Veteran Cosmic Rocker

"Veteran Cosmic Rocker" is a 1981 song by the progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was written by the band's flautist Ray Thomas. "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" first appeared as the final track of The Moody Blues 1981 album Long Distance Voyager, and was later released in November 1981 on the B-Side of "Talking Out of Turn."

"Veteran Cosmic Rocker" is the third and final song in a suite that concludes Long Distance Voyager. The first song in this suite is "Painted Smile," which is then followed by "Reflective Smile," a short poem connecting the themes of the two songs. Its lyrics tell the story of a stereotypical rock and roll musician who is loved by his fans.

Ray Thomas performs a harmonica solo about halfway through the song. Also, at the very beginning of the song, Ray Thomas can be faintly heard saying the line "I'll have a Scotch and Coke please, Mother!" At the end of the song is a backward message in which Thomas can be faintly heard saying "What happens anyway, you know?"

"Veteran Cosmic Rocker" was one of Ray Thomas's final major songs written for the Moody Blues, as his presence would become less noticeable as the band moved towards a more pop-oriented sound. His final composition for the Moody Blues would be "My Little Lovely," from Strange Times. Thomas would later retire in 2002 due to health issues.

The Moody Blues
  • Graeme Edge
  • John Lodge
  • Justin Hayward
  • Ray Thomas
  • Mike Pinder
  • Denny Laine
  • Clint Warwick
  • Rodney Clark
  • Patrick Moraz
  • Bias Boshell
Studio albums
  • The Magnificent Moodies
  • Days of Future Passed
  • In Search of the Lost Chord
  • On the Threshold of a Dream
  • To Our Children's Children's Children
  • A Question of Balance
  • Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
  • Seventh Sojourn
  • Octave
  • Long Distance Voyager
  • The Present
  • The Other Side of Life
  • Sur la Mer
  • Keys of the Kingdom
  • Strange Times
  • December
Live albums
  • Caught Live + 5
  • A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
  • Hall of Fame
  • Lovely to See You: Live
  • Live at the BBC: 1967-1970
  • Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
Compilations
  • This Is The Moody Blues
  • Prelude
  • Greatest Hits
  • Time Traveller
  • The Best of The Moody Blues
  • Anthology
  • Gold
  • An Introduction to The Moody Blues
Singles
  • "Steal Your Heart Away"
  • "Go Now"
  • "I Don't Want to Go on Without You"
  • "From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You)"
  • "Everyday"
  • "Stop!"
  • "This Is My House (but Nobody Calls)"
  • "Life's Not Life"
  • "Fly Me High"
  • "Love and Beauty"
  • "Nights in White Satin"
  • "Tuesday Afternoon"
  • "Voices in the Sky"
  • "Ride My See-Saw"
  • "Never Comes the Day"
  • "Watching and Waiting"
  • "Question"
  • "The Story in Your Eyes"
  • "Isn't Life Strange"
  • "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)"
  • "Steppin' in a Slide Zone"
  • "Driftwood"
  • "Had to Fall in Love"
  • "Gemini Dream"
  • "The Voice"
  • "Talking Out of Turn"
  • "Blue World"
  • "Sitting at the Wheel"
  • "Running Water"
  • "Your Wildest Dreams"
  • "The Other Side of Life"
  • "I Know You're Out There Somewhere"
  • "No More Lies"
  • "Say It With Love"
  • "Bless the Wings (That Bring You Back)"
  • "English Sunset"
  • "December Snow"
Related articles
  • Band members
  • Discography

Famous quotes containing the words veteran, cosmic and/or rocker:

    “At Hayes’ General Store, west of the cemetery, hangs an old army rifle, used by a discouraged Civil War veteran to end his earthly troubles. The grocer took the rifle as payment ‘on account.’”
    —Administration for the State of Con, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)

    “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
    —Bible: New Testament, Ephesians 6:11-12.

    “I want a place where I can sit back in the rocker and say, “Do you remember when we picketed the White House in 1965?””
    —Barbara Gittings (b. 1932)