King Crimson - Exiles

EXILES
(Cross, Palmer-James, Fripp)

Now ... in this faraway land
Strange ... that the palms of my hands
Should be damp with expectancy

Spring ... and the air's turning mild
City lights ... and the glimpse of a child
Of the alleyway infantry

Friends … do they know what I mean
Rain … and the gathering green
Of an afternoon out-of-town

But Lord I had to go
My trail was laid too slow behind me
To face the call of fame
Or make a drunkard's name for me
Though now this other life
Has brought a different understanding
And from these endless days
Shall come a broader sympathy
And though I count the hours
To be alone's no injury ...

My home ... was a place near the sand
Cliffs ... and a military band
Blew an air of normality

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

David Cross: Violin, Viola, Mellotron
Robert Fripp: Guitar, Mellotron & Devices
John Wetton: Bass Vocals & Piano
Bill Bruford: Drums
Jamie Muir: Percussion & Allsorts

Engineer: Nick Ryan
Cover Design by Tantra Designs, London
Equipment by Kettle, Simmons & Walmsley
Recorded at Command Studios, London — Jan & Feb 1973
A King Crimson Production

#KingCrimson
#RobertFripp

[johnsweetman]

I'm 49 and have just discovered King Crimson. I feel like a teenager again, waiting on my favourite group's next album, except, now they are already available for me to purchase!! Working my way through the sublime 40th Anniversary CDs.

[maplestorms]

Now, in this faraway land
Strange, that the palms of my hands
Should be damp with expectancy
Spring, and the air's turning mild
City lights, and the glimpse of a child
Of the alleyway infantry
Friends, do they know what I mean
Rain, and the gathering green
Of an afternoon out-of-town
But Lord I had to go
My trail was laid too slow behind me
To face the call of fame
Or make a drunkard's name for me
Though now this better life
Has brought a different understanding
And through these endless days
Shall come a broader sympathy
And though I count the hours
To be alone's no injury
My home, was a place near the sand
Cliffs, and a military band
Blew and air of normality
ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh, ooh
aah aah

[andrewcolonnello]

I’m a Metallica fan and my bass teacher recommended me this band. I never really liked slower rock but after listen to these guys my mindset has changed.

[gastonortiz]

The fact that the entire discography is available for streaming makes me smile because this means that the legacy of this beatiful work of art will expand and new generations will discover this masterpiece!

[caiosoares]

If i there's one way to decribe this song it would be like a warm bath.

[jdmresearch]

The solo at 6:10 is perhaps Fripp's most melodic, restrained ever. Few but sustained notes. Just beautiful.

[juankgonzalez]

Probably my favourite King Crimson song. The bridge is still as magical as the first time I heard it

[UncleTonyGuitar]

As a lifelong guitarist of some note (pun intended), I do not say this lightly: simply one of the most beautiful guitar solos ever recorded.

[venganostureinoaortiz]

I always proudly say that King Crimson is one of my favorite and influential bands.

[spectralmaya]

One of my favourite Crimson songs, really got me into Larks as well. Great to see it here, cheers Larks Lads.

[CraigPMiller]

Always reminded me of 'I Talk to the Wind' . Just as sweet but darker ❤

[krzysztofborkowski]

There’s a kind of beauty and mystery about this song that I can’t resist. Wetton’s velvet voice is coming like from another dimension

[datint]

this song has such a bitter-sweet vibe in it, it is like walking a post-war city watching children play on the ruins and knowing it's finally over. Hopefully it will be...

[marcsalzman]

Utterly fascinating and unique soundscapes blending melody, rhythms, counter-intuitive classical jazzy prog folk metal defying all genre & category ; it's experimental unique off-planet who even knows what the F*"" it is, not even Fripp, the most unheralded genius in music. Ever.

[jeffplissken]

This is one of those that I can’t imagine without John Wetton and David Cross, it’s some of John’s best singing in King Crimson and some of the best playing from David, it’s like a destiny they had that Jamie Muir was getting everyone ready for.

[rafaelaugustolarapalmeros]

One of the most wonderful and underrated song in King Crimson History.

[PrimitiveInTheExtreme]

King Crimson's melodic style expressed perfectly in this track. 🌜

[mrbenoit]

I like the intro a whole lot. It’s very spooky and scary

[frankgarnevicus]

I am 64 and have been hooked since I was 11. It's been a great ride.

[EdwardBast]

Night sounds, then sunrise on the cliffs (1:15), E minor; the seas swell, groan and crash at their feet (2:42). Wistful, sweet homesickness for that place by the sand (D major/G mixolydian for the verses), but in the end, back to E minor (7:05) and waves of loss, and longing. The desolation of that unresolved F# in the violin! A devastating and consoling song for lonely hours.