Take A Pebble

Album: Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A Greg Lake composition, "Take A Pebble" finds the ELP singer/guitarist in a reflective mood as he sings:

    Just take a pebble and cast it to the sea,
    Then watch the ripples that unfold into me


    It's the second track on the group's first album, providing a mild counterpoint to the brutal first cut, "The Barbarian."
  • In the 2016 reissue of the album, Keith Emerson wrote about recording this song: "'Take A Pebble' was quite amazing. There's a lot of piano work in there and improvisation. I remember Carl [Palmer, drummer] had his brushes out. He wasn't painting at the time, but he did a lot of brush work on the snare drum, while I played an ostinato figure. I played one theme with the right hand and we took it from there. At the beginning of the piece I scrape the piano strings. I'd hold down various notes on the grand piano while strumming the strings. It's a technique Keith Jarrett first used and makes a great effect."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.