# In 1970, Deep Purple borrowed from a forgotten song and made a Cold War masterpiece in 20 minutes

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1970-deep-purple-borrowed-from-a-forgotten-song-and-made-a-cold-war-masterpiece-in-20-minutes/
- Published: 2026-10-29T17:10:52+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-29T17:21:43+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/deep-purple-borrowed-a-melody-from-a-forgotten-song-and-made-a-cold-war-masterpiece/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- ‘Child in Time’ grew from a phrase in ‘Bombay Calling’.
- Ian Gillan said the song took about 20 minutes to come together.
- Its lyrics reflected Cold War fears and the mood after Vietnam.

## Summary

Deep Purple’s ‘Child in Time’ began with the band adapting a musical phrase from ‘Bombay Calling’ by It’s a Beautiful Day. The song became a striking expression of Cold War anxiety, pairing a gradual, dramatic build with Ian Gillan’s intense vocals.

Jon Lord was playing a slowed-down version of the chords on piano at the band’s Hanwell Community Centre rehearsal space when Gillan heard it; Gillan later said the song came together in about 20 minutes. He said the lyrics reflected the mood after the Vietnam War and fears of nuclear conflict. A live version recorded in Osaka on 16 August 1972 and released on Made in Japan further showcased the band’s dynamic shifts between quiet passages and powerful climaxes.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.