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Cream — As You Said
Album: Wheels of Fire
Avg rating:
5.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 901









Released: 1968
Length: 4:17
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Let's go down to where it's clean
To see the time that might have been.
The tides have carried off the beach.
As you said,
The sun is out of reach.

Let's go back to where it's clean
To see what year it might have been.
The roads have carried off the smiles.
As you said,
To judge them at the trials.

Let's go back to now that's bad
To see the time we might have had.
The rails have carried off the trains.
As you said,
I'll never come again, again, again, again.
Comments (162)add comment
One of my very few 4 Star Ratings. I'm sure there's something there, otherwise its a Zero
 pbouchar wrote:

Average rating 5.5. Mine, a lofty 8!


Same here!!
 johnfiva wrote:


Throw your radio out the window and jump after it.

Very well stated!   Thank You!  
 lily34 wrote:

make it stop!



Throw your radio out the window and jump after it.
 Javelina wrote:

The first 25 seconds sounds like a Smashing Pumpkins song, the rest sounds like XTC.



No. If anything, XTC and Smashing Pumpkins sound like this.
Average rating 5.5. Mine, a lofty 8!
Wow! Thank you so much RP!!! Made my day! 
 westslope wrote:

I have grown bored and tired of much of hard and heavy rock from the late 60s and early 70s.

Not Cream.  Still love it all these decades later.


Hear, hear!  My misspent youth as a college music major made me value music with at least a smidge of sophistication: lyrics, arrangement, instrumentation, vocalist, production techniques, ... something to make it stand out. 

A lot of hard rock misses the mark, especially from those decades.
Not Cream's finest hour, alas.  
 westslope wrote:

I have grown bored and tired of much of hard and heavy rock from the late 60s and early 70s.

Not Cream, Led Zeppelin, Pink FLoyd, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Beatles,The Who,Rolling Stones, well you get my point.  Still love it all these decades later.



In my dottage; it's a 10.
I have grown bored and tired of much of hard and heavy rock from the late 60s and early 70s.

Not Cream.  Still love it all these decades later.
Why is this song only 5.5, it should be 8 or above
Ultra-depresso! Gimme some Floyd
Wow, never heard this tune before.
Totally fits with the times that produced it.

I like it.  7 rating on my initial hearing.
 Zep wrote:

Criminally underrated. 



Those folks with musical training correct me ,but methinks the dissonance in this song just may explain the diverse opinions.  Works for me
 bhabrown wrote:

I thought Blue Oyster Cult covered this better...
(Bill - someone's playing BOC Don't Fear the Reaper under a Cream title)



There seems to be some disconnect between the audio stream and the display of what's playing. The previous song (The Hardest Cut / Spoon) was Reaper/BOC for me.
The first 25 seconds sounds like a Smashing Pumpkins song, the rest sounds like XTC.
Let's go back to 2019
I thought Blue Oyster Cult covered this better...
(Bill - someone's playing BOC Don't Fear the Reaper under a Cream title)
When the first chords started I though it was early Pink Floyd then realized it was Jack fucking Bruce singing! Awesome song I haven't heard in ages.
 stevesaw wrote:

I bet if "Artist" said "Beatles" the ratings would be much higher.



I think there is more than a nugget of truth there.
 Proclivities wrote:

Man, I haven't listened to this song in years...now I remember why.




Got to agree. Next to most their work, this is weak tea.
trippy stuff
Well, I didn't love it, but at least it wasn't White Room for the millionth time.
I bet if "Artist" said "Beatles" the ratings would be much higher.
I can hear inspiration for XTC in this one - excellent song... 
To anyone who rates cream below 8 SHAME ON YOU
I think this is unbearable, but then I thought how little things have moved on in some ways.   "A Moon Shaped Pool" album, for starters...
Sounds like the 'devil's chord' throughout if I'm not mistaken. Maybe that's why my teeth hurt listening to this. 
 studionord wrote:
one of best-ever albums...I've been a fan of Jack all the time.
 Agreed Studionord; the scale and dissonance are brilliant. To me, Cream was the epicenter of acid-rock. 

one of best-ever albums...I've been a fan of Jack all the time.
 Zep wrote:
Criminally underrated. 
 
Hear hear, it was '67/'68 and to me it still sounds fresh and challenging.  In its time it was groundbreaking and not overburdened with self regard.  A 9.  Thank you Bill and Rebecca
True beauty. Looking back on my youth, I see now (through this very long lens) that this album, and a couple others, influenced me as strongly as any of my teachers, early work role models, and friends-- I mean in terms of having shaped my destiny and deepest attitudes, over and above any aspects of my playing.
 
{#Daisy}
 franl wrote:
I think The Dukes of Stratosphear and XTC may have been inspired by this sound.

 
My sentiments exactly 
Certainly not my favorite Cream tune but it really has some redeeming moments.
My favorite Cream songs are the more obscure ones.
 kingart wrote:
I have two things to say about this song from an almost-supergroup. It's a moldy chestnut, worth hearing as an artifact. And: OUCH!
What shit were they smokin'? 

 

 

No kidding ! {#Eek}
 Shmelo wrote:

God like.

 

Lost on the mouthbreathers.



 
Whatever gets you by, I guess.
 dragon1952 wrote:
You know.....if you listened to this band at all you'd understand. This is obviously not a signature piece by them. It's more like a Pressed Rat and Warthog thing. It's a trippy little piece that fits in perfectly with the context of the album and the times it was introduced into.

 
yep, I always liked it
You know.....if you listened to this band at all you'd understand. This is obviously not a signature piece by them. It's more like a Pressed Rat and Warthog thing. It's a trippy little piece that fits in perfectly with the context of the album and the times it was introduced into.
This is BAD; even if it's on a classic album. 
what the f**k is this??????????? another press of PSD saves the day, and my ears.

God like.

 

Lost on the mouthbreathers.


Always liked this one. 
My ears are bleeding!
 lily34 wrote:
make it stop!

 
{#Iamwithstupid}
make it stop!
Awesome
Outside of the box, then and now ...

They were brave souls and damn good at it.  Worthy of their name. 
 Gregorama wrote:
I felt compelled to rate this 8, in part to offset the impacts of low rating posted by the tiny minds whose intolerance for things that they don't already know seems to be a recurrent feature of the comments section here (and in most anonymous online comment boards). Nearly never anything like a reasoned analysis of why a particular song 'sucks'. Of course this is not required, but if the only standard is the equivalent of "it's got a good beat and I can dance to it", there is an immense amount of music that will never get recognized for its value. Oh, well, I liked this song and may not have heard it before today

I suspect that lacking the experience of playing it on an LP, in contexr of the album, which truly raised the bar on what Rock was or could be, is why subsequent generations may dislike it. 

I suggest thay listeners go to Colorado, get loaded and play Wheels of Fire. Sides 1-4, in order. 

It would expand your understanding of thebesuty of the song, and Jack Bruce's now silent voice.  He was a true rocker and musical pioneer.
 
Well put!  (Spelling could be better.... but... pass that thing around another few times and no one will notice;))

  —— I really don't remember this at all, but do like it, and rated an 8.  Perhaps by the time this cut was played.... on the album.... MY memory stopped....

I always thought this was interesting and different... This may have been big inspiration to Robyn Hitchcock esp. "Sinister But Happy"...
Awesome!
 AndyO wrote:
So evocative, one of the best things Cream ever did. 
 
Yes, indeed!
 bam23 wrote:
I felt compelled to rate this 8, in part to offset the impacts of low rating posted by the tiny minds whose intolerance for things that they don't already know seems to be a recurrent feature of the comments section here (and in most anonymous online comment boards). Nearly never anything like a reasoned analysis of why a particular song 'sucks'. Of course this is not required, but if the only standard is the equivalent of "it's got a good beat and I can dance to it", there is an immense amount of music that will never get recognized for its value. Oh, well, I liked this song and may not have heard it before today

I suspect that lacking the experience of playing it on an LP, in contexr of the album, which truly raised the bar on what Rock was or could be, is why subsequent generations may dislike it. 

I suggest thay listeners go to Colorado, get loaded and play Wheels of Fire. Sides 1-4, in order. 

It would expand your understanding of thebesuty of the song, and Jack Bruce's now silent voice.  He was a true rocker and musical pioneer.

 

............................. well, that was different.
 TheFriendlyCat wrote:
I like the Cello
 
I like the walrus on vocals.
AHHHHHH!!!!  STOP SINGING!
 tiggers wrote:
Why does this garbage always have to go on for so long? You don't like a U2 song - it's done in 4 minutes, but this .... on and on and on... Arghhhh!!!
 
On & on for an entire 37 seconds after the 4 minute mark, actually ;-)
RIP Jack.  great bassist...
I felt compelled to rate this 8, in part to offset the impacts of low rating posted by the tiny minds whose intolerance for things that they don't already know seems to be a recurrent feature of the comments section here (and in most anonymous online comment boards). Nearly never anything like a reasoned analysis of why a particular song 'sucks'. Of course this is not required, but if the only standard is the equivalent of "it's got a good beat and I can dance to it", there is an immense amount of music that will never get recognized for its value. Oh, well, I liked this song and may not have heard it before today.
Basically came out around my birth year - 2 years newer - never was a huge fan but wow, the guitar - R.I.P. Jack Bruce
My write-up many years after seeing them at a small Detroit club in October '67: https://ca-dreaming.com/Tunage/Cream/
 AndyO wrote:
So evocative, one of the best things Cream ever did. 
 
Agreed!
I have two things to say about this song from an almost-supergroup. It's a moldy chestnut, worth hearing as an artifact. And: OUCH!
What shit were they smokin'? 

 
Some very good elements in the music, the vocals not so much. Overall...'Meh'
{#Silenced}
So evocative, one of the best things Cream ever did. 
Good heavens. That's insipid. Eeesh.
I think The Dukes of Stratosphear and XTC may have been inspired by this sound.
 Zep wrote:
Criminally underrated. 

 
2nd listen.  Went much better.  I am bumping it from 3 to 6.  Potential?
Why 2 rates are so popular? Yes, Friends of LZ sounds similar (and better). 5. 
Criminally underrated. 
 spacetiger wrote:
Nobody likes this? {#Think}

 
I do.

I wonder if this influenced Led Zeppelin - some similar sounds there.
First listen did not go so great...
Nobody likes this? {#Think}
This was test, right? To see if anyone is still listening?
Man, I haven't listened to this song in years...now I remember why.  I always liked the majority of what these guys did though.
Holy hell this is horrible.
 Cachatons wrote:
Sounds like Donavan produced this song

 
I wholeheartedly agree...not my favorite Cream song
Sounds like Donavan produced this song
Awful.
tiggers wrote:
Why does this garbage always have to go on for so long? You don't like a U2 song - it's done in 4 minutes, but this .... on and on and on... Arghhhh!!!
This band was the rock equivalent of the Beatles. Way ahead of their time. Still hugely relevant 40 years later. U2 are merely progeny in the grand rock and roll scheme of things.. There's lots of U2 stuff that is mercifully brief.
eastwesterner wrote:
Check out "I Feel Free," "Dance the Night Away" and "Tales of Brave Ulysesses."
Yes, I do. You like the same Cream as I do...wooo...Tales of Brave Ulysses, so I Feel Free...
lee_sf wrote:
Funny. I thought this was some just-breaking band with the usual awkward lyrics and bad singing in a kinda-cool arrangement.
I was thinking just the same thing. Well, this song was once new, I guess.
Why does this garbage always have to go on for so long? You don't like a U2 song - it's done in 4 minutes, but this .... on and on and on... Arghhhh!!!
This is so good from a very good album...for me...
My favorite Cream song! I think this song makes perfect sense if you remember that the musicians were children in England during WW2. Imagine the memories, memories of the horrors they may have witnessed and now seek seek to repress. This song embodies sadness to me. As Moorcock wrote of Jerry's point of view, "if a feeling is worth having, it's worth having profoundly."
I appreciate this as a chamber music piece. I love all the time the vocals and, I think, bass rather than cello, spend so much time in between the notes. Cool.
What drugs can do...
Not my fave Cream song by any means, but I try to appreciate all their music. Jack's writing can be "interesting."
Marley wrote:
I really, really like Cream. I've never heard this song before. I really, really hope I never hear it again. I can't believe I had to mute a song by Cream!
I totally agree with this statement. . .
all bass-y and kinda dark, I like it :)
Whether you like this song or not, it provides contrast to anything played before or after!
Marley wrote:
I really, really like Cream. I've never heard this song before. I really, really hope I never hear it again. I can't believe I had to mute a song by Cream! Were they high when they recorded this?
speaking of...
almost over... phew.
One of the most overrated bands ever. A lot of their studio stuff was gawdawful. Like this. 1.
Marley wrote:
I really, really like Cream. I've never heard this song before. I really, really hope I never hear it again. I can't believe I had to mute a song by Cream! Were they high when they recorded this?
It's more likely that this is the one they recorded when they weren't.
I like the Cello
I really, really like Cream. I've never heard this song before. I really, really hope I never hear it again. I can't believe I had to mute a song by Cream! Were they high when they recorded this?
sharkartist wrote:
I think this song is brilliant and even the more so because of Jack Bruce's cello playing.
What an unusual progression! Totally cool, only the 60's could produce such strange and exotic sounds. Jack on cello!?! grand. Cream was never my favorite band; my best friend and I always used to argue over who was the better guitar player, with me (rightly) choosing Hendrix, and he saying "Clapton Is God." But this tune of theirs is truly creative. Haunting it is.
eastwesterner wrote:
Reading over the comments, I can't believe how many didn't like this song. No, it's not typical, classic Cream, but it's one of my favourites from them. They did purposely delve into the psychedelic now & then, and this is one of those times. Check out "I Feel Free," "Dance the Night Away" and "Tales of Brave Ulysesses."
Some of my favorites too. When I watched their reunion DVD from a couple years back I enjoyed the first part (with some of the lesser known and quirky songs) much better than the last part (with all the 'hits').
Oh God this is bloody terrible
Funny. I thought this was some just-breaking band with the usual awkward lyrics and bad singing in a kinda-cool arrangement.
I think this song is brilliant and even the more so because of Jack Bruce's cello playing.
Reading over the comments, I can't believe how many didn't like this song. No, it's not typical, classic Cream, but it's one of my favourites from them. They did purposely delve into the psychedelic now & then, and this is one of those times. Check out "I Feel Free," "Dance the Night Away" and "Tales of Brave Ulysesses."
This is rockin good for a Saturday afternoon!
pianocomposer wrote:
This is a terrible song. Cream is usually a LOT better than this. Can't figure out what Bill was smoking when he put this on the air. ?!! It gets a 2 from me.
I guess you were expecting White Room to rock out with.
ElSupreme wrote:
Man I am really against rating a song a 1 or 10 despite it being a 2-4 or 6-9 in order to change the overall rating. But for this song to get a 5.2 seems criminal. It isn't that avearge.
For me, an 8. Who cares what the illiterate read into it.
C-Dawg wrote:
Funny, I thought it was XTC at first. Not bad though...
Or The Dukes of Stratosphear.
Man I am really against rating a song a 1 or 10 despite it being a 2-4 or 6-9 in order to change the overall rating. But for this song to get a 5.2 seems criminal. It isn't that avearge.
crowhog2000 wrote:
.....yeah.....WTF?
This is a terrible song. Cream is usually a LOT better than this. Can't figure out what Bill was smoking when he put this on the air. ?!! It gets a 2 from me.
some funny comments! This is Cream! guess you need an ear for psychedelia.
AHHHHHHHHHH! !
why is this rated so low?!? i cant believe that. I wish i could rate this an 11 or higher its one of the best psychedelic songs ever
ollybear wrote:
This is one of those tracks that only begins to sound great after several listens.
And several tokes
This is one of those tracks that only begins to sound great after several listens.
mojoman wrote:
Thought this was Donovan!
Same here!
My personal Cream fave. Listened to this LP over and over and over when it debuted back in, what?, '69?