About This Track
21st Century Schizoid Man is a song by King Crimson. The song’s lyrics consist of a short poem with one or more metaphors in every line. The guitar solo of the song was number 82 on Guitar World’s “100 Greatest Guitar Solos”
The song makes reference to the Vietnam War as exemplified in the lyric “innocents raped with napalm fire” and “politicians’ funeral pyre.” Before a live performance of the song on 14 December 1969 (as shown in the live album Epitaph), Fripp remarked that the song was dedicated to “an American political personality whom we all know and love dearly. His name is Spiro Agnew.”
Musically, the song is notable for its heavily distorted vocals sung by Greg Lake, a driving mechanical rhythm and piercingly loud saxophone and guitar, along with its instrumental middle section, called “Mirrors”. Most of the song is in either 4/4 or 6/8 time, save for the percussive section in “Mirrors” which alternates between 1/4, 2/4 and 5/4. The very end of the song is in free time.
King Crimson continued to perform it in their live act after Greg Lake left King Crimson in 1970 to form Emerson, Lake & Palmer. It appeared on four live albums from different versions of the band, first sung by Greg Lake on Epitaph, then by Boz Burrell on Earthbound (1972), by John Wetton, on USA (1974), and by Adrian Belew on Vrooom Vrooom (2001, recorded in 1996).
The song has recently been covered by Ozzy Osbourne on his cover album Under Cover. Flower Travellin’ Band, Entombed, Voivod, Unrest, Noir Désir, Afterhours, Rorschach and April Wine have also covered this song, as have Forbidden on their album Distortion. Cripple Bastards also covered this song on their ‘Your Lies In Check’ album
The song makes reference to the Vietnam War as exemplified in the lyric “innocents raped with napalm fire” and “politicians’ funeral pyre.” Before a live performance of the song on 14 December 1969 (as shown in the live album Epitaph), Fripp remarked that the song was dedicated to “an American political personality whom we all know and love dearly. His name is Spiro Agnew.”
Musically, the song is notable for its heavily distorted vocals sung by Greg Lake, a driving mechanical rhythm and piercingly loud saxophone and guitar, along with its instrumental middle section, called “Mirrors”. Most of the song is in either 4/4 or 6/8 time, save for the percussive section in “Mirrors” which alternates between 1/4, 2/4 and 5/4. The very end of the song is in free time.
King Crimson continued to perform it in their live act after Greg Lake left King Crimson in 1970 to form Emerson, Lake & Palmer. It appeared on four live albums from different versions of the band, first sung by Greg Lake on Epitaph, then by Boz Burrell on Earthbound (1972), by John Wetton, on USA (1974), and by Adrian Belew on Vrooom Vrooom (2001, recorded in 1996).
The song has recently been covered by Ozzy Osbourne on his cover album Under Cover. Flower Travellin’ Band, Entombed, Voivod, Unrest, Noir Désir, Afterhours, Rorschach and April Wine have also covered this song, as have Forbidden on their album Distortion. Cripple Bastards also covered this song on their ‘Your Lies In Check’ album
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Albums featuring this track
Shouts
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lauryyn wrote:
I had to listen Kanye's sample just for curiosity. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry... But whatever, because this song is awesome. Love it!
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inkalot wrote:
Just got this album. Had no idea Kanye sampled it. For shame!
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JeffersonBV wrote:
Everything here is pretty much perfect.
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KillMov3s wrote:
2nd heaviest song from 60's? the 1st is the trashman's Surfing Bird
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thesubject- wrote:
"Nobody should give a f*** about Kanye's POWER. It's horrible, really. Shame on them who found out about this song from that.. well, that's it let's forget that now. " -- Hey What other mainstream Hip-Hop artist would sample King Crimson?
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pianodrunkard wrote:
One of the "heaviest" tracks pre heavy metal
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guto013 wrote:
First time I listened to it I thought it was "21st Century Suicide" LOL
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jussi_m wrote:
Nobody should give a f*** about Kanye's POWER. It's horrible, really. Shame on them who found out about this song from that.. well, that's it let's forget that now.
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shinji03 wrote:
rapes the devil shits on jesus.
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Bought_New_Soul wrote:
Powerful.
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Watchful_Eye wrote:
The 21st century zeitgeist.. presented in a track from 1969. o_O
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FelipeTerry wrote:
Impossible dislike
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jmj540 wrote:
kanye west brought me here xD [2]
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R-R-Leite wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UoAGzt-24Y some similarity with this song or I'm just crazy? (I'm talking about the lyrics too)
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XXITheWorld wrote:
That solo makes me shit my pants every time
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pablo323 wrote:
Papapaprarararaaaaaa
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Austin_Rac wrote:
Those distorted Lake vocals are so totally epic, instant love.
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Durandal1717 wrote:
ACID ACID ACID ACID ACID ACID ACID ACID ACID ACID ACID ACID ACID ACID
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chefsam57 wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBfCzhYbWBk&feature=related
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AtheistGod wrote:
DEM DRUMS!
Track Stats
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