Hi,
I have always valued this piece, and appreciated its anthem qualities when it came out and bombs were all over VietNam and England was having the IRA issues every day and then some.
Today, even in the PA boards, saying that is a harsh comment, because it takes the piece of music (and album) out of its element that brought it to life, and makes it a meaningless song that years later no one cares about those who died, be they a friend or not ... what the fudge ... those friends are long gone anyway, so who cares!
It has always been one of my "themes" and pieces of music that I have never forgotten, and still live with and for. I fell out of KC after that album and though I appreciate and like "Red", and "Starless and Bible Black", in the end, it was the advent of 3 drummers, that made me enjoy one of the best concerts I have ever seen in my life. Way up there with the best of classical music and interpretation, and desire to make it come alive.
The whole album, for me, is the perfect snapshot of the time and place. It's examples and words are so correct and right on, that it is scary!