Lyric discussion by frijolito_ts 

death-jargon: I think you are way off the mark with your analysis.

This song talks of a picture of 17th century Dutch society and the prosperity they now enjoy after their struggle for independence from Spain has ended: a period called the Dutch Golden Age.

When I say picture, I mean it both literally and figuratively. The author is talking about a painting of Dutch people from theafforementioned era, that he can now appreciate "three hundred years" later. I believe the precise painting to be one called "The Nightwatch", more aptly named "The Militia Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq", by Rembrandt.

As a listener, you cannot help but feel as if you were standing next to the author, contemplating a three-centuries old portrait of authentic "bourgeois" society as he describes the particular feelings of the people of the era: the smell of paint, the redbrick home, the Dutch respectability, the chance to live a peaceful life again. You are invaded with an overwhelming sense of awe at the quintessential bourgeioise of the people portrayed.

The word that comes to mind is contentedness, not stagnance. The portrayed men are the creme-de-la-creme of their environment, a new and prosperous society in its Golden Age, riding high on the wave of the european Renaissance and considered leaders in trade, science and art.

The painting itself: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NightWatch(painting)

More reading: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Golden_Age

@frijolito_ts I came here, because I hit another point in my life where King Crimson is in rotation and I had the reoccurring urge to know more about this song... saw I had posted something completely wrong. 19 year-old me....apparently really dumb, possibly an edgelord. But your explanation is awesome and you are right, the song's ethos supports the context/content.

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