tomb suggest a theme of creation and destruction, and the cyclical nature of life.
The lyrics then invite the listener to open their rooms with a silken feather, perhaps suggesting the need for openness and vulnerability in order to fully experience the wonders of the world. The following verses touch on various mythological figures such as Abraham, Hyperion, Phoebe, and Chronos, each associated with a color and an aspect of the natural world. The repeated refrain of "verily, verily" adds a sense of solemnity and reverence to these descriptions.
The lyrics then shift to a more personal address, with lines such as "I am desire what color my eyes? I am Loki, wizard of lies" suggesting a sense of identity and self-exploration. The final verses speak of the singer's call to the "mother of all living" in times of need and their ability to transform tears into oceans. The song ends with a plea to the wild sea to "be a sweet cow," evoking a sense of longing for the safety and comfort of home.
Line by Line Meaning
The messengers with sharpened heels
The angels with sharp wings
Flew backwards into whose galloping arms
Falling back into the arms of the universe
And the impassioned Phoenix
The fiery mythological bird
Drawls a sad goodnight to fiction's tomb
Gives a somber farewell to the death of imagination
Then come to me secretly
Come to me in private
And with your silken feather
Using a soft feather
Open your rooms, open your rooms
Unlock the secrets you hold
Never, in fact, as he gazed amazed
He had never seen anything quite like it before
At two lost eyebrows lisping into the unexpected
Two eyebrows expressing something unexpected
And the archetypal postman delivering your seed letters
The symbolic messenger bringing life
Whose eyes are black eggs really
Whose eyes are as dark as eggs
Upon a long shore, upon a long shore
On a never-ending shore
Open your door, open your door
Open yourself up
“Ask anyone”, he muttered, as he spat a small
He said in a low voice with a small
Brilliant blue insect, whirring into the gauze
Shimmering bug flying towards the lightweight fabric
I would advise stilts for the quagmires
Walking sticks would be helpful in the muddy swamps
And camels for the snowy hills and any survivors
Camels are viable for traversing snowy terrains and to ensure survival
Their debts I will certainly pay
I will cover their debts
There's always a way, there's always a way
There is always a solution to any obstacle
I smiled with that gallantly concealed forceful nervousness
I smiled bravely hiding my inner anxiety
That has proved that oysters cry
The reality is often unexpected
And that I have come to know and accept as myself
I have come to love and accept myself
And plucking a barbed feather from the morose universe
Removing something negative from the world
I called him deathless, and he left before he could reply
I named him eternal, but he did not stay to respond
Open your eyes, open your eyes
See what is truly there
Our first father, Abraham, whose bosom
Our ancestor and patriarch, Abraham
Was the unique soul of the humans
Was the one true human spirit
Was certainly as bewildered as we are
Was just as confused as us
If not infinitely more so, and with an ancient
Possibly even more bewildered, using ancient
Ceremonial gesture of dismissal, he pointed forward
He dismissed us with a ceremonial gesture and urged us forward
The first day was golden
The beginning was warm and bright
And she colored the Sun
She gave color to the Sun
And she named it Hyperion
And she gave it the name Hyperion
And she made it a day of light and healing
She made it a day of brightness and recovery
The second was silver
The next day was shiny silver
And she colored the Moon
She gave color to the Moon
And she named it Phoebe
And named it Phoebe
And she made a day of enchantment and the living waters
She made a day of magic and vitality of the waters
And the third was many-colored
The third day was filled with colors
And she colored the Earth
She colored the land
And she made a day of joy
She made it a joyful day
With the scarlet strength of seed
With the power of the starting seed
In the fourth black and white were mingled into quicksilver
The fourth day was a mixture of black and white, which turned to silver
And she colored Mercury
She gave color to Mercury
And she made a day of wisdom
She made it a day of wisdom
And the signs that are placed in the firmament
And the symbols set in the sky
The fifth was bright blue
The fifth day was vibrant blue
And she envisaged Jupiter
She imagined Jupiter
And she made a day of awe and circles, circles
She made it a day of wonder and circular patterns
And she sent it to guide the blood of the universe
And sent it to lead the crucial parts of the universe
The sixth was burning with icy, green flames that glowed white
The sixth day was both cold and hot, with flames that shone white
And of her beauty she made Venus
And out of the day's beauty, Venus was created
And she made a day of love
She created it to be a day of love
Whereby all beings are united
Where all creatures come together
The seventh was rich purple of the mollusks
The seventh day was a luxurious purple
And she colored Chronos
She colored Chronos
And she made a day of idleness and repose
She made it a day of relaxation and rest
Whereon all beings cease from struggle
Where everyone rests without conflict
I am the pebble in your very own eye
I am an irritant in your own life
I am the sword and your enemy dies
I am the sharp edge that defeats your foe
I am the storm and the hurricane wind
I am the destructive force of a hurricane
I am the thorn of an unkind friend
I am the friend that secretly causes pain
I am desire what color my eyes?
I embody desire, can you guess what color my eyes are?
I am Loki, wizard of lies
I am Loki, the master of deceit
Catch me, find me, see me if you can
Try to catch me if you are able to see me
I am the guilt of an honest man
I am the sense of guilt that a righteous man feels
Then seven times we raised our arms
We lifted our arms seven times
And with cat-stretch
Stretching like a feline
Sent our foot spells
Sent the magic from our feet
Yawning into the multitudes
Inhaling deeply into many disoriented individuals
In need we called upon the mother of all living
When we required aid, we summoned the female parent of all creatures
Three times for succor, but with ambitious spears
Using forceful weapons, thrice for help
They made us change, they crouched behind
They forced us to change, they hid behind something
Their mirrors and fought on
They continued to fight while using their reflection as cover
I will not allow them praise
I will not give them any acclaim
That broke the harmonious globe in splintered fragments
Those who destroyed the peaceful world into scattered fragments
And yet, they moved perforce with a perfect pattern
Still, they were obliged to move in a perfect arrangement
And complemented harmony with discord, and light with darkness
Creating a balance with both discord and harmony, light and darkness
It was then
At this moment
That we stepped out of our world machine
We emerged from our reality
Between the palm and the fingers
Moving in the tiny space between two fingers
Peeling like gloves
Unfurling like a glove or skin
And for each eye that shed one tear
For every eye that cried a tear
We made of that tear an ocean
We made every tear into an ocean
And in the five directions
In every direction
We loosed our several craft
We released our various abilities
Wild sea, I say today
Oh wild sea, I speak to you today
Please, be a sweet cow for me
Grant me the peacefulness of a gentle cow
Amethyst galleon, out on the rolling sea
A majestic purple ship sailing on the moving sea
Gentle as lightning, easily
As soft as lightning, undemanding
Take me to the root of the world tree
Bring me to the base of the universal tree
Wild sea, my love is salty for me
Oh wild sea, my love is as salty as the water
Every ripple in her body is a wave in me
Every movement in her body ripples within me
Amethyst galleon, out on the rolling sea
A magnificent purple ship on the moving sea
Hold tight, sleep tight
Stay safe, get sound rest
[Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible]
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBIN WILLIAMSON, ROBIN D.H. WILLIAMSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ISKAH
The messengers with sharpened heels
Flew backwards into whose galloping arms
And the impassioned Phoenix
Drawls a sad goodnight to fiction's tomb
Then come to me secretly
And with your silken feather
And with your silken feather
Open your rooms, open your rooms
Never, in fact, as he gazed amazed
At two lost eyebrows lisping into the unexpected
And the archetypal postman delivering your seed letters
Whose eyes are black eggs really
Upon a long shore, upon a long shore
Open your door, open your door
“Ask anyone”, he muttered, as he spat a small
Brilliant blue insect, whirring into the gauze
I would advise stilts for the quagmires
And camels for the snowy hills and any survivors
Their debts I will certainly pay
There's always a way, there's always a way
I smiled with that gallantly concealed forceful nervousness
That has proved that oysters cry
And that I have come to know and accept as myself
And plucking a barbed feather from the morose universe
I called him deathless, and he left before he could reply
Open your eyes, open your eyes
Our first father, Abraham, whose bosom
Was the unique soul of the humans
Was certainly as bewildered as we are
If not infinitely more so, and with an ancient
Ceremonial gesture of dismissal, he pointed forward
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
The first day was golden
And she colored the Sun
And she named it Hyperion
And she made it a day of light and healing
The second was silver
And she colored the Moon
And she named it Phoebe
And she made a day of enchantment and the living waters
And the third was many-colored
And she colored the Earth
And she made a day of joy
With the scarlet strength of seed
In the fourth black and white were mingled into quicksilver
And she colored Mercury
And she made a day of wisdom
And the signs that are placed in the firmament
The fifth was bright blue
And she envisaged Jupiter
And she made a day of awe and circles, circles
And she sent it to guide the blood of the universe
The sixth was burning with icy, green flames that glowed white
And of her beauty she made Venus
And she made a day of love
Whereby all beings are united
The seventh was rich purple of the mollusks
And she colored Chronos
And she made a day of idleness and repose
Whereon all beings cease from struggle
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
Verily, verily
I am the pebble in your very own eye
I am the sword and your enemy dies
I am the storm and the hurricane wind
I am the thorn of an unkind friend
I am desire what color my eyes?
I am Loki, wizard of lies
Catch me, find me, see me if you can
I am the guilt of an honest man
I am the pebble in your very own eye
I am the sword and your enemy dies
I am the storm and the hurricane wind
I am the thorn of an unkind friend
I am desire what color my eyes?
I am Loki, wizard of lies
Catch me, find me, see me if you can
I am the guilt of an honest man
Then seven times we raised our arms
And with cat-stretch
Sent our foot spells
Yawning into the multitudes
In need we called upon the mother of all living
Three times for succor, but with ambitious spears
They made us change, they crouched behind
Their mirrors and fought on
I will not allow them praise
That broke the harmonious globe in splintered fragments
And yet, they moved perforce with a perfect pattern
And complemented harmony with discord, and light with darkness
It was then
That we stepped out of our world machine
Between the palm and the fingers
Peeling like gloves
And for each eye that shed one tear
We made of that tear an ocean
And in the five directions
We loosed our several craft
Wild sea, I say today
Please, be a sweet cow for me
Amethyst galleon, out on the rolling sea
Gentle as lightning, easily
Take me to the root of the world tree
Amethyst galleon, out on the rolling sea
Your face is consumed in a bruised sky's glance
By the brazen wall with your sword and lance
Where [Incomprehensible]
Where dappled maidens, endless danced
'Round the root of the world tree
Wild sea, I say today
Please, be a sweet cow for me
Amethyst galleon, out on the rolling sea
[Incomprehensible]
Wild sea, my love is salty for me
Every ripple in her body is a wave in me
Amethyst galleon, out on the rolling sea
Hold tight, sleep tight
mulika
Here is the lyrics 🎷...
The first day was golden
And she coloured the sun
And she named it Hyperion
And she made it a day of light and healing
The second was silver
And she coloured the moon
And she named it Phoebe
And she made a day of enchantment and the living waters
And the third was many-coloured
And she coloured the earth
And she made a day of joy With the scarlet strength of seed.
In the fourth black and white were mingled into quicksilver
And she coloured Mercury
And she made a day of wisdom And the signs that are placed in the firmament
The fifth was bright blue
And she envisaged Jupiter
And she made a day of awe and circles, circles
And she sent it to guide the blood of the universe
The sixth was burning with icy, green flames that glowed white
And of her beauty she made Venus
And she made a day of love Whereby all beings are united
The seventh was rich purple of the mollusks
And she coloured Chronos
And she made a day of idleness and repose
Whereon all beings cease from struggle.
Joe King
Candidate for greatest song of all time. Can you imagine a band today making something like this? No chance!!
roland lavengro
Indeed. Unless it is "This Moment" - both out of this world.😊
David Evans
The Incredible String Band got me through being incarcerated for three years in a mental institution for drug abuse beginning March 3, 1971, three weeks after my 15th birthday. I am forever grateful to Robin in particular. I was fortunate to meet and become very good friends with Likky when I moved to LA in the early 80s. I still listen to this band every day. Nothing has influenced me more than The Incredible String Band. And, I played the guitar in the photo above. Robin gave it to Likky, which she cherished as though it were pure gold, which is was.
David Evans
***** I haven't seen Likky in a long time, I don't know if she's still alive but I think she is. I can tell you one thing I do know, these rumors that she disappeared into the Arizona desert are completely ridiculous. Likky was extremely petite and delicate and though she was a very courageous person, about the last thing she would do is wander off into the cactus, snakes, coyotes and poisonous spiders in 120 degree heat. She was very unhappy, married to a jerk, still in love with Robin (I think) and selling cheap tin music boxes door to door in office buildings in LA. She and I played some music together and she would have parties where she'd play ISB songs and stuff (on Robin's painted guitar) but she was not making her living in music. She got divorced and just split. That's all I know. I'm sure she's alive, probably married with a completely new life, leaving all the shit in the past. That's my guess.
Robin Ho-Doh
David Evans Wow really? Do you happen to know who made the guitar? It has such a cool slinky sound
David Evans
elSargent93 I have no idea, sorry. I've always assumed Robin painted it. It looks like a Gibson Hummingbird. But I don't really know, sorry.
sceolang
+David Evans Thanks for the information on Likky. Many of us think of her often and hope she's well. The guitar does look like a Gibson Hummingbird but I'm fairly sure it was a Levin.
sceolang
And Robin did paint it.
JJ Howell
This brings back such a wonderful feeling of a remarkable time - in my life and in the world - what a time it was. I had the great privilege and good fortune to play with them on stage at a gig in Birmingham Town Hall in 1969 - for one track only, I played maracas . It was my 16th birthday. What a night.
beloveddude
WOW! It took me decades to finally let their music in....YOU ARE A LUCKY PERSON to be on stage with them! What a great experience/memory!