Islands
King Crimson (Peter Sinfield lyrics)
Earth, stream and tree encircled by sea
Waves sweep the sand from my island
My sunsets fade
Field and glade wait only for rain
Grain after grain love erodes my
High weathered walls which fend off the tide
Cradle the wind to my island… to me
Beneath the wind turned wave
Infinite peace
Islands join hands
'Neathe heaven's sea
Gaunt granite climbs where gulls wheel and glide
Mournfully ride o'er my island
My dawn bride's veil, damp and pale
Dissolves in the sun
Love's web is spun, cats prowl, mice run
Wreathe snatch-hand briars where owls know my eyes
Violet skies, touch my island, touch me
Beneath the wind turned wave
Infinite peace
Islands join hands
'Neathe heaven's sea
Islands… Wind and wave scuplt my island
Peace on my island is heaven to me...
Dark harbor quays like fingers of stone
Hungrily reach from my island
Clutch sailor's words, pearls and gourds
Are strewn on my shore
Equal in love, bound in circles
Earth, stream and tree return to the sea
Waves sweep the sand from my island from me
Beneath the wind turned wave
Infinite peace
Islands join hands
'Neathe heaven's sea
Music Arrangement, Additional Lyrics, Vocals: Rich Coffey
Recorded at Mistura Productions
Comments:
Although Islands is considered one of the worse King Crimson albums, I have always had a soft spot for the title track and think it is an absolutely gorgeous melodic ballad. Some folks think Sinfield's lyrics are pretentious gooble-de-gook but I feel there is an almost Shakepearean poetic beauty to the words, conjuring up an image of a serene vista of a wind- and wave-swept rocky seashore.
Music:
King Crimson's version is basically an extended meandering jam but I opted to rearrange the tune into a more structured ABAB pattern and even added a short bridge.
Acoustic guitar predominates and the rhythm track primarily consists of percussion rather than a drum kit. The seagull and wave sounds were added at the beginning and end to enhance the languid and relaxing setting: a solitary peacefulness basking in the sea and sun without a care in the world...