Dr. Livingstone, I Presume (song)

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"Dr. Livingstone, I Presume"
Single by The Moody Blues
from the album In Search of the Lost Chord
A-side "Voices in the Sky"
Released28 June 1968
RecordedJanuary–June 1968
Genre Psychedelic rock, psychedelic folk, progressive rock
Label Deram
Songwriter(s) Ray Thomas
Producer(s) Tony Clarke

"Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" is a 1968 song by the English rock band the Moody Blues. [1] It was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas, although he does not play the flute in the song. First released in June 1968 on the B-side of "Voices in the Sky," "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" is one of Ray Thomas's signature child-themed songs, much like his first composition "Another Morning." [2] [3]

"Dr Livingstone, I Presume" was primarily written about Dr. David Livingstone. The lyrics in the opening verse describe the accomplishments of Dr. Livingstone, who was a Scottish missionary and explorer in central Africa. In a similar manner, the lyrics in later verses describe the accomplishments of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, and Christopher Columbus.

"Dr. Livingstone, I Presume" was later released on the Moody Blues' 1968 album In Search of the Lost Chord , where it was the third track. The band performed the song on the UK television programme Colour Me Pop on 14 September 1968. [4]

The chorus, with the repeated line "We're all looking for someone", was used in the title sequence of the 1968 Thames Television series The Tyrant King , in which a trio of children follow a mysterious character around London.

Personnel

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References

  1. "Dr. Livingstone, I Presume - The Moody Blues | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
  2. "The Moody Blues: In Search Of The Lost Chord : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . 2008-06-06. Archived from the original on 2008-06-06. Retrieved 2017-08-07.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "The Moody Blues - Voices In The Sky / Dr. Livingstone I Presume". Discogs. 1968. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
  4. "The Moody Blues - Dr. Livingstone, I Presume". YouTube. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2016.