In the Court of the Crimson King Quiz

Answer: Neuro-surgeons

King Crimson's anti-war classic paints a grim picture of a dystopian future with "neuro-surgeons" screaming for more at "paranoia's poison door", suggesting the dehumanizing effects of technology and war.

The song was described by Rolling Stone as "a seven-and-a-half-minute statement of purpose: rock power, jazz spontaneity, and classical precision harnessed in the service of a common aim". It served an early prototype of heavy metal and progressive metal.

"Cat's foot iron claw
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
At paranoia's poison door.
Twenty first century schizoid man."

Answer: Carries them away

The narrator laments that their words are "all carried away" by the wind, giving us a sense of futility and isolation.

An early demo version of this song can be found on the LP "A Young Person's Guide to King Crimson", which featured Robert Fripp, Peter Giles, Michael Giles, and Ian McDonald, along with Judy Dyble on vocals.

Answer: The wall on which the prophets wrote

According to Peter Sinfield, "'Epitaph' was a poem that I'd written when I had my own band. It started with the words, and then it was very much a piece of ensemble writing. Ian McDonald would come up with an idea, then someone else. I think Greg came up with the idea: 'But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying', which is very Greg-ish."

Answer: Dancing

The moonchild is described as "dancing in the shallows of a river," evoking a sense of innocence and otherworldly beauty.

Drummer Michael Giles describes the long instrumental improvisation, saying "we had recorded the material that we wanted to be on the album, so we thought, why not record something that is not improvisation in a jazz way, but is free of structure? You are just dealing with time and space. Music, of all the art forms, is just abstract; you can't pick it up or hold it, or put it on the wall."

Answer: Plays his tune

The purple piper is a mysterious figure who "plays his tune," adding to the surreal and medieval atmosphere of the song.

The Mellotron used on the album, and certainly distinct on the title song, was notoriously unreliable. Robert Fripp, King Crimson's guitarist, has recounted how the band had to work around its technical limitations, often recording parts in short bursts before the internal tapes would stretch or break.

Answer: The black queen

Ian McDonald composed the music for the album's climactic title track, while Peter Sinfield wrote the lyrics.

"The keeper of the city keys
Put shutters on the dreams
I wait outside the pilgrim's door
With insufficient schemes
The black queen chants
The funeral march"

Answer: Looking in

The narrator describes themselves as "on the outside looking inside," highlighting their sense of alienation and disconnection. Written by Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield, the song is deeply introspective and evokes a sense of existential reflection, alienation, and futility.

Answer: Confusion

This is from the lyrics of the chorus, which read in part:

"Confusion will be my epitaph
As I crawl, a cracked and broken path
If we make it, we can all sit back and laugh
But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying"

The narrator seems to have resigned himself to a fate of chaos and uncertainty, suggesting that confusion and disillusionment are the inevitable outcomes of human existence.

Answer: The jester

From the lyrics:

"The yellow jester does not play
But gentle pulls the strings
And smiles as the puppets dance
In the court of the crimson king"

This harkens back to "Epitaph", which contains the line, "The fate of all mankind I fear is in the hands of fools".

Answer: Circle stones

In his 2020 book "A New Day Yesterday", Mike Barnes wrote, "One gets the feeling that it was a track that some listeners would skip - in the way that Beatles fans might have passed on 'Revolution 9' - but in its own contemplative way, 'Moonchild' was both beautifully played and the most adventurous track by a British rock group to date."

"Sailing on the wind in a milk white gown
Dropping circle stones on a sun dial
Playing hide and seek with the ghosts of dawn
Waiting for a smile from a sun child"