Gypsy

Great song, severely underrated, such as most Moodies songs. I think people should listen to this song and other less-known songs, because in my opinon, they surpass such songs as Nights in White Satin by far. Nights in White Satin is still a great song, but to say it is the best is ignorance.

Indeed, I would say this is the best Moodies song.

A minstrels' song, these modern romantic poets resonate: were heard as a teenager looking, like most do, for meanings beyond that offered to young people at the time. We who enjoyed this and other of their songs felt, I believe, like an essential something about us was reflected and understood: evocative of deeper internal wellsprings. It resonated with me, that my feelings seemed shared by others and therefore it's okay. Like many, I felt so alone. Listening to this I felt less alone, less something, whatever that something was, others out there felt this way. I had feelings: wordless arrows to possible/probable thoughts bringing new inspirations.
And seeing that some of my beliefs were chosen for me: programmed by ancient ancestors —fleeting glimpses, via feelings, of those shadows of a million years (ago). There is no hope of coming home, on an 'eternal' type scale. Were we launched on a comet or from some intergalactic collision, there's no way to know the source of life on earth, our home. Our ancient primate ancestor's hope was having a home and the security attendant. The human race is still caught up with our ancient need to feel secure. To get that need satisfied, all kinds of greedy actions (as well as marvelous creations and wonders) are in service to it. Always throughout history the separation of wealth shows how much greed can come from insecurity, when there is plenty for all but those ignorant fools aren't willing to share; who can never get enough wealth in their pockets, to satisfy that drive to feel secure: ignorant because it was programmed into mammals way came before the evolution of thought. We had no choice. The only choice is to see where it comes from and make a moral decision. The suffering majority of humans on earth who may not even have a home. Writing the sentiments encapsulating what I believe was and still is, at least idealistically: be evolving, questioning humans living without fear, be allowed to live in peace and freedom. Gives me hope that I'm not the only one who wants to know and questions it all. My infant senses influence thinking, feeling, a primitive, growing from an apelike creature so many eons ago and wanting to evolve further. Screaming for a future that can never be, where all humans are of good will to each other, the golden rule, and to life –all life—on earth. I think the powerful few will ruin the future for the evolving many, and the earth itself, when they stir up the hornets' nests because their greed prevents them from sharing with those who need. Someone who needs: how easy it would be for any billionaire, and some do but some won't. Those suffering humans may feel they have nothing to live for, and how can they want anything but revenge, eventually, on those who don't care. It's a Question of Balance --how hard can the powerful push down the suffering billions to get them to accept their suffering. Give them the idea of an afterlife so they tolerate this one and won't rise up. Indeed the fearful many, another dimension of The Gypsy, will also be travelling in panic in all directions blind.

I would be surprised if this song was not about a satellite or space probe such as voyageur.

I totally agree with you, TheNinth!!! I swear, I can't help but think about Doctor Who when I hear this song!

In order to understand this song, one must look at the theme of the album and a very historic event of that year of 1969 "One Giant Leap for Mankind". The whole album is about mankinds journey into space, inner and outter space. The Gypsy to me is the journey of a robitic deep space probe such as Voyger. Launched millions of years ago "without a hope of every coming home". It's sensors have stopped working millions of years ago, and is now "all direction blind". It now travels through cold, dark, and infinitly vast intersteller space alone "Left without a hope of every coming home".

I've always thought this song refers to a comet or asteroid. A comet is of course an insentient object, but in the song takes on human emotions. The writer imagines a mythological creature streaming across the universe, 'traveling in a panic all direction blind' and 'aching for the warmth of a distant sun'. Stars and planets are relatively fixed in position, but a comet, like a gypsy, is not fixed, but roams free across the galaxy.

The song that first convinced me The Moody Blues is a great band. Well, "Nights in White Satin" did too but this one was a little cooler. Little did I know, there are a whole bunch of songs that support their greatness (e.g., "Never Comes the Day," "Your Wildest Dreams," "Blue World," "Question," "New Horizons," and "The Story in Your Eyes"). Now, after exploring most of their albums, I think it's fair to say that they are one of the best bands from that era.

I'm having a hard time convincing myself that it's NOT about Dr Who.

The song is a Justin Hayward autobiography, "traveling in panic all direction blind", maybe influenced by certain substances.