110: “Moonchild” by King Crimson
November 10, 2010 Leave a comment
What a difference a year can make. Robert Fripp was not composing songs about wet kisses in 1969. (See previous post.)
There’s a new King Crimson box set out this year (Amazon, 2010). Crimson geeks are stoked.
The tune “Moonchild” is from In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969), and is presented in two parts below. It goes from spooky to soothing to utterly abstract. This seminal album was only made up of five songs, but they were broken into 12 sub-sections to satisfy contractual terms regarding the number of “titles” the band was to deliver. Record companies have tidied up the language in contracts since then. The album sold well, regardless.
The cover art was some of the most striking ever produced (see right). Here’s what Wikipedia says about the artist:
Barry Godber (1946–1970), a computer programmer, painted the album cover. Godber died in February 1970 of a heart attack, shortly after the album’s release.
Not much more explanation than that, but whoa, dude. Obviously this is evidence that Satan, The Crimson King himself, was involved in these shenanigans. Between the reckless behavior toward their innocent record label, and the covert art guy dying right after the album drops, surely you see it. And “Moonchild?” What’s THAT all about, anyway? Smells like Satan. Look at these Satan-y lyrics:
Call her moonchild
Dancing in the shallows of a river
Lonely moonchild
Dreaming in the shadows of a willow.
Talking to the trees of the
cobweb strange
Sleeping on the steps of a fountain
Waving silver wands to the
night-birds song
Waiting for the sun on the mountain.
She’s a moonchild
Gathering the flowers in a garden.
Lovely moonchild
Drifting in the echoes of the hours.
Okay, it sounds more like hippie-poetry than anything else, but that cover art is sure Satan-y.
I don’t know if I can get past all the Satan-iness. I’m liable to swoon.
Enjoy, if you dare!
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