King Crimson Lyrics 1973-1974 Quiz - A Lyrical Journey | King Crimson

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which solemn song from King Crimson begins with the lyric, "Sundown dazzling day, gold through my eyes"?

Answer: Starless

"Starless," from the "Red" album, kicks off with an opening line that sets a haunting, bittersweet mood, perfectly capturing the song's exploration of themes like emptiness and despair. Given the lyrics and title, it's no surprise that the song's music was actually written with the previous album, "Starless and Bible Black", in mind.

However, Bill Bruford and Robert Fripp were unenthusiastic at the time. It ended up going through a number of tweaks during their tour before finally landing a spot on the next album.

2. What 1973 King Crimson song contains the following lyrics? "Your admirers in the street Got to hoot and stamp their feet In the heat from your physique As you twinkle by in moccasin sneakers"

Answer: Easy Money

Written by Robert Fripp, John Wetton, and Richard Palmer-James, "Easy Money" from the album "Lark's Tongue in Aspic" explores the seductive allure and inherent absurdity of chasing wealth and indulgence. The lyrics paint an ironic portrait of shallow admiration and reckless behavior, where charisma and a striking appearance become currency in a chaotic, morally ambiguous world.

The name of the album was the brainchild of Jamie Muir. Fripp later described it: "It may or may not be an actual dish available at your neighborhood delicatessen.... what it means to me is something precious which is stuck, but visible. Something precious, which is encased in form."

3. What 1974 song by King Crimson contains the lyrics: "I'd take the crowd with my guitar And businessmen would clap their hands And clip another fat cigar And publishers would spread the news And print my music far and wide"

Answer: Lament

"Lament" was written by Robert Fripp, John Wetton, and Richard Palmer-James and focuses on fame and a sense of loss for the onstage magic of an earlier time.

"But now it seems the bubble's burst
Although you know there was a time
Love songs gathered in my head
Poetry in every line
And strong men strove to hold the doors
While with my friends, I passed that reach
When people stomped on dirty floors
Before I trod the rock'n'roll stage"

4. In the final verse of King Crimson's 1974 song "One More Red Nightmare," where does the narrator wake up?

Answer: A Greyhound bus

From the album "Red", the narrator wakes up to find themselves "safe and sound, asleep on the greyhound," revealing that the plane crash was just a dream. A musically interesting song, the vocal sections are in 4/4 time, with instrumental sections in 15/8, 7/4, and 12/8.

5. Which King Crimson song from the "Starless and Bible Black" album contains the lyrics, "Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the Virgin Mary"?

Answer: The Great Deceiver

"The Great Deceiver" is a song about the devil and consumerism, the latter being a favorite target of the band. The line "cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the Virgin Mary" was contributed by Robert Fripp, after seeing items for sale in Vatican City.

The first line of the song, which I will not quote, has probably sent a good number of American listeners scrambling to their favorite search engine, only to learn that what is an offensive term in the United States simply means "meatball" in the UK.

6. What song from 1973's "Lark's Tongue in Aspic" contains the lyrics, "She responds like a limousine brought alive on the silent screen"?

Answer: Book of Saturday

"Book of Saturday", written by John Wetton, Robert Fripp, and Richard Palmer-James, seems to offer a delicate, introspective glimpse into fleeting relationships and the weight of unspoken truths.

"Every time I try to leave you
You laugh just the same
'Cause my wheels never touch the road
And the jumble of lies we told
Just returns to my back to weigh me down"

7. Which song from King Crimson's "Red" contains the lyric, "Tears of joy at the birth of a brother"?

Answer: Fallen Angel

This lyric introduces the bittersweet tone of "Fallen Angel," which tells the story of a brother's tragic death. The motif used in "Fallen Angel" is an arpeggio by Robert Fripp, part of an improvisation performed by the band during the recording of "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" in 1972.

8. What 1974 song from "Starless and Bible Black", contains among its sparse lyrics, "Fingers reaching, linger shrieking, jump at a scream, goodnight honey"?

Answer: The Mincer

"The Mincer" was part of an improvised piece recorded live in Zurich, with its brief lyrics later overdubbed by John Wetton during recording of the album. The only songs from the album recorded entirely in the studio were "The Great Deceiver" and "Lament".

9. Which song by King Crimson contains the following lyrics? "My home, was a place near the sand Cliffs, and a military band Blew an air of normality"

Answer: Exiles

Written by David Cross, Robert Fripp, and Richard Palmer-James, "Exiles" weaves a narrative of longing, transformation, and self-discovery. The lyrics seem to capture the bittersweet experience of leaving one's roots behind in pursuit of a new path, while reflecting on the tension between personal ambition and the pull of familiarity.

10. What song from the 1974 King Crimson album "Starless and Bible Black" contains the lyric, "So sleep, sleep in peace, and rest. Don't be afraid of the darkness"?

Answer: The Night Watch

"The Night Watch" was inspired by Rembrandt's painting of the same name, and tells the story of its creation and inspiration.

"The artist knew their faces well
The husbands of his lady friends
His creditors and councilors
In armor bright, the merchant men"

Source: Author JJHorner

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King Crimson Lyrics 1973-1974 Trivia Quiz

A Lyrical Journey

Test your knowledge of King Crimson lyrics from their first three studio albums without primary lyricist Peter Sinfeld, and the last three before Robert Fripp temporarily disbanded the group in 1974.

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