Today Jim at Song Lyric Sunday is asking us to think about a musical group with a type of food in its name and write about one of their songs. I have chosen the Canadian hard rock group April Wine and their song Sign of the Gypsy Queen.
♛
“Sign of the Gypsy Queen” was written and originally recorded by Lorence Hud. The song became a hit in Canada when released as a single in 1973. Hud’s version appeared on his eponymous debut album. The song reached the top 5 on the West Coast, #3 on CJRW-FM in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and peaked at #16 nationally on the RPM 100 chart.
April Wine had more success with its 1981 hard rock version of the song. It was the second single from their album, The Nature of the Beast. The song reached #40 on the Canadian Hot 100, and #57 in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100, and #19 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks.
This version has become popular on album-oriented rock radio stations, getting frequent airplay in the United States and Canada; a music video aired on MTV’s first day of broadcast. It remains one of the group’s signature songs and a live concert staple.
“Sign of the Gypsy Queen” gained a brief resurgence in popularity when it was featured in an episode of the American television series Breaking Bad in 2013. The episode, “Granite State”, received critical acclaim, and is one of the most popular episodes in the series history.
Sign of the Gypsy Queen – by April Wine
Lyrics
Lightning smokes on the hillrise
Brought the man with the warning light
Shouting loud you had better fly
While the darkness can help you hide
Trouble’s comin’ without control
No one’s stayin’ that’s got a hope
Hurricane at the very least
In the words of the gypsy queen
Sign of the gypsy queen
Pack your things and leave
Word of a woman who knows
Take all your gold and you go
Get my saddle and tie it on
Western wind who is fast and strong
Jump on back, he’s good and long
We’ll resist till we reach the dawn
Running seems like the best offense
Staying just don’t make any sense
No one could ever stop it now
Show the cards of the gypsy town
Sign of the gypsy queen
Pack your things and leave
Word of a woman who knows
Take all your gold and you go
Shadows movin’ without a sound
From the hold of the sleepless town
Evil seems to be everywhere
Heed the spirit that brought despair
Trouble’s comin’ without control
No one’s stayin’ that’s got a hope
Hurricane at the very least
In the words of the gypsy queen
Sign of the gypsy queen
Pack your things and leave
Word of a woman who knows
Take all your gold and you go
Sign of the gypsy queen
Pack your things and leave
Word of a woman who knows
Take all your gold and you go
Sign of the gypsy queen
Pack your things and leave
Word of a woman who knows
Take all your gold and you go
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Lorence Hud
Sign of the Gypsy Queen lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
| “Sign of the Gypsy Queen” | |
| Single by April Wine | |
| from the album The Nature of the Beast | |
| B-side | “Crash and Burn” |
| Released | 1981 |
| Studio | Le Manoir |
| Genre | Hard rock progressive rock |
| Length | 4:18 |
| Label | Aquarius Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) | Lorence Hud |
| Producer(s) | Myles Goodwyn Mike “Clay” Stone |
| April Wine singles chronology | |
| “Just Between You and Me“ (1980) “Sign of the Gypsy Queen“ (1981) “Enough Is Enough” (1981) | |
| Audio | |
| “Sign of the Gypsy Queen” on YouTube | |
NAR © 2023
The Elephant's Trunk 
Brilliant song. New to me, and that makes even more fun.
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So glad you liked it!
It’s not a hackneyed piece by a familiar group, sis,
and I’m delighted to introduce it to everyone! ❤︎
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What M said.
Right out of the Richy Vault!
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I’m getting off on the fact that no one knows this! 😂
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There’s a new theme format for you: songs nobody knows. 😂
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Hahaha!!!
I think someone beat me to that one today 😂
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Yes, this has long been one of my favourites! It certainly has a… wait✋️ what‽ 🤣 Sorry, Nancy, I couldn’t resist. Never heard this before (group and song), but I like the song. It reminds me somehow of a powerful musical number. It also didn’t sound like 1973, but when I re-read 1981, I tuned into the right time… it had an eighties sound.
Two songs I’ve never heard of in one day… I need to rest on a darkened room.
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Hahaha!! Had me going for a nano second, Tom!
I’m glad you enjoyed this one today;
more than made up for the MacArthur Park debacle! 😂
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What a lovely song!
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Glad you enjoyed it, D! They’re a cool group.
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Amazing song, Nancy. Glad to hear some new music here today!
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Excellent, Sanjeet! I dug deep for this one, hoping to surprise a few people.
Looks like I succeeded! So glad you enjoyed the music!
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A song and a group I have never heard of! Always love listening to new music! Great choice Nancy! Xx
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Great, Carol Anne! I love having a chance to pitch the Sicilian curveball!
So glad you enjoyed the song!
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They were new to me but I liked this. They were contemporaries of the likes of Deep Purple and Boston and I can hear elements of both in this – which is a compliment!
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Spot on, Clive!
We’ve been going through our album collection from years ago; it’s great fun finding some of the “forgotten” groups among the classics.
I was hoping this would be a new band to some but so far no one is familiar with April Wine. It will be interesting to see who remembers them.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts today.
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I suspect they will most likely be remembered in N America, as I was very into my rock music when they were around and would probably have noticed them if they had done much here.
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April Wine was new to me, but I really like this song. Thanks for sharing your music Nancy.
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It’s always great fun to pull something or someone unexpected out of my music collection! I’m glad I was able to introduce you to April Wine, Jim, and pleased to know you enjoyed them.
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