Kansas; Lamplight Symphony

Kansas;
Lamplight Symphony
(Kerry Livgren)
(From LP 1975)
On a winter's night, stars are cold and bright in the sky,
The slumber of the earth is pure and deep
From a distant wood, drifts the echo of a beast The old man stirs and wakens in the night He stands before his window gazing at the grave Forgotten dreams are flashing through his weary mind And though his life is empty, he pretends that she's still there With hunger in his soul, he yearns for life and love gone by, With memories his one and only joy All he has to give, he would give to bring back the life, And raise the one who lies beneath the snow He lights a lamp and looks at pictures of the past The faces of their youth still glow with new-found love, But the picture's faded, and time has stolen youth away With a spoken word that he thought he heard from her lips, He felt another presence in the room, He was filled with fear but filled with joy he arose And turned to face the image that he knew She stood before him and her hand reached out for his A peaceful light shone in her eyes She said she'd come to soothe him, and someday they'd be as one She began to fade and her image disappeared, So he was left alone to face the night, Never in his life, had he been so held in awe, As he faced the apparition of his wife He stood before the window gazing at the grave, And with a lightened heart he saw the first of dawn, He knew that she was waiting, that someday they'd be as one

***

Livgren had really a view into the REAL LIFE - that life continues into higher realms - (before coming back to new physical lives)
Read ufo-stuff on www.galactic.no/rune

Category:

Music

Tags:

• pop
• rock

[joanie134]

The song is fabulous and one of the most haunting in the Kansas discography. It's too bad that the record producers didn't have the foresight to make more video recordings during this time period. The music is awesome and the live performances should have been recorded for posterity.

I do love this song and the beautiful story that it tells.

[runeespa]

thanks for comment- and i do agree- greetings from rune in norway

[jk1802]

True confession time: I was a pot smoking freshman at Wichita State in 1978. I had an English Comp assignment due in the morning, which I hadn't started yet. I'm burning a couple & listening to this song. "Hey, I'll bet Prof. What'shername would dig this, and I know she hasn't heard Kansas"....Yep, I ripped off Kerry Livgren & got an "A".  Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...

[Yarsh52]

There is no better decade for music than the 1970s, well in my opinion at least.

[BetterTasteThanU]

sappy grabage

[mustdietolive]

kansas is the most talented group in rock and roll. I grew up loving their music and wore the grooves out of their albums

[bigredoneder]

I lost the love of my life at a very young age, a long time ago. This song still grabs me and won't let go.

[chosenfool]

Previous post was stream-of-consciousness... of course, there were many great singers. I like Burton Cummings a lot, as well. Paul Rodgers, James Dewar, Phil Mogg. Man, we were spoiled in the 70s! Actually although Dio and Dewar have gone to The Great Gig in the Sky, Paul and Phil are still singing great and releasing strong material, which is awesome.

[chosenfool]

Steve Walsh in '75 was pretty untouchable as a vocalist. There were only a few in his league; the great Ronnie James Dio, who sang 2 songs on Kerry's solo album "Seeds of Change" in 1980; Klaus Meine from Scorpions. His 70s vocals were ridiculously amazing and beautiful and shredding, as the songs required. Robbie Steinhardt's voice complimented Walsh's so well. But, then, Kansas has been my favorite band for like... ever.

[avs90125]

@saynotodrug999

The Spider on Point of Know Return is one of the most bad-ass keyboard pieces i've ever heard...and I do agree with mximumsatann, In The Spirit of Things is one of their better albums...some of Walsh's best vocals and Steve Morse on guitar, and you can't get much better than that!

[Dalefan38]

This is the ONE song I always wanted to see them perform live. LOVE THIS SONG!!!!

[Yarsh52]

@ericjurado6 Yeah, at least we can look back on the great music from then. Still, I think seeing bands like Kansas and U.K. in their prime live would be mind blowing.

[ericjurado6]

@Yarsh52 ,,i wish i was alive in the 70'.......i saddly was born in 81,',,,so i miss all that great music,,,,,,damm it,,,,,

[IRockSoMuch63]

Steve Walsh's voice is so awesome, one of the best Prog Rock voices ever! Sooooo Underrated! His voice gives me chills.