The Court of the Crimson King — King Crimson
Chords and lyrics for The Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson (key of D).
Verse 1
(MacDonald-Sinfield)
( / = 1 beat, | = Bar line, )
Main Theme
D / / / |Cb5 / C / | Bsus4 / B/| B / / /|
Notes over last bar of B are B C# D# E F# B
Verse 1
The [Em]rusted chains of [D]prison moons are [Cb5]shattered by [B]the sun.
I [Em]walk a road, [D]horizons change, [Cb5]the tournament’s [B]begun.
The [Am]purple piper[E7/G#] plays his tune, the[F#m7b5] choir softly sing;[B]
Three [Em]lullabies in an [D]ancient tongue, for[Cb5] the court of the crimson [D]king.
Main Theme
D / / / |Cb5 / C / | Bsus4 / B/| B / / /|
Flute Solo
over
| D / / / | C / / / |D / / / | C / / / | D / / / | C / / / | B / / / |
Verse 2
The [Em]keeper of the [D]city keys puts [Cb5]shutters on the [B]dreams.
I [Em]wait outside [D]the pilgrim’s [Cb5]door, with [B]insufficient schemes.
The [Am]black queen [E7/G#]chants the funeral [F#m7b5]march; the cracked [B]brass bells will
ring;
To [Em]summon back the fire [D]witch to the [Cb5]court of the crimson king.[D]
Verse 3
The [Em]gardener plants [D]an evergreen [Cb5]whilst trampling on [B]a flower.
I [Em]chase the wind [D]of a prism ship [Cb5]to taste the [B]sweet and sour.
The [Am]pattern [E7/G#]juggler lifts his hand; [F#m7b5]the orchestra begin.[B]
As [Em]slowly turns the [D]grinding wheel in the[Cb5] court of the crimson [D]king.
Verse 4
On [Em]soft grey mornings[D] widows cry, the [Cb5]wise men share [B]a joke;
I [Em]run to grasp [D]divining signs to [Cb5]satisfy the [B]hoax.
The [Am]yellow [E7/G#]jester does not play, but[F#m7b5] gentle pulls the [B]strings
And [Em]smiles as the puppets [D]dance in the [Cb5]court of the crimson king.[D]
This is only a rough sketch to give people a start. The only notes in Cb5
are C,
E and F# or Gb depending on what you want to call it. F#m7b5 is Am ,F# in
the Bass
X