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Cadence and Cascade Lyrics
Cadence and Cascade
Kept a man named Jade;
Cool in the shade
While his audience played.
Purred, whispered, "Spend us too:
We only serve for you".
Sliding mystified
On the wine of the tide
Stared pale-eyed
As his veil fell aside.
Sad paper courtesan
They found him just a man.
Caravan hotel
Where the sequin spell fell
Custom of the game.
Cadence oiled in love
Licked his velvet gloved hand
Cascade kissed his name.
Sad paper courtesan
They knew him just a man.
Kept a man named Jade;
Cool in the shade
While his audience played.
Purred, whispered, "Spend us too:
We only serve for you".
On the wine of the tide
Stared pale-eyed
As his veil fell aside.
Sad paper courtesan
They found him just a man.
Where the sequin spell fell
Custom of the game.
Cadence oiled in love
Licked his velvet gloved hand
Cascade kissed his name.
They knew him just a man.
Song Info
Submitted by
redraven On Oct 20, 2004
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This is about Sinfield on tour with King Crimson. The band plays and Pete, being the non-performaing member of the troupe, has the opportunity for a visit with a couple of Ladies of the Road. They find him just a man. Really - that's what it's about.
FINALLY MAN! Great Job. Sinfield being a poet and a writer (paper courtesan). Nobody could tell what cadence&cascade is now I'm definitely sure it has something to do with poetry.
FINALLY MAN! Great Job. Sinfield being a poet and a writer (paper courtesan). Nobody could tell what cadence&cascade is now I'm definitely sure it has something to do with poetry.
Oh, I am dead sure it's about what I said. I used to be a poetaster and a musician too, and of course a Crimson fan of old. He uses "they knew him" in the biblical sense. "Caravan hotel" - the road life - bands travel in caravans, and the hotels take on a glam party theme ("Sequin spell") when the caravan pulls in. "Kissed his name" - groupies certainly do it for the fame association, the bigger the star, the better notch in the gun.
Oh, I am dead sure it's about what I said. I used to be a poetaster and a musician too, and of course a Crimson fan of old. He uses "they knew him" in the biblical sense. "Caravan hotel" - the road life - bands travel in caravans, and the hotels take on a glam party theme ("Sequin spell") when the caravan pulls in. "Kissed his name" - groupies certainly do it for the fame association, the bigger the star, the better notch in the gun.
He has a song on "Islands"...
He has a song on "Islands" called "Ladies of the Road", which is more down to earth in approach.
beautiful imagery, somewhat dense.
it seems to be about someone who is revered above men, but whose courtesan(s) know/reveal him for what he is: just a man, as we all are
My favourite King Crimson song....Simply beautiful...
King Crimson wrote some of the most beautifully poetic lyrics ever.
Just awesome song... very soothing ....
Definitely my favorite king crimson. It's so beautiful and perfect!
It seems to me to be about someone who thinks he's better than others, like some sort of king, but nobody else sees him that way. Hence the paper courtesan viewing him "just a man". Obviously there's more to it but thats a start.
The man named Jade was a ruler, a king or so....everyone worshiped him, as they thought he was superior, like a god or something! When his veil fell aside, they found out that Jade was only a man, like everybody was, nothing more than a courtesan!
what i read is both ... Reason and passion hold jaded Jesus still, gazing at the spectating crowds who long to serve Him and to spend their lot on a meaning that they expect from Him. The rest unfolds ...
AND … Ruled by reason and passion, the Artist ….
If the man named Jade is Jesus, and Cadence and Cascade are the two Marys, the lyrics fall into place. (If I recall those Christian stories accurately.) Fripp's old schoolmate did the vocals.