In 1970, Deep Purple borrowed from a forgotten song and made a Cold War masterpiece in 20 minutes
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.
In short
- ‘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.
Explained simply
Deep Purple were a British rock band whose best-known early line-up included singer Ian Gillan and keyboard player Jon Lord. In 1970, they built “Child in Time” around a musical phrase from “Bombay Calling”, a song by the American band It’s a Beautiful Day.
The song’s slow build and Gillan’s forceful singing suited lyrics shaped by the era’s fears of war and nuclear conflict. A live performance later appeared on Deep Purple’s album Made in Japan, which introduced listeners to the band’s dramatic shifts between quieter passages and louder climaxes.