“Pride of Man” is a song written in 1964 by Hamilton Camp, a singer and actor active in the folk revival. Camp recorded it on his 1964 album, and it has carried, ever since, an air of grim prophecy.
The lyric draws on the biblical prophecies of the fall of Babylon, turning “the pride of man” into a figure for human arrogance and overreach — the cities and powers that rise in vanity and are brought low. Its apocalyptic imagery gave the song an unusual weight for its era.
The song gained wide notice through covers: Gordon Lightfoot recorded it early, and the rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service opened their 1968 debut album with a striking version. It has since been recorded across folk and bluegrass.
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