Bruce Dickinson – King In Crimson

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  General Comment:I came to read the lyrics to determine whether the song was based on The Dark Tower or not, and I have to conclude that it was not. There's nothing that would indicate any relation to the Stephen King series other than title of the song, which is a vague association. As someone else pointed out the album is at least partly based on William Blake's poetry, where King's original basis for The Dark Tower came from a poem by Robert Browning.

  Flag Mesa XIon March 09, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:Although all the references to satan seem to be the clear focus of the song (which it could very well be) I belive the song to be about a character from stephen kings novel series the dark tower named the crimson king. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… This character has a resemblence to satan in his apearence and demeanor. Thus it is hard to decide which of the two it could be.

  Flag tempestjonnyon December 21, 2008   Link

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    I agree, I haven't read that book but I have recently finished 'Insomnia', where the Crimson King is introduced. The line in this song which really connects this and the book (besides the Crimson King part, of course) is, "if you only could see the visions, his hand is death if you taken it now".
    The main character in Insomnia has many visions full of aura's and light.

    Flag Mikey_69on October 15, 2010  

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    Unlikely that its based on Stephen King at all, considering the entire album is based around the poetry of William Blake. Now, granted, some of King's influence could be from Blake, but it'd be two artists drawing from the same source of inspiration rather than each other.

    Flag metalkenon December 27, 2010  
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  General Comment:"See his twisted sons and daughters" comes before the reference to the King in Crimson, so while it could be referring to those of the King in Crimson, it could just as well be referring to the sons and daughters of man or God or about anything else. Going off of "The trembling world I now despise" in context with the rest of that verse it is easy to derive the same conclusion that Turbo came to, he once was drawn to this power however now hates it. The rest seems to be describing Hell and the power the King in Crimson has over everyone there.

  Flag Rebbal Aceon January 21, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:Beelzebub is a separate entity from Satan, depending on your references. But still, the example Kaine_lawless pointed out is actually a pretty weak one because it can still make grammatical sense.

  Flag FreeFragSGSon October 09, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:The name "King in Crimson" is a loose synonym for Beelzebub, a derivation of the hebrew word "Ba'al-z'bub" meaning "Lord of the flies". In any case, it is referring to Satan, but not necessarily saying that Satan is bad, stay away from him. It's more likely saying Satan is all powerful, but evil nonetheless. The "Sons and daughters" part, I'm not quite sure of. And that's my analysis of this song.

  Flag im_a_pirateon August 21, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:If that's true. Brucey sucks at the English.
  
  "See his twisted sons and daughters
  Writhing slowly in Satan's mire "

  Flag Kaine_lawlesson April 07, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:This song clearly says "Satan is bad. Don't follow him or listen to him, or it will be too late when you're in trouble."

  Flag Turbo Speedon January 02, 2006   Link

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