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In the Wake of Poseidon Lyrics
Plato's spawn cold ivyed eyes
Snare truth in bone and globe.
Harlequins coin pointless games
Sneer jokes in parrot's robe.
Two women weep, Dame Scarlet Screen
Sheds sudden theater rain,
Whilst dark in dream the Midnight Queen
Knows every human pain.
In air, fire, earth and water
World on the scales.
Air, fire, earth and water
Balance of change
World on the scales
On the scales.
Bishop's kings spin judgment's blade
Scratch "Faith" on nameless graves.
Harvest hags Hoard ash and sand
Rack rope and chain for slaves
Who fireside fear fermented words
Then rear to spoil the feast;
Whilst in the aisle the mad man smiles
To him it matters least.
Heroes hands drain stones for blood
To whet the scaling knife.
Magi blind with visions light
Net death in dread of life.
Their children kneel in Jesus till
They learn the price of nails,
Whilst all around our mother earth
Waits balanced on the scales.
Snare truth in bone and globe.
Harlequins coin pointless games
Sneer jokes in parrot's robe.
Two women weep, Dame Scarlet Screen
Sheds sudden theater rain,
Whilst dark in dream the Midnight Queen
Knows every human pain.
World on the scales.
Air, fire, earth and water
Balance of change
World on the scales
On the scales.
Scratch "Faith" on nameless graves.
Harvest hags Hoard ash and sand
Rack rope and chain for slaves
Who fireside fear fermented words
Then rear to spoil the feast;
Whilst in the aisle the mad man smiles
To him it matters least.
To whet the scaling knife.
Magi blind with visions light
Net death in dread of life.
Their children kneel in Jesus till
They learn the price of nails,
Whilst all around our mother earth
Waits balanced on the scales.
Song Info
Submitted by
redraven On Oct 20, 2004
More King Crimson
21st Century Schizoid Man
The Court of the Crimson King
I Talk To The Wind
Epitaph
Moonchild
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To understand the lyrics better you have to look at the album's cover, which is the painting of Tammo De Jongh called "The 12 Archetypes" or "The 12 faces of humankind". The characters described in the lyrics are generally those that appear in the painting.
Upon first listening to the song, it sounds like a mixture of 'Epitath' and 'In The Court Of The Crimson King'...with stronger similarities to Epitath.
Another great King Crimson song! I agree with deathsdoor99 - it does sound like a hybrid of those two songs. This song carries with it the same Old English usage and Middle Ages setting as "The Court of the Crimson King." I believe this song is about figures of authority's monopoly on truth, and how they may become convinced of worldly experience they don't actually have (one women cries at a theater, another during a bad dream). The obvious sarcasm of these lyrics imply that this imagined empathy is no substitute for allowing the oppressed to speak out.
Agreed.
Agreed.
(P)lato's (S)pawn cold (I)vyed eyes
The Greek letter PSI reminds me of Poseidon's trident.
It's the symbol for psychology: another connection to archetypes.
"Ivyed" an unusual adjective for eyes, yes?
A reference to Ivy league, perhaps?
in any case, I do believe the selection of an "I-word" (eye) to be intentional for the above reason.
Beautiful.
Beautiful.
Truly fabulous song from King Crimson ☺️