You know I’m a novelist, primarily a crime writer with 21 novels and 3 long listed books to my name, yeah? I didn’t realise this until I was nearly 50, like many people. In fact I should have realised in my teens. Because I would relentlessly make up stories and live in a fantasy world. But like many in the 70s who were working class, I wasn’t encouraged to channel this. Rather it was seen as an annoying trait that hindered me getting ‘a good job’.
I mean, I was a dreamer and happy living in my own head and being left alone with my records and a book of poetry because I was fascinated by words and how they could make you feel in certain arrangements. Rock music in its many forms was all part of that. These weren’t just ditties to hum, these were artistic statements. Like on Firth of Fifth, the final couplet -
‘The sands of time were eroded by
The river of constant change.’
That was just impressionistic enough to provoke my imagination and I loved its imagery. It gave your mind something to chew on.
Pretty much the whole of Dark Side of The Moon’s lyrics are just as inspiring in it’s introspection
‘Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way’
Is one of my favourite lines. It’s so bleak but you know just what he means. And in Red by King Crimson it vividly and poetically paints a story in three brilliantly delivered lines by John Wetton
‘West side skyline crying
Fallen angel dying
Risk a life to make a dime.’
Obviously. I also loved the more basic stuff like Mississippi Queen too, but time and again, often slightly impenetrable lyrics would fascinate me for months. This was my poetry, my art and listening now, we were so lucky to be blessed with so much great art. It still moves and inspires.
Even the Eagles wrote some profound lyrics, like the Last Resort
Who will provide the grand design?
What is yours and what is mine?
'Cause there is no more new frontier
But we have got to make it here
We satisfy our endless needs
And justify our bloody deeds
In the name of destiny
And in the name of God
That is brilliant, as on point now as in 1978.
The examples are endless. They are the lines of verse for our generation that provoke and inspire to this day. And when put with the superb music, well, is it any wonder it’s still a passion in our lives?
