| The Court of the Crimson King | |
| Cover: | TheCourtof.jpeg |
| Caption: | French Picture Sleeve. |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | King Crimson |
| Album: | In the Court of the Crimson King |
| A-Side: | The Court of the Crimson King, Pt. 1 |
| B-Side: | The Court of the Crimson King, Pt. 2 |
| Released: | (UK) (US)[1] |
| Recorded: | 21–23 July 1969 |
| Studio: | Wessex, London |
| Genre: | Progressive rock[2] |
| Length: |
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| Label: | |
| Composer: | Ian McDonald |
| Lyricist: | Peter Sinfield |
| Producer: | King Crimson |
| Next Title: | Cat Food |
| Next Year: | 1970 |
"The Court of the Crimson King", sometimes billed "In the Court of the Crimson King", is the titular fifth and final track from the British progressive rock band King Crimson's debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King. Released as a single, it reached No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the only King Crimson single to chart on the Hot 100.
The track is dominated by a distinctive, repeated four-bar riff performed on a Mellotron. The main part of the song is split into four stanzas, divided by an instrumental section called "The Return of the Fire Witch". The song climaxes at seven minutes, but after a pause continues with a brief instrumental interlude called "The Dance of the Puppets", before ending with a reprise of the main theme. The music was composed by Ian McDonald, and the lyrics were written by Peter Sinfield.
Cash Box said "Unusual lyric imagery and instrumental impact with a 'Jude' hypnotism should set the side on a breakout path."[3] Record World called it "a heavy hard rock item with some classy jazz overtones."[4]