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“Epitaph” is the third track on King Crimson’s October 1969 debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King. Noted for its heavy use of mellotron and Greg Lake’s emotional vocals, the lyrics were written by the band’s primary lyricist, Peter Sinfield, with additional contributions from Lake. Sinfield spoke of the song in a 2019 interview:

‘Epitaph’ was a poem that I’d written when I had my own band. It started with the words, and then it was very much a piece of ensemble writing. Ian McDonald would come up with an idea, then someone else. I think Greg came up with the idea: ‘But I fear tomorrow I’ll be crying’, which is very Greg-ish.

The subtitle for this track is listed as “Including ‘March for No Reason’ and ‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow,’” though it’s not indicated which part is which. It’s likely that these subtitles were invented as a way of earning more royalties, suggested to the band by their management.

The word epitaph has Greek origins and is a combination of the words “epi” (meaning “on”) and “taphos” (which means tomb). The translation regards something that is inscribed on a tombstone. Epitaphs are placed on tombs to honor the deceased person buried inside. Though sometimes chosen by a person other than the deceased, it is generally seen as representative of their final thoughts or a description of their life.




[Instrumental Intro]

[Verse 1]
The wall on which the prophets wrote
Is cracking at the seams
Upon the instruments of death
The sunlight brightly gleams
When every man is torn apart
With nightmares and with dreams
Will no one lay the laurel wreath
When silence drowns the screams?

[Chorus]
Confusion will be my epitaph
As I crawl, a cracked and broken path
If we make it, we can all sit back and laugh
But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying
Yes, I fear tomorrow I'll be crying
Yes, I fear tomorrow I'll be crying

[Verse 2]
Between the iron gates of fate
The seeds of time were sown
And watered by the deeds of those
Who know and who are known;
Knowledge is a deadly friend
If no one sets the rules
The fate of all mankind I see
Is in the hands of fools

[Instrumental: “March for No Reason”]

[Verse 1]
The wall on which the prophets wrote
Is cracking at the seams
Upon the instruments of death
The sunlight brightly gleams
When every man is torn apart
With nightmares and with dreams
Will no one lay the laurel wreath
When silence drowns the screams?

[Chorus]
Confusion will be my epitaph
As I crawl, a cracked and broken path
If we make it, we can all sit back and laugh
But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying
Yes, I fear tomorrow I'll be crying
Yes, I fear tomorrow I'll be crying
Crying…
Crying…
Yes, I fear tomorrow I'll be crying
Yes, I fear tomorrow I'll be crying
Yes, I fear tomorrow I'll be crying
Crying…

[Outro: “Tomorrow and Tomorrow”]

[Instrumental]