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Album: Quicksilver Messenger Service
Avg rating:
6.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1393









Released: 1968
Length: 4:03
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Turn around, go back down
back the way you came
can't you see that flash of fire
ten times brighter then the day
and behold a mighty city
broken in the dust again

OH GOD, PRIDE OF MAN
broken in the dust again

Turn around, go back down
back the way you came
Babylon is laid to waste
egypts buried in her shame

Their mighty men are all beaten down
Their kings are all fallin' in the ways

OH GOD, pride of man
broken in the dust again

Turn around, go back down
back the way you came
terror is on ever sign
though our leaders are dismayed
all those who place their faith in fire
in fire their fate shall be repayed

OH GOD, pride of man
broken in the dust again

Turn around, go back down
back the way you came
and shout a warning to the nation
that the soward of god is raised
get Babylon backed by its city
rich in treasure wide in fame

OH GOD, pride of man
broken in the dust again

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh
oh oh ohhh

And it shall cause your tower to fall
make of you a pyre of flame
oh you who dwell on many waters
rich in treasure wide in fame
you bow unto your god of gold
your pride of might shall be a shame
for only god can lead his people
back unto the earth again

OH GOD, Pride of man
broken in the dust again

Our holy mountain be restored
and mercy on the people
the people
ahhhhhhh ahhhh
Comments (187)add comment
This era of San Francisco musicians was amazing! 
 thewiseking wrote:
Love that album cover. Kelly, Mouse?
 
Griffin.  The surfer.

R I P Rick.

I love QMS… another band that I would never have listened too without RP! Thx for another discovery taken from music history… it's never too late! Long live RP 
Don't know if anyone else pointed this out but this was written by Hamilton Camp.
The acid vibratto!!!!

 vandal wrote:

oh, god, spiderman
smoking angel dust again... 
 



                  

oh, god, spiderman
smoking angel dust again... 
 Laptopdog wrote:
I used to think the lyrics were

"Oh God, Spiderman
Broken in the dust again"


 

Bump
Great lyrics legendary tune Sorry you had to go John It was cool partying with you
Great stuff. Thanks Bill!
WOW a great BLAST from the PAST
Thank you!!!
Iconic. Thanks RP for introducing his one to me
Love that album cover. Kelly, Mouse?
 Walrus_Gumbo wrote:
sharkartist wrote:
Well to start with, this was from the mid 60's. Obviously you weren't awake to the San Francisco sound of that era. Perhaps you weren't awake during the 70's either. You obviously missed such ground breaking bands such as Little Feat with Lowell George and too many others to mention here. The 60's thru early 70's was a special time indeed, sorry you missed it! Quicksilver helped define that wonderful San Francisco sound along with the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead and a host of others. The song "Gold & Silver" from Quicksilver's debut album, from which "Pride of Man " also comes from features some of the finest work from the band's excellent lead guitarist, the late John Cippolina. Let's face it, those were different times and the world was a bit more innocent. The musicians were highly accomplished players and very creative. I love all of Quicksilvers work, especially the work featuring Cippolina's playing. Too bad you just don't get it. :P
Amen, brother. I heard David Frieberg (original member) and other musicians do this live for a free Chet Helms Memorial concert in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park last October. Gave me chills!!! I miss those days, mucho!!!
 

P.S.D. !!
This one didn't age well.
68... bad number & bad song...ouch!
Wasn't this written for Steve Mnuchin?  {#Yes}
I used to think the lyrics were

"Oh God, Spiderman
Broken in the dust again"


 hayduke2 wrote:
Wicked Song from serious times, had this in my mailbox requesting my 18 year old to sign up:

Selective Service Registration - Do Your Duty for Your Country‎
Adwww.militarydraftregistration.com/Service/Enlist‎
 
 
If You Are Aged Between 18 and 25 Register Yourself for Military Service Today.
It's Your Duty & the Law · For Men 18 Years Old
Highlights: Private, Third-Party Consulting Firm, Offers Online Information And Guidance"

I wanted to tear it up but was told no, so what, have my most important person in the world called up into battle for tRump? fuck that


 
Surely this website isn't legit?  "This service is not endorsed by or affiliated with any United States government agency or the United States military. We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice."

Why would anyone want to pay $2.50 a month for "Draft Watch" early warning system when there hasn't been a draft since 1973?

Rip it up, my friend.  Legal obligations are a different kettle of fish, though.
Sadly, the lyrics still resonant

Quicksilver Messenger Service
Monterey Pop Festival - 1967




Wicked Song from serious times, had this in my mailbox requesting my 18 year old to sign up:

Selective Service Registration - Do Your Duty for Your Country‎
Adwww.militarydraftregistration.com/Service/Enlist‎
 
 
If You Are Aged Between 18 and 25 Register Yourself for Military Service Today.
It's Your Duty & the Law · For Men 18 Years Old
Highlights: Private, Third-Party Consulting Firm, Offers Online Information And Guidance"

I wanted to tear it up but was told no, so what, have my most important person in the world called up into battle for tRump? fuck that

 kcar wrote:

Go read kurtster's post for a stronger understanding of the times. This may be stuck in the 60s but it had a sincere message about the failures of arrogant leaders. Just because you can pigeonhole into some ironic pop-satire reference doesn't mean that you know what you're talking about. 

 
Go kcar!  Ericocean - {#Naughty}. I remember our friends from the US dreading that lottery and how it made us all feel.
Takes me back to Marinwood, California.
Yeah, baby! pxd


I wondered what the hell was making me so irritable.  
{#Motor}
footnotes
laughable 
The Vietnam anti-war movement showed the world that Americans were diverse in their opinions and outlooks.  

For those of you who are worried by the permanent target on the backs of Americans, that was a good outcome.   
 Ericocean wrote:
This is the kind of song that motivated the movie "Spinal Tap."  Really awful.

 
Go read kurtster's post for a stronger understanding of the times. This may be stuck in the 60s but it had a sincere message about the failures of arrogant leaders. Just because you can pigeonhole it into some ironic pop-satire reference doesn't mean that you know what you're talking about. 
This song ROCKS!
This is the kind of song that motivated the movie "Spinal Tap."  Really awful.
What a dull repetitive going knowhere waste of space musical offering 
 kurtster wrote:

Um, the song is nearly 50 years old and reflects the feelings of the day.  Its an anti war song.  There was this little war going on in SE Asia and a thing called the draft in place, not to mention the other little thing called the Cold War.  You are too young to be affected by these things and be impacted by the song's message, which like many songs of the day are still relevant even though the sound may be dated to many.

Perhaps if you were subject to the draft, your feelings about this song may be different. 

Perhaps because of songs like this, there is no draft today ...

 Amen to that! I was subject to the draft lottery and scheduled to go ONE WEEK before the lottery was suspended. Lifechanger? May
{#Fire}
Goddamn these guys were awful
Kinda reminds me of Lorenzo St DuBois
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4ht5we3qzY
 
Like a lot of otherwise great SF bands (Spirit comes to mind) their lesser stuff should be left in the vault.
 reindeer wrote:
I love Quicksilver's sound, but I hate the religious nonsense being blathered in this particular song.  Ugh.  Enough with the religious crap, please?  I was really enjoying myself before scrambling to mute this awful dreck.  Thanks.

 
Um, the song is nearly 50 years old and reflects the feelings of the day.  Its an anti war song.  There was this little war going on in SE Asia and a thing called the draft in place, not to mention the other little thing called the Cold War.  You are too young to be affected by these things and be impacted by the song's message, which like many songs of the day are still relevant even though the sound may be dated to many.

Perhaps if you were subject to the draft, your feelings about this song may be different. 

Perhaps because of songs like this, there is no draft today ...
 reindeer wrote:
I love Quicksilver's sound, but I hate the religious nonsense being blathered in this particular song.  Ugh.  Enough with the religious crap, please?  I was really enjoying myself before scrambling to mute this awful dreck.  Thanks.

 
you mean that you want to impose your lack of belief on others?
Ive heard pride of man a bunch on here, but the real gem off that album is The Fool. Please.
DOH! Silly me. I mistook this for Spirit. On the other hand, if all you heard was the guitar break you might think Jefferson Airplane. Still, brings back memories.
 ubuntourist wrote:
As a kid, the mondegreen I heard / imagined was "Oh God, Spiderman's web broke into dust again!"
 
Now that's funny!
I love Quicksilver's sound, but I hate the religious nonsense being blathered in this particular song.  Ugh.  Enough with the religious crap, please?  I was really enjoying myself before scrambling to mute this awful dreck.  Thanks.
 Cynaera wrote:
I submitted "Spindrifter" to the LRC - The late, lamented Nicky Hopkins, with the rest of QMS. It's a very melodic piano piece, and it just makes me realize that the only way we can honor these departed souls is by listening to the musical legacy they left behind.  This is one song I really hope Bill and Rebecca will choose to include in the library. It's simple, but it speaks so eloquently of hope, dreams, and love...

 
I wonder if "Spindrifter" is ever played, if Cynaera submitted it then it must be worthwhile .. oh and following Pride of Man with Audioslave was Genius!  Cool rock man
LOVE Quicksilver Messenger Service. Still have old LPs. Play more!
 AndyJ wrote:
WOW-!


Stop Everything. Turn up speakers...

Been a very long time... Thanks for this hairy old dinosaur...It is still as valid as waybackwhen... Plus it brings some baggage and memories of people long dead... but still as beautiful in memory as they were then... Haven't thought of them in such a long time.


And today's headlines with politicians going on now with as much sincerity as they did when Nixon won his first election...

History repeats itself first as tragedy then as farce... This does seem like a farce, but only for those who saw it before.

Just purchased this from Amazon...and tossed in a couple more...
( I hope you guys get some money, cause I've spent a lot on RP music. No regrets, just sayin  )
        

  
Always amazing the way a song or smell or place can unlock your memories and take you back. Was wondering who this was and had largely settled on Spirit. 

I don't have old memories associated with this song, unfortunately. I like the energy and free-form style, although some of the lyrics are ponderous and don't quite fit the rhythm. But hey, it was the Sixties so it's all groovy. 

Always like QMS's "Fresh Air."


For my money John Cippolina's best guitar work, especially the solo on the bridge, and he had a lot of great guitar work.
Best show I ever saw. Filmore East: Brinsley Schwarz, Van Morrison and Quicksilver Messenger Service with Nicky Hopkins.
To hear the early "San Francisco Sound" in its purest state, one could do no better than listen to the early lineup of Quicksilver Messenger Service. Bill Graham once introduced the band as "the oldest collection of living American juveniles."  Give them a good listen, you will not be disappointed.
"Ter roarrr"    Awful
this would make a nice cover for someone... used to have this album back in the dorm 
Good song for the closing credits of Mad Men episode.
As a kid, the mondegreen I heard / imagined was "Oh God, Spiderman's web broke into dust again!"
Far out, man.  (Still, after all these years, it's far out.)
 kurtster wrote:
There was a reason for music with this kind of message. 

Coulda been written yesterday.

 
Yet it sounds so dated. Still like it.
This sure takes me back! I used to love this song and album.  Maybe I'll have to look for it again.
 
https://cinemakc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/spinal-tap.jpeg
 kh808 wrote:

WHO WAS Quicksilver Messenger Service besides Nicky Hopkins?

 
John Cipollina, guitar
Gary Duncan, guitar
David Freiberg, bass
Greg Elmore, drums

Dino Valenti was a founding member who was busted for possession and was serving time when the band broke. Duncan took a year off and Hopkins joined for their third album, Shady Grove. Valenti and Duncan rejoined the band for their fourth, Just for Love. Both Hopkins and Cipollina left after that one.

BTW, Nick Gravenites sings "Pride of Man." He'd come west with Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield from Chicago, and would become Bloomfield's and Buddy Miles's vocalist with The Electric Flag. The horns are the original Tower of Power horn section.
WOW-!


Stop Everything. Turn up speakers...

Been a very long time... Thanks for this hairy old dinosaur...It is still as valid as waybackwhen... Plus it brings some baggage and memories of people long dead... but still as beautiful in memory as they were then... Haven't thought of them in such a long time.


And today's headlines with politicians going on now with as much sincerity as they did when Nixon won his first election...

History repeats itself first as tragedy then as farce... This does seem like a farce, but only for those who saw it before.

Just purchased this from Amazon...and tossed in a couple more...
( I hope you guys get some money, cause I've spent a lot on RP music. No regrets, just sayin  )
        
There was a reason for music with this kind of message. 

Coulda been written yesterday.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Nice typography on the band logo (Rick Griffin maybe?).
As for the music, "hasn't aged well" would be generous.
 
Yes, good ID on the graphic artist, piss poor evolution of your musical taste.
Cipollina following Mark! John really had it going on. Seriously the best of the day... 
Nice typography on the band logo (Rick Griffin maybe?).
As for the music, "hasn't aged well" would be generous.
Always suffered through this one, reached my limit just now
Blast from the past for many, I'm sure.

But even for me . . . I'm glad to hear it as a "back in the day" type memory refresher . . . but I'm also glad I don't hear this more than once every year or so   {#Cool} 
Awful
The quintessential 60s sound! 
This is great…brings back memories of KBEY in Kansas City, 1970-1974. Now we just need some Mothers of Invention, Taj Mahal…
A gem!
Thanx for playing this!
 kh808 wrote:

WHO WAS Quicksilver Messenger Service besides Nicky Hopkins?
 

Well, John Cipolina, for one.  Hopkins tenure with QSM was pretty brief.
A song attempting to be about something substantial, but comes off like dated, off-key noise. Quicksilver did have Fresh Air, a great song RP might play, if it does not already do so. Hint hint. 
This is meaningful on the 42nd anniversary of the shootings at Kent State.
In the right frame of mind and spirit, this song touches upon all it should in ways it does most powerfully and rings true now as ever shall be Amen...
nothing like a little fire & brimstone to pick you up in the late afternoon! 
 paulmack wrote:
It's interesting to read all the comments here - as always, I'm amazed at how vicious some people feel the need to be. I mean, it's one thing to not like some piece of art, but so many of us comment as though they are some final arbiter of what is good and the rest of us are fools if we disagree. It ain't like that, folks. What you think is just as much opinion (and, therefore, ultimately just as meaningless to anyone else) as what I think. That being said, I'd be happier if the naysayers all got a chance to listen to something from this band's next album, Happy Trails, before making up their minds about the band as a whole. Or, better yet, got to go back in time to see them live, say, in 1967. Many parts of "Who Do You Love" and "Mona" from HT still - STILL - give me chills every time I hear them. Most of all - to me - they are SO emblematic of what was to many of us a truly magical time (as several others have noted here) in life, in music, in politics. Of course, then there was 1968 which most would probably describe as somewhat less magical (note understated sarcasm)....
 

bump
 Blaggart wrote:
Oh God, Spiderman?
 
bump
 vandal wrote:

agreed
 
 
WHO WAS Quicksilver Messenger Service besides Nicky Hopkins?
 abbey_normal wrote:
Sorry.  This is somewhere between a Simpson's parody and a Spinal Tap tune.  With a dash of (the bad part of) Iron Maiden thrown in.
 
agreed
 
Great memories. Good song.
I submitted "Spindrifter" to the LRC - The late, lamented Nicky Hopkins, with the rest of QMS. It's a very melodic piano piece, and it just makes me realize that the only way we can honor these departed souls is by listening to the musical legacy they left behind.  This is one song I really hope Bill and Rebecca will choose to include in the library. It's simple, but it speaks so eloquently of hope, dreams, and love...
Sorry.  This is somewhere between a Simpson's parody and a Spinal Tap tune.  With a dash of (the bad part of) Iron Maiden thrown in.

It's from their first album:

Quicksilver Messenger Service
 mbatesel wrote:
As others have said, really a classic!
  Only in US.


 Blaggart wrote:
Oh God, Spiderman?
 
Broken in the dust again... {#Lol}  I do love this song, but now I'll never be able to listen to it without laughing...  {#Lol}
 shmuelman wrote:
An important psychedelic era song. Really brings me back to the days of my early teenagehood. Filled with the spiritual / political message that emerged in the late 60's.
 
With a headful of zid listening to the X on my Koss cans.

 https://floydslips.blogspot.com/2009/07/freeform-radio-masterdave-dixon-on-wabx.html
Oh God, Spiderman?
alotlikeyou wrote:
These guys have cool album covers. I've almost bought their vinyls just because of that...
Rick Griffin, living on.

Always liked this song.  It also gave Camp's acting a bit of a boost after it became a hit for Quicksilver.
Still works for me. A solid 9. Love the QMS.
 digitaldante wrote:
I wanted to say something reasonable and nice about this song before I trashed it, but I just can't. What a turd.
 
Somehow reasonable and nice doesn't seem to convey you, Mr. Sunshine. {#Sunny}
As others have said, really a classic!


He's thinkin' what I'm thinkin'.
OK, it's cool, but can we keep it to once a month or so, on an "oldies" shift...
sorry I missed it —-(I have it here at home but I'd like to have heard it with everyone else for some reason.)
Some people on another site were discussing the lyrics to this song and thought that the lyrics (italicized here) were prescient of 9/11—-kind of interesting.
Gordon Lightfoot did this too, and it actually sounds pretty good acoustic. The chord progression is fun to play:
Turn around,
go back down,
back the way you came,
Can't you see that flash of fire ten times brighter than the day?
And behold a mighty city broken in the dust again,
Oh God, Pride of Man, broken in the dust again.

Turn around,
go back down,
back the way you came,
Babylon is laid to waste, Egypt's buried in her shame,
The mighty men are all beaten down, their kings are fallen in the ways,
Oh God, Pride of Man, broken in the dust again.

Turn around,
go back down,
back the way you came,
Terror is on every side, lo our leaders are dismayed.
For those who place their faith in fire, their faith in fire shall be
repaid,

Oh God, Pride of Man, broken in the dust again.

Turn around,
go back down,
back the way you came,
And shout a warning unto the nation that the sword of God is raised.
Yes, Babylon, that mighty city, rich in treasures, wide in fame,
Oh God, Pride of Man, broken in the dust again.

The meek shall cause your tower to fall, make of you a pyre of flame,
Oh you who dwell on many waters, rich in treasures, wide in fame.

you bow unto your God of gold, your pride of might shall be a shame,
For only God can lead His people back unto the Earth again.

Oh God, Pride of Man, broken in the dust again.
A Holy mountain be restored, and mercy on that people, that people


Just love to hear Quicksilver..great tune

heavy man

good stuff
I like
 paulmack wrote:
It's interesting to read all the comments here - as always, I'm amazed at how vicious some people feel the need to be. I mean, it's one thing to not like some piece of art, but so many of us comment as though they are some final arbiter of what is good and the rest of us are fools if we disagree. It ain't like that, folks. What you think is just as much opinion (and, therefore, ultimately just as meaningless to anyone else) as what I think. That being said, I'd be happier if the naysayers all got a chance to listen to something from this band's next album, Happy Trails, before making up their minds about the band as a whole. Or, better yet, got to go back in time to see them live, say, in 1967. Many parts of "Who Do You Love" and "Mona" from HT still - STILL - give me chills every time I hear them. Most of all - to me - they are SO emblematic of what was to many of us a truly magical time (as several others have noted here) in life, in music, in politics. Of course, then there was 1968 which most would probably describe as somewhat less magical (note understated sarcasm)....
 
{#Clap}{#Clap}{#Clap}
I upped mine from an 8 to a 9.

It's interesting to read all the comments here - as always, I'm amazed at how vicious some people feel the need to be. I mean, it's one thing to not like some piece of art, but so many of us comment as though they are some final arbiter of what is good and the rest of us are fools if we disagree. It ain't like that, folks. What you think is just as much opinion (and, therefore, ultimately just as meaningless to anyone else) as what I think. That being said, I'd be happier if the naysayers all got a chance to listen to something from this band's next album, Happy Trails, before making up their minds about the band as a whole. Or, better yet, got to go back in time to see them live, say, in 1967. Many parts of "Who Do You Love" and "Mona" from HT still - STILL - give me chills every time I hear them. Most of all - to me - they are SO emblematic of what was to many of us a truly magical time (as several others have noted here) in life, in music, in politics. Of course, then there was 1968 which most would probably describe as somewhat less magical (note understated sarcasm)....
didnt hear the tune but I love quicsilver so I'l give 'em a 7.8
 peyotecoyote wrote:



 
Funny..love that scene...nice connectio

{#Puke}
"Pride of Man" was written by Hamilton Camp, actor, singer, songwriter—all around renaissance guy. https://hamiltoncamp.com/

If you recall the "M*A*S*H" episode where a loony soldier talked to Mr. Sock and pretty much out-Klingered Klinger, that was Hamilton Camp.
In the Guess Who's wildest fantasies !!!!! Canadian Invasion indeed!!! Phoof.
Ambitious!
coolpeople_rule wrote:
Do you regret that?
Yes, I did, because I heard them afterwards and thought them pretty good, was surprised they'd play a senior prom.
LPCity wrote:
Stonehenge! Where the demons dwell...
LPCity wrote:
Stonehenge! Where the demons dwell...
...and the Banshees wail, and they do it well!
An important psychedelic era song. Really brings me back to the days of my early teenagehood. Filled with the spiritual / political message that emerged in the late 60's.
classic! Thanks Bill!
LPCity wrote:
Stonehenge! Where the demons dwell...
but this doesn't go to 11..
fletch wrote:
Played at my Senior prom. I did not attend.
Then how do you know?
fletch wrote:
Played at my Senior prom. I did not attend.
Do you regret that?
Played at my Senior prom. I did not attend.
In the year 2525 . . . Apocalypse a-go-go. I kinda like it anyway.
Doors....ish
Very tasteful guitar solo; thank you John. Vocal needs work.
What a cool bimodal distribution of ratings. Re-reading the lyrics, this seems to me to be a song about the threat of nuclear war, which was much more real during the Cold War of the 60s than it is today with "terrorists" and "rogue states." Those were different times. Personally, I go positive on this one.
Such a "deep" concept.