Genesis
We Can't Dance

Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 1: The Shorts Genesis: Invisible Touch Main Green Page Song list



next song Genesis: Invisible Touch Genesis: Turn It On Again - The Hits Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 1: The Shorts Genesis: We Can't Dance No Son Of Mine
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Collins)
Well the key to my survival
was never in much doubt
the question was how I could keep sane
trying to find a way out

Things were never easy for me
peace of mind was hard to fin
and I needed a place where I could hide
somewhere I could call mine

I didn't think much about it
til it started happening all the time
soon I was living with the fear everyday
of what might happen that night

I couldn't stand to hear the
crying of my mother
and I remember when
i swore that, that would be the
Last they'd see of me
And I never went home again

they say that time is a healer
and now my wounds are not the same
I rang the bell with my heart in my mouth
I had to hear what he'd say

He sat me down to talk to me
he looked me straight in the eyes

he said:

You're no son, you're no son of mine
You're no son, you're no son of mine
You walked out, you left us behind
and you're no son, no son of mine

oh, his words how they hurt me, I'll never forget it
and as the time, it went by, I lived to regret it

You're no son, you're no son of mine
but where should I go,
and what should I do
you're no son, you're no son of mine
but I came here for help, oh I came here for you

Well the years they passed so slowly
I thought about him everyday
what would I do, if we passed on the street
would I keep running away

in and out of hiding places
soon I'd have to face the facts
we'd have to sit down and talk it over
and that would mean going back

they say that time is a healer
and now my wounds are not the same
I rang that bell with my heart in my mouth
I had to hear what he'd say

He sat me down to talk to me
he looked me straight in the eyes

he said:

You're no son, you're no son of mine
You're no son, you're no son of mine
When you walked out, you left us behind
and you're no son, you're no son of mine

oh, his words how they hurt me, I'll never forget it
and as the time, it went by, I lived to regret it

You're no son, you're no son of mine
But where should I go and what should I do
You're no son, you're no son of mine
But I came here for help, oh I was looking for you
You're no son, you're no son of mine - oh
You're no son - ha yeah, ha yeah, ha yeah, ha yeah
You're no son, you're no son of mine - oh, oh...
next song previous song Genesis: Turn It On Again - The Hits Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 1: The Shorts Genesis: We Can't Dance Jesus He Knows Me
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Collins)
You see the face on the TV screen
coming at you every Sunday
see that face on the billboard
that man is me

On the cover of the magazine
there's no question why I'm smiling
you buy a piece of paradise
you buy a piece of me

I'll get you everything you wanted
I'll get you everything you need
don't need to believe in hereafter
just believe in me

Cos Jesus he knows me
and he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
oh yes he knows me
and he knows I'm right
and he's been telling me
everything is alright

I believe in the family
with my ever loving wife beside me
but she don't know about my girlfriend
or the man I met last night

Do you believe in God
cos that's what I'm selling
and if you wanna get to heaven
I'll see you right

You won't even have to leave your house
or get outta your chair
you don't even have to touch that dial
cos I'm everywhere

And Jesus he knows me
and he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
oh yes he knows me
and he knows I'm right
well he's been telling me
everything's gonna be alright

Won't find me practising what I'm preaching
won't find me making no sacrifice
but I can get you a pocketful of miracles
if you promise to be good, try to be nice
God will take good care of you
just do as I say, don't do as I do

I'm counting my blessings,
I've found true happiness
cos I'm getting richer, day by day
you can find me in the phone book,
just call my toll free number
you can do it anyway you want
just do it right away

There'll be no doubt in your mind
you'll believe everything I'm saying
if you wanna get closer to him
get on your knees and start paying

Cos Jesus he knows me
and he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
oh yes he knows me
and he knows I'm right
well he's been telling me
everything's gonna be alright, alright

Jesus he knows me
Jesus he knows me, you know...
next song previous song Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 2: The Longs Genesis: We Can't Dance Driving The Last Spike
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Collins)
In the early 1800's, large groups of mainly unskilled labourers built England's Railways. The cost in human terms alone was very high...
Leaving my family behind me
not knowing what lay ahead
waving goodbye, as I left them in tears
remembering all we'd said

I looked to the sky, I offered my prayers
I asked Him for guidance and strength
but the simple beliefs of a simple man
lay in His hands, and on my head

I gave everything that they wanted
but still they wanted more
we sweat and we toiled
good men lost their lives
I don't think they knew what for

I sold them my heart
I sold them my soul
I gave everything I had
ah but they couldn't break my spirit
my dignity fought back,
fightback
can you hear me
can you see
Don't you hear me
don't you see

We worked in gangs for all we were worth
the young boys pulling the wagons
we were digging the tunnel, shifting the earth
it was then that it happened.

No-one knew how the cracks appeared
but as it fell they all disappeared
stone fell like rain

Can you hear me,
Can you see
Don't you hear me
Can you breathe

The smoke cleared, the dust it settled
No one knew how many had died
all around there were broken men
they'd said it was safe, they'd lied
you could hear the cries, you could smell the fear
but good fortune that day was mine
and it occurred to me the heart of a good man
it seems is hard to find.

Can you hear me,
can you see
Don't you hear me
don't you see

We worked, how we worked like
the devil for our pay
through the wind, through the snow,
and through the rain

Blasting and cutting through Gods country like a knife
sweat stinging my eyes, there has to be a better life

Ah but I can hear my childrens' cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
memories of those I've left behind
still ringing in my ears
Will I ever go back again
Will I ever see her face again
I'll never forget that night
As they waved goodbye to their fathers

We came from the North,
and we came from the South
with picks and with spades
and a new kind of order
showing no fear of what lies up ahead
They'll never see the likes of us again

Driving the last spike,
lifting and laying the track
with blistering hands,
the sun burning your back

Oh but I can hear my childrens' cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
memories of those I've left behind
still ringing in my ears
Well I'll always remember that night,
As they waved goodbye to their fathers

We followed the rail, we slept under the stars
digging in darkness, and living with danger
showing no fear of what lies up ahead
they'll never see the likes of us again

can you hear me
can you see
Don't you hear me
don't you see
next song previous song Genesis: Turn It On Again - The Hits Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 1: The Shorts Genesis: We Can't Dance I Can't Dance
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Collins)
Hot sun beating down
burning my feet just walking around.

Hot sun making me sweat
'Gators getting close, hasn't got me yet

I can't dance, I can't talk.
Only thing about me is the way I walk.
I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling everything.

Blue jeans sitting on the beach,
her dog's talking to me, but she's out of reach.

She's got a body under that shirt,
but all she wants to do is rub my face in the dirt.

Cos, I can't dance, I can't talk.
Only thing about me is the way I walk.
I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling.

Oh and checking everything is in place,
you never know who's looking on.

Young punk spilling beer on my shoes,
fat guy's talking to me trying to steal my blues.

Thick smoke, see her smiling through.
I never thought so much could happen just shooting pool.

But I can't dance, I can't talk.
The only thing about me is the way that I walk.
I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling

Oh and checking everything is in place
You never know who's looking on
A perfect body with a perfect face - uh-huh.

No, I can't dance, I can't talk.
The only thing about me is the way I walk.
No, I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling everything.

But I can walk.
No I can't dance.
No no no I can't dance
No I said I can't sing.
But I can walk.
next song previous song Genesis: We Can't Dance Never A Time
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Rutherford)
There is never a time to say
cos it seems to me we've lost our way
so we carry on, down the road
and we live our lives haunted by
all the things we say and do
keep on missing, when I'm alone with you

No there's never a time to change
you don't get a chance to re-arrange
it's a long long long way to go
just to find out something, we both know
can't you see what's going on
it's so sad, that a love so strong, has gone

All I know is what is true
All I ask is for you
To just look around and see

You live your life locked in a dream
Where nothing is real, and not what it seems
We can't go on another day
Just being afraid to say

It's a long long way to fall
When we both thought we had it all
Well you know it's the time to say
cos we're all played out, we've lost our way
Oh, I hoped that you would be
oh so understanding
and by now you'd see, but oh no
so sad, oh so sad, that's the way that it goes
I know, I'm gonna tell you right now
next song previous song Genesis: We Can't Dance Dreaming While You Sleep
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Rutherford)
In and out of darkness, in and out of sleep
trying to keep my hands upon the wheel.
Never saw the corner in the driving rain.
I never saw her step into the street.

Dreaming while you sleep
dreaming while you sleep
memories to keep
dreaming while you sleep

I can never understand what went thru my mind
I didn't stop to see what I had done.
Had to keep on driving deep into the night
the miles between would somehow put it right

Dreaming while you sleep
dreaming while you sleep
memories to keep
dreaming while you sleep

All my life you lie silently there
All my life in a world so unfair
All my life and only I'll know why
and it will live inside of me,
I will never be free all my life,
trapped in her memory all my life
Till the day that you open your eyes,
please open your eyes

Dreaming while you sleep
dreaming while you sleep

Heard it on the radio, saw it on TV,
but could I take my secret to the grave.
If I had another chance, would I do the same.
Would I still deny that it was me.

Dreaming while you sleep
dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep,
Are you dreaming while you sleep?

All my life I'll be haunted by
all my life just one moment in time
all my life until the day I die
and it will live inside of me
Oh I will never be free all my life
trapped in her memory all my life
Till the day that you open your eyes

All of my life - you lie silently there
All my life - in a world so unfair
All my life - and only I know why
And it will live inside of me
I will never be free all my life
Trapped in her memory - all my life
Till the day that you open your eyes.

All of my life.
Just one moment of time, all my life.
next song previous song Genesis: We Can't Dance Tell Me Why
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Collins)
Mothers crying in the street
Children dying at their feet, tell me why, ooh tell me why
People starving everywhere
There's too much food but there's none to spare,
Tell me why, oh tell me why

Can you see that shaft of sunlight
can you see it in my eyes
I can feel the fire that's burning
anger and hope so deep
so deep within my heart but before my eyes
for some it's too late
cos it seems there's no-one listening

People sleeping in the streets
no roof above, no food to eat, tell me why, oh tell me why
see the questions in their eyes
listen to their children's cries,
Tell me why, please tell me why

If there's a God, is he watching
can he give a ray of hope
so much pain and so much sorrow
tell me what does he see
when he looks at you
when he looks at me
what would he say
cos it seems there's no-one listening

Who would think it still could happen
even in this time and place
politicians, they may save themselves
ah but they won't save their face
so hope against hope it's not too late

You say there's nothing you can do
is there one rule for them and one for you,
tell me why, just tell my why

Listen can you see that shaft of sunlight
can you see it in my eyes
I can feel the fire that's burning
anger and hope so deep
so deep within my heart but before my eyes
for some it's too late
and it seems there's no-one listening

Hurry for me, hurry for me
Hurry for me, hurry for me, they cry, they cry...
next song previous song Genesis: We Can't Dance Living Forever
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Banks)
I'm feeling so confused today
they've gone and changed the rules again
cos in my life I'm trying hard
to do it all so I can remain
healthy and sane

I'll live forever, always one more tomorrow
living forever, always one more tomorrow

I heard it on the radio
too much of what they said wasn't so
and now we've got to do those things
that they thought before were so wrong
to be healthy and strong

and live forever, always one more tomorrow
living forever, always one more tomorrow

I know we don't need you
I know we don't believe you
you don't really have the answers
you think you know better
you think it really matters
you just want to rule over everybody's lives

I think I'll change my life today
gone are the times of taking care
and I really don't need a reason why
all I need is all in a day
survive in a way

or just till tomorrow, there's always one more tomorrow
living forever, do you really want to live forever
next song previous song Genesis: Turn It On Again - The Hits Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 1: The Shorts Genesis: We Can't Dance Hold On My Heart
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Collins)
Hold on my heart
just hold on to that feeling
we both know we've been here before
we both know what can happen

Hold on my heart
cos I'm looking over your shoulder
ooh please don't rush in this time
don't show her how you feel

Hold on my heart
throw me a lifeline
I'll keep a place for you
somewhere deep inside

So hold on my heart
please tell her to be patient
cos there has never been a time
that I wanted something more

If I can recall this feeling
and I know there's a chance
oh I will be there
yes I will be there
be there for you
whenever you want me to
whenever you call oh I will be there
Yes I will be there

Hold on my heart
don't let her see you crying
no matter where I go
she'll always be with me

So hold on my heart
just hold on to that feeling
we both know we've been here before
we both know what can happen
So hold on my heart...
next song previous song Genesis: We Can't Dance Way Of The World
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Rutherford)
If you take the tears from crying eyes
will the hurt just disappear
put a weapon in the hands of a frightened man
will he show no fear
so we stand and we watch as the city lights go out one by one
Mother Nature sits on the other side with a loaded gun

Why is there blue sky
why is there red sky,
now's the time to ask the reason,
should the blue sky, meet the red sky
should the rules have to change at all
we all know whatever they say, time is on our side
Ooh this world has been here before just going round and round

We all agree as far as we can see
It's just the way of the world,
that's how it's meant to be
There's right and there's wrong
There's weak - oh and there's strong
It's just the way of the world
and that's how it's meant to be

Take the motion from a spinning wheel and watch it stop
Take the danger out of a naked flame and what have you got
If you take the anger out of a broken heart, you feel no pain
Could you swear if you had that second chance you wouldn't do it again.

Why is there blue sky
why is there red sky,
now's the time to ask the reason,
should the blue sky, meet the red sky
should the rules have to change at all
we all know whatever they say, time is on our side
This world has been here before just going round and round

We all agree as far as we can see
It's just the way of the world,
and that's how it's meant to be
There's right and there's wrong
There's weak - oh and there's strong
It's just the way of the world
and that's how it's meant to be

We all agree as far as we can see
It's just the way of the world,
and that's how it's meant to be
There's right and there's wrong
There's weak - oh and there's strong
Cos it's just the way of the world
and that's how it's meant to be...
next song previous song Genesis: We Can't Dance Since I Lost You
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Collins)
It seems in a moment, your whole world can shatter
like morning dreams they just disappear
like dust in your hand falling to the floor
how can life ever be the same

cos my heart is broken in pieces
yes my heart is broken in pieces
since you've been gone

It's all too easy to take so much for granted
oh but it's so hard to find the words to say
like a castle in the sand the water takes away
but how can life ever be the same

cos my heart is broken in pieces
yes my heart is broken in pieces
since I've lost you

oh now you'll never see
oh you'll never know
all the things I planned for you
things for you and me

Held your hand so tightly
that I couldn't let it go
Now how can life ever be the same

cos my heart is broken in pieces
yes my heart is broken in pieces
since you've been gone

cos my heart is broken in pieces
yes my heart is broken in pieces
since I've lost you

cos my heart is broken in pieces
yes my heart is broken in pieces
since you've been gone
Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 1: The Shorts previous song Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 2: The Longs Genesis: We Can't Dance Fading Lights
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford, main lyricist Banks)
Another time it might have been so different
oh if only we could do it all again
but now it's just another fading memory
out of focus, though the outline still remains

Far away, away, fading distant lights
leaving us all behind, lost in a changing world
and you know that these are the days of our lives
remember

Like the story that we wish was never ending
We know sometime we must reach the final page
still we carry on just pretending
that there'll always be one more day to go

Far away, away, fading distant lights
leaving us all behind, lost in a changing world
and you know that these are the days of our lives
so remember...

Another chance hello, another goodbye
and so many things we'll never see again
days of life that seemed so unimportant
they seem to matter but to count much later on

Far away, away, fading distant lights
leaving us all behind, lost in a changing world
and you know that these are the days of our lives
remember