Lizard (23:22)
38,467 plays (11,170 listeners)
“Lizard” is the longest composed (as distinct from improvised) piece ever recorded by King Crimson. This piece is divided into several sections and even subsections, with a narrative running through its entirety, about a prince who takes part in an epic battle. The track’s grandiloquence verges on (self-) parody.
Lizard’s opening section, “Prince Rupert Awakes”, features Jon Anderson (from Yes) in his only ever contribution to a King Crimson recording. This section of the track alternates between sincere and ethereal verses, and an amusingly folksy chorus accompanied by handclaps. The two styles are then combined in a rousing, worldless chorale, that segues into the track’s next section, “Bolero”.
“Bolero” provides a showcase for the talents of supporting musicians Tippett, Miller, Charig, and Evans. Playing over McCulloch’s bolero-like drum part, they are given the space to develop progressively more jazzy solos around a central theme. When this section of “Lizard” was excerpted from the whole, for inclusion on the compilation Frame by Frame: The Essential King Crimson, Gordon Haskell’s bass guitar was replaced with a part recorded by the later King Crimson bassist Tony Levin.
As “Bolero” comes to a halt, it is followed by “Dawn Song”, the first of three subsections that comprise “The Battle of Glass Tears”. “Dawn Song” opens with an ominous theme led by Robin Miller, which is then joined by a subdued vocal sung by Haskell. The next subsection of “The Battle of Glass Tears”, “Last Skirmish”, is arguably the instrumental high point of the Lizard album.
Lizard’s opening section, “Prince Rupert Awakes”, features Jon Anderson (from Yes) in his only ever contribution to a King Crimson recording. This section of the track alternates between sincere and ethereal verses, and an amusingly folksy chorus accompanied by handclaps. The two styles are then combined in a rousing, worldless chorale, that segues into the track’s next section, “Bolero”.
“Bolero” provides a showcase for the talents of supporting musicians Tippett, Miller, Charig, and Evans. Playing over McCulloch’s bolero-like drum part, they are given the space to develop progressively more jazzy solos around a central theme. When this section of “Lizard” was excerpted from the whole, for inclusion on the compilation Frame by Frame: The Essential King Crimson, Gordon Haskell’s bass guitar was replaced with a part recorded by the later King Crimson bassist Tony Levin.
As “Bolero” comes to a halt, it is followed by “Dawn Song”, the first of three subsections that comprise “The Battle of Glass Tears”. “Dawn Song” opens with an ominous theme led by Robin Miller, which is then joined by a subdued vocal sung by Haskell. The next subsection of “The Battle of Glass Tears”, “Last Skirmish”, is arguably the instrumental high point of the Lizard album.
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Albums featuring this track
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Lizard
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Shouts
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yaywalter wrote:
Beautiful
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Lasers89 wrote:
The section at 7:10 is good, but the drum part is pretty bad. I wish he was doing something different.
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EduMusic wrote:
That bolero is a magical and explendid piece of music.
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Moontower wrote:
one of the greatest epics in prog rock!
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proktor86 wrote:
I love trumpets (or whatever it is) part which starts at 7:10 - one of the greatest moments in music for me.
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shentao wrote:
The part between 4;20-11;20 remembers me on a old game Grandia :) Soo great :D Just magic you can almost touch... ^^
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ihavesoldout wrote:
Wake your reasons' hollow vote Wear your blizzard season coat
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onthewall2983 wrote:
Without a doubt, Jon Anderson at his most nasal.
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Link28 wrote:
Unbelievable compositon...One of the greatest prog songs ever created...
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hi-leaves wrote:
mind blowin' :0 = ...
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Thomaaazs wrote:
Lizard: Prince Rupert Awakes/Bolero: The Peacock's Tale/The Battle of G
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Sunchild3 wrote:
Art at it's top. ''Dawn song'' is probably my favourite composition of all times.
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Karppaky wrote:
:)
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Nhorf wrote:
Quite possibly the best king Crimson song ever.
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Nhorf wrote:
The Bolero part is just beautiful, omg
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zempto wrote:
Quite an epic song. Very good.
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goldione wrote:
<3 ... Track 5 - Lizard ... ... b) Bolero - The peacock's tale (6:39)
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kamahl90 wrote:
perhaps their best :)
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BlackSabbath86 wrote:
Shamefully overlooked.
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greg_valou wrote:
then penultimate section is beyond time and space
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Recent Activity
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NikkWZ, Leonstan, Gun-juke and 2 other people loved King Crimson – Lizard. yesterday afternoon
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WhiteRabbit94 tagged King Crimson – Lizard with jazz, progressive and psychedelic. 17 days ago
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MrOrangePajamas added Lizard to his Loved Tracks. 17 days ago
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t1hierry added Lizard to t1hierry’s library. 19 days ago
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t1hierry added Lizard to the playlist. 19 days ago
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