1983 ... A Merman I Shall Turn To Be

Introduction

I am a member of many Facebook groups and I see many about how did progressive rock start. Very often concept albums are mooted, but one of the first concept albums is Frank Sinatra's "In The Wee Small Hours" but that while it is musical progress it is not what we are talking about.

Maybe The Moody Blues "Days of Future Past" iis an early example of progressive rock, although it is mainly bringing classical orchestral arrangements to the songs.

It has been cited by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and others as one of the earliest albums of the progressive rock genre and one of rock music's first concept albums.

Wikipedia

In the seventies progressive rock took to flight with bands like Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Curved Air, Jethro Tull and a lot more, but this is concentrating on one song from the album "Electric Ladyland" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

1983 ... A Merman I Shall Turn To Be

I'll be honest, this song has been on repeat all this morning. It is nearly fifteen minutes long, so that is four times an hour.

I have included the YouTube video so you can check it out for yourself.

This was written in 1968, so 1983 was fifteen years in the future. The album "Electric Ladyland" (the name of Hendrix's New York Studio) was the only Experience album produced completely by Jimi, and was the bands only number one album and spawaned many great singles including the cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower" which I believe was their most successful single.

This tells a story of the post apocalypse, but is hopeful for the narrator and his love.

I still have yet to hear a musician who could take us to places like Jimi did.

The music on this is a heavenly aural adventure, that I don;t think could be played live, or maybe it could, Hendrix could do anything with a guitar.

I will share the lyrics here, although it is best to listen to the song, then you get everything.

[Verse 1]
Hooray, I awake from yesterday
Alive, but the war is here to stay
So my love, Catherina and me
Decide to take our last walk through the noise to the sea
Not to die, but to be reborn
Away from lands so battered and torn
Forever
Forever

[Verse 2]
Oh, say can you see, it's really such a mess
Every inch of Earth is a fighting nest
Giant pencil and lipstick tube-shaped things
Continue to rain and cause screaming pain
And the Arctic stains from silver blue to bloody red
As our feet find the sand and the sea
Is straight ahead
Straight up ahead

[Bridge]
Well, it's too bad, that our friends can't be with us today
Well, it's too bad
"The machine that we built would never save us"
That's what they say
That's why they ain't coming with us today
And they also said
"It's impossible for man to live and breathe underwater forever"
Was their main complaint, yeah
And they also threw this in my face, they said
"Anyway, you know good and well
It would be beyond the will of God
And the grace of the King"
Grace of the King, yeah, yeah

[Verse 3]
So my darling and I make love in the sand
To salute the last moment ever on dry land
Our machine has done its work, played its part well
Without a scratch on our bodies and we bid it farewell
Starfish and giant foams greet us with a smile
Before our heads go under, we take a last look at the killing noise
Of the out-of-style
The out-of-style, out-of-style, ooh-ooh-ooh

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 4]
So down and down and down and down
And down and down we go
Hurry, my darling, we mustn't be late
For the show
Neptune champion games to an aqua
World is so very dear
"Right this way," smiles a mermaid
I can hear Atlantis full of cheer

[Refrain]
Atlantis full of cheer
I can hear Atlantis full of cheer

Jimi Hendrix

I could listen to this over and over for a very long time.

Conclusion

I know it's ony on song, but it is one of my absolute favourites, and you should give it a listen, all fifteen minutes.

Thank you for reading, I really appreciate your support.

Here's my haiku for it.

The End Of The World

Has Come And Gone, Leaving Us

Mermaid And Merman

Check the ones who are doing the 50 song haiku challenge here