The band was lead by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ian Bruce-Douglas and released three albums over the course of its career: "Ultimate Spinach" (1968), "Behold & See" (1968) and "Ultimate Spinach III" (1969).
Their debut album was the most successful of all the "Bosstown Sound" LPs released by MGM, reaching #35 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 100,000 copies. Myers and Lahteinen had left the group by the time of their second album, and Russell Levine (drums) and Carol Lee Britt (vocals) were added to the lineup. Winthrop departed shortly thereafter and was replaced by guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, later a member of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers. Bruce-Douglas quit the band in late 1968, and leadership of the group passed onto Hudson and Baxter, who re-formed Ultimate Spinach with a completely different lineup aside from the two of them. The new lineup released the third Ultimate Spinach album in 1969, and disbanded shortly after its release.
Gilded Lamp of the Cosmos
Ultimate Spinach Lyrics
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Shattered colors fall from the sky
Flowers explode into laughter
Summer swallows July
Behold
Behold and see
Frozen sounds cascade from your hands
Echoes of life drive you crazy
Because you can't understand
Behold
Behold and see
Whispering fires envelope
and tint everything that you see
Collapsing lies of murder
And truth is finally free
Behold
Behold and see
Conscious of now are your children
Yesterday has gone forever more
Tomorrow has already spoken
and told you what living is for
Behold
Behold and see
Behold
Behold and see
The song "Gilded Lamp of the Cosmos" by Ultimate Spinach is a psychedelic rock ballad that is rich in metaphorical lyrics that paint pictures of a mind-space filled with color, sound, and everything in between. The opening stanza talks about the mind's clouds flying and the shattering colors that fall from the sky. This creates a sense of confusion and unpredictability, which is accentuated further by the explosion of flowers, which laugh instead of bloom. The departure from conventional floral imagery makes the listener's imagination run wild, trying to grasp the dream-like sequences described in the song. The stanza further says that summer swallows July, indicating that time and seasons have lost significance in this psychedelic reality.
The song's chorus, "Behold and see," is like a call for the listener to open their minds and take a glimpse into this strange world being described. The second stanza talks about the mind's ability to create and destroy. Flaming words ignite and frozen sounds cascade from the hands. Echoes of life cause madness, offering a reminder that one's perception of reality may be skewed, depending on their experiences. The chorus follows, urging the listener to look and behold what is being presented to them.
The third stanza talks about the envelopment of everything the mind perceives by whispering fires, which tint everything before the collapse of lies of murder. Ultimately, truth is free, indicating that the flame has revealed the truth. The final stanza hints at hope for the future, reminding us that children are conscious of the present but not bound by past experiences. The past has gone forever, and the future has already spoken, telling us what life is for. The chorus ends the song with a call to behold and see, inviting the listener on a surreal journey through the mind and beyond.
Line by Line Meaning
You're mind's clouds are flying
Your thoughts are scattered and chaotic, like clouds that are drifting aimlessly in the sky.
Shattered colors fall from the sky
The world seems broken and confusing, as if colorful pieces are raining down from the sky and scattering everywhere.
Flowers explode into laughter
Even the most ordinary things seem to be alive and full of vitality, bursting into laughter like flowers that suddenly bloom.
Summer swallows July
Time flies quickly, with summer passing by in a flash and July being swallowed up in its wake.
Behold
Take notice and pay attention to what follows.
Behold and see
Stop and observe, take a closer look at what is going on around you.
Flaming words ignite you
Words have the power to set something inside you on fire, whether it be passion, inspiration or desire.
Frozen sounds cascade from your hands
Even in silence, you have the ability to create and express yourself through music that flows like dripping water from your hands.
Echoes of life drive you crazy
Life is unpredictable and complex, and its echoes can haunt and torture you until you can make sense of it all.
Because you can't understand
It's frustrating to be unable to comprehend and unravel the mysteries of life, and it can make you feel lost and confused.
Whispering fires envelope
There is a sense of intimacy and secrecy in the way the world is illuminated by quiet fires that surround and hide everything.
and tint everything that you see
These fires add their own color and tone to everything they touch, changing the way you perceive reality.
Collapsing lies of murder
The harsh reality of the world has no mercy for those who hold onto falsehoods, crumbling the lies of murderers who try to hide behind them.
And truth is finally free
Only by letting go of your illusions and embracing the truth can you find freedom from the burden of lies and deceit.
Conscious of now are your children
Young people are more aware of the present moment and its importance than adults, who are often distracted by the past or future.
Yesterday has gone forever more
The past is gone and can never be reclaimed, so dwelling on it is a futile and unproductive exercise.
Tomorrow has already spoken
The future is already set in motion, and its echoes can be heard in the present as a hint of what's to come.
and told you what living is for
The future holds the key to understanding the meaning and purpose of your existence, if you can learn to listen to its message.
Behold
Take notice and pay attention to what follows.
Behold and see
Stop and observe, take a closer look at what is going on around you.
Contributed by Andrew N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.