This is the first track off of King Crimson’s sixth studio album, Starless and Bible Black.
“The Great Deceiver” is one of the only songs that was recorded entirely in the studio. The song’s title refers to The Devil and is an ironic commentary on commercialism (Fripp contributed the line “cigarett...
[Verse 1]
Health-food faggot with a bartered bride
Likes to comb his hair with a dipper ride
Once had a friend with a cloven foot
Once he called the tune in a chequered suit
[Refrain]
Great Deceiver!
[Verse 2]
In the door on the floor in a paper bag
There's a shoe-shine boy with a gin-shop slag
She raised him up and she called him son
And she canonised the ground that he walked upon
[Refrain]
Great Deceiver!
[Chorus]
Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the Virgin Mary
Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the Virgin Mary
Cigarettes, ice cream
Cadillacs, blue jeans
[Interlude]
Get it!
[Verse 3]
In the night he's a star in the Milky Way
He's a man of the world by the light of day
A golden smile and a proposition
And the breath of God smells of sweet sedition
[Refrain]
Great Deceiver!
[Verse 4]
Sing hymns, make love, get high, fall dead
He'll bring his perfume to your bed
He'll charm your life 'til the cold wind blows
Then he'll sell your dreams to a picture show
[Chorus]
Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the Virgin Mary
Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the Virgin Mary
Cadillacs, blue jeans, Dixieland playing on the ferry
Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the Virgin Mary
Cadillacs, blue jeans, Dixieland playing on the ferry
Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the Virgin Mary
Cadillacs, blue jeans, Dixieland playing on the ferry
Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the Virgin Mary
Camel hair, Brylcreem, drop a glass full of antique sherry
The Great Deceiver was written by Richard Palmer-James & Robert Fripp & John Wetton.
The Great Deceiver was produced by King Crimson.
King Crimson released The Great Deceiver on Fri Mar 29 1974.