Pride of Man

About Pride of Man

"Pride of Man" is a 1964 song by Hamilton Camp. It is Camp's best-known composition. Rife with apocalyptic imagery and religious language ("Can't you see that flash of fire / Ten times brighter than the day... Shout a warning to the nations that the sword of God is raised / On Babylon that mighty city, rich in treasure, wide in fame... Oh God, the pride of man, broken in the dust again"), the song was written shortly after Camp's initiation into the Subud spiritual movement."Pride of Man" debuted on Camp's 1964 album Paths Of Victory, but achieved more notice when covered by Gordon Lightfoot on his 1966 debut album Lightfoot!. "Pride of Man" was the opening track on Quicksilver Messenger Service's eponymous 1968 debut album and was released as a single on the B side of "Dino's Song"; Rolling Stone described this version as having been "carr[ied] off admirably". Quicksilver Messenger Service regularly performed the song in concert. Gram Parsons' cover was included on the album Another Side of This Life: The Lost Recordings of Gram Parsons, released in 2000 but recorded in 1965 and 1966. The song has been covered by other musicians, such as Tony Rice on Church Street Blues (1983) and Ted Quinn on Help Wanted. Camp's version of the song was re-released on the 2006 five-disc compilation album Forever Changing — The Golden Age Of Elektra Records - 1963-1973 more »

Year:

1992

421 Views

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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 theose who place their faith in fire, their faith in fire 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 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 a new 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...

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Quicksilver Messenger Service

Quicksilver Messenger Service is an American psychedelic rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. They were most famous for the single "Fresh Air," from the album Just for Love, which was their biggest hit, reaching No. 49 in 1970. more »

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