Genesis
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song list next song Genesis: Letter L Genesis: A Trick Of The Tail Mad Man Moon
(Banks)
Was it summer when the river ran dry,
Or was it just another dam.
When the evil of a snowflake in June
Could still be a source of relief.
O how I love you, I once cried long ago,
But I was the one who decided to go.
To search beyond the final crest,
Though I'd heard it said just birds could dwell so high.

So I pretended to have wings for my arms
And took off in the air.
I flew to places which the clouds never see,
Too close to the deserts of sand,
Where a thousand mirages, the shepherds of lies
Forced me to land and take a disguise.
I would welcome a horse's kick to send me back
If I could find a horse not made of sand.

If this desert's all there'll ever be
Then tell me what becomes of me.
A fall of rain?
That must have been another of your dreams,
A dream of mad man moon.

Hey man,
I'm the sand man.
And boy have I news for you;
They're gonna throw you in gaol
And you know they can't fail
'Cos sand is thicker than blood.
But a prison in sand
Is a haven in hell,
For a gaol can give you a goal
[and a] goal can find you a role
On a muddy pitch in Newcastle,
Where it rains so much
You can't wait for a touch
Of sun and sand, sun and sand...

Within the valley of shadowless death
They pray for thunderclouds and rain,
But to the multitude who stand in the rain
Heaven is where the sun shines.
The grass will be greener till the stems turn to brown
And thoughts will fly higher till the earth brings them down.
Forever caught in desert lands one has to learn
To disbelieve the sea.

If this desert's all there'll ever be
Then tell me what becomes of me.
A fall of rain?
That must have been another of your dreams,
A dream of mad man moon.
song list next song previous song Genesis: Genesis Archive - 1967-1975 The Magic Of Time
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song list next song previous song Genesis: Turn It On Again - The Hits Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 1: The Shorts Genesis: Genesis Mama
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford)
I can't see you mama
but I can hardly wait
ooh to touch and to feel you mama
oh I just can't keep away
in the heat and the steam of the city
oh its got me running and I just can't brake
so say you'll help me mama
cos its getting so hard - oh

Now I can't keep you mama
but I know you're always there
you listen, you teach me mama
and I know inside you care
so get down, down here beside me
oh you ain't going nowhere
no I won't hurt you mama
but its getting so hard - oh

ha ha, ha ha   ha ha, ha ha, argh
ha ha, ha ha   ha ha, ha ha, argh

Can't you see me here mama
mama mama mama please
can't you feel my heart
can't you feel my heart
can't you feel my heart oh
now listen to me mama
mama mama
you're taking away my last chance
don't take it away
can't you feel my heart?

ha ha, ha   ha ha, ha, argh

It's hot, too hot for me mama
but I can hardly wait
my eyes they're burning mama
and I can feel my body shake
don't stop, don't stop me mama
oh make the pain, make it go away - hey
no I won't hurt you mama
but its getting so hard - oh

Now I can't see you mama
but I know you're always there
you taunt, you tease me mama
but I never never can keep away
it's the heat and the steam of the city
oh got me running and I just can't brake
so stay don't leave me mama
cos its getting so hard - oh

don't go  no no, don't go
no no no, don't go...
song list next song previous song Genesis: Duke Man Of Our Times
(Rutherford)
I'm one of many, I speak for the rest but I don't understand
Tonight tonight, oh tonight, tonight
He brings another day another night, another fight
Well there's another day done and there's another gone by
He's a man of our times a man of our times
Tonight tonight, oh he's burning bright

He's a man of our times, he's a man of our times, ooh, ooh, ooh.
And in the beating of your heart there is another beating heart

All at once I can see what we do,
Me into me and you into you
Me into me and you into you
Tonight, tonight, oh he's s burning bright
Everyone is on their feet cos he is out, out on the street
There's another day done and there's another gone by.
No more me into me and you into you
Tonight tonight, oh he's burning bright.

Man of our times, he's a man of our times
He's a man of our times, ooh, ooh, ooh.
And in the beating of your heart, there is another beating heart

He's a man of our times...
song list next song previous song Genesis: Abacab Man On The Corner
(Collins)
See the lonely man there on the corner,
What he's waiting for, I don't know,
But he waits everyday now.
He's just waiting for something to show.

And nobody knows him,
And nobody cares,
'Cos there's no hiding place,
There's no hiding place - for you.

Looking everywhere at no one,
He sees everything and nothing at all - oh.
When he shouts nobody listens,
Where he leads no one will go - oh.

He's a lonely man, there on the corner,
What he's waiting for, I don't know,
But he waits everyday now.
He's just waiting for something to show - oh.

Nobody knows him,
And nobody cares,
'Cos there's no hiding place,
There's no hiding place - for you and me.

Are we just like all the rest,
We're looking too hard for something he's got
Or moving too fast to rest.
But like a monkey on your back you need it.
But do you love it enough to leave it - ah.

Just like the lonely man there on the corner,
What he's waiting for, I don't know - oh.
But he waits every day now.
He's just waiting for that something to show - oh.

Who's the lonely man there on the corner,
What he's waiting for, I don't know.
But he's there every day now.
And he's just waiting for something to show - oh.

Who's the lonely man there on the corner,
What he's waiting for, I don't know.
Oh but he waits every day now.
He's just waiting for that something to show.
song list next song previous song Genesis: Spot The Pigeon Match Of The Day
(Collins/Banks/Rutherford)
There's the Reds and there's the Greens
Super slicks and has beens,
They're accompanied by three men dressed in black,
One's a whistle, two are flags, quite often they're the drags
Kick the ball into the goal, they put it back.

Yes Match of the Day's
The only way, to spend your Saturday

Each side's eleven men, with numbers on their backs
But at a distance they all tend to look the same
But some own their boutiques, they clean up every week
Inciting riots, causing chaos, such a shame!

But Match of the Day's
The only way
We spend our Saturday

And that's not all, our mates the keepers
Slippin' and sliding in the mud
Arms as long as creepers

Send him off ...........
Where are your specs ...........
Kick you to death ...........
Oi! Are you deaf ...........

There's a few things before we go
That I think you ought to know
Obstruction, Body Checking, heavy tackles
So put on your hat and scarf
Have a drink, have a larf'
From the terrace you can see your men do battle.

Yes Match of the Day's
The only way
You can spend your Saturday

Don't forget, the trainers with their sponges
Managers with open cheques, liquid business lunches
Send 'im off ...........
Where are your specs ...........
Kick you to death ...........
Oi! Are you deaf ...........
song list next song previous song Genesis: ... And Then There Were Three... Many Too Many
(Banks)
Many too many have stood where I stand
Many more will stand here too,
I think what I find strange is the way you built me up
Then knocked me down again.

The part was fun but now it's over,
Why can't I just leave the stage?
Maybe that's because you securely locked me up
Then threw away the key.

Oh mama,
Please would you find the key.
Oh pretty mama,
Please won't you let me go free.
I thought I was lucky
I thought that I'd got it made.
How could I be so blind?

You said good-bye on a corner
That I thought led to the straight.
You set me on a firmly laid and simple course
Then removed the road.

Oh mama,
Please help me find my way.
Oh pretty mama,
Please lead me through the next day.
I thought I was lucky
Oh I thought that I'd got it made.
How could I be so blind? Oh no...
song list next song previous song Genesis: Three Sides Live (UK version) Genesis: Three Sides Live (US version) Genesis: Abacab Me And Sarah Jane
(Banks)
The fires are burning in another land,
Don't start counting, don't start counting.
Colder and colder, the ice is moving closer
And it gets me down.
Going round and round and down the same old track.

Pack on my back, going swiftly nowhere,
Heart in my ear beating like a drum.
Where will you go?

All by yourself.
(Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah, hah.)

And now I'm standing on the corner.
Waiting in the rain,
But then in sunlight without warning,
I invent a name,
Me and Sarah Jane,
We had a special thing going,
Me and Sarah Jane.

It was a time of love and laughter,
It wouldn't come again,
We had our round of joy but after,
Then began the pain,
Me and Sarah Jane.
We had a special thing going,
Me and Sarah Jane,
Sarah Jane.

Searching for a clue.
Traces on the sand.
First I'm flying, going round round round,
Then I'm sliding going down down down,
Doesn't matter where I start I always end up
Falling through those same old crowded rooms.

Me and Sarah Jane,
We had it coming
All the pain,
Walking down the streets,
And finding nothing is the same,
And now the city lights are dimming one by one,
It costs too much money to keep them all on.

Me and Sarah Jane,
In silence walk along the shore,
Tears of joy and mocking laughter,
Words lost in the wind.
The tide was rising,
But there we stayed,
We had no fear of dying
We weren't afraid.
song list next song previous song Genesis: Three Sides Live (US version) Me And Virgil
(Banks/Collins/Rutherford)
Ma would never say what happened
And we knew better than push too hard
We knew we had all the chores to tend to
Like fixing fences and helping her
Washing dishes and making coffee
Me and Virgil'd chop some wood
But we'd stop our swinging
Just to listen to her crying
It didn't sound too good
I can remember, too well

But we never thought to pay much heed
We learned to live life the best we could
But then one day pa upped and left us
High and dry without a word
Seemed a pity
My ma was pretty
But I soon learned life ain't that way
And I can remember hearing her weeping
While we were sleeping next to her

I can remember
I'll never forgive and I'll never forget
Cos pa you broke her heart
Ooh pa you broke her heart
You broke her heart
Ooh pa you broke her heart

Well the years rolled by
And 'fore we knew it
Our sister got married and moved out west
I stayed with ma, cos I couldn't desert her
I knew it would hurt her to be alone
So we pulled tighter
We said we'd try to make things easy
And raise a smile
But as the night came
We'd hear her crying
Praying for pa to come back again

I can remember
I'll never forgive him and I'll never forget
Cos pa you broke her heart
Oh pa you broke her heart

And then the winter came
I'd never known it colder
Ooh it seemed the worst for years
And the night she died I swear I saw her smiling
Saying I was a big boy now, no tears

So I packed up all we had, and Virgil got the horses
And we paid our last respects and gave the whip a crack
Ooh, seemed a big bad world, we were riding into
Me and Virgil both agreed, we best head off
And don't look back

Nothing but desert all around
Oh it made me wonder
Lord it's hard to carry on
When you're sick with hunger

Weeks and months of sleeping rough
Keeping clear of danger
Seems we were miles from anywhere
And too far gone to change it
We'd best keep going, don't look back

Well me and Virgil we beat the desert
Riding fast and riding hard
We hit the city, the past behind us
So we raised some hell, we had some fun
But real soon I met a lady oh so pretty, and oh so fine
'fore too long I found myself married
With a home of my own and a blue eyed son
And 'til this day I can hear ma saying to me -
"You're a big boy now"
song list next song previous song Genesis: Turn It On Again - The Hits Genesis: Three Sides Live (UK version) Genesis: Three Sides Live (US version) Genesis: Duke Misunderstanding
(Collins)
There must be some misunderstanding
There must be some kind of mistake
I waited in the rain for hours
And you were late

Now it's not like me to say the right thing
But you could've called to let me know
I checked your number twice, don't understand it
So I went home

Well I'd been waiting for this weekend
I thought that maybe we could see a show
Never dreamed I'd have this feeling
Oh but seeing you is believing
That's why I don't know why
You didn't show up that night

There must be some misunderstanding
There must be some kind of mistake
I was waiting in the rain for hours
And you were late

Since then I've been running around trying to find you
I went to the places that we always go
I rang your home but got no answer
Jumped in my car, I went round there
Still don't believe it
He was just leaving

There must be some misunderstanding
There must be some kind of mistake...
song list next song previous song Genesis: Genesis Archive - 1967-1975 Genesis: Selling England By The Pound More Fool Me
(Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
Here am I
Who while away the mornings
Since you've gone
Too long have I lay alone
Not knowing which way to turn.

And there you are
Quite sure that you were right
Knowing full well
That I'd be the first one
                  To go down.

And you'd be the one who was laughing
Except when things weren't going your way
And then the lady would say that she'd had enough
Wandering around on her own.

The day you left
Well I think you knew you'd not be back
Well at least it would seem that way
Because you never said goodbye.
But when it comes round to you and me
I'm sure it will work out alright.

And you'd be the one who was laughing
And giving me something I don't need
And you know, I'd always hold you and keep you warm
Oh! more fool me.

Ah, but when it comes
Round to you and me
I ask myself
Do I really believe
In your love.

Yes, I'm sure it will work out alright.
song list next song previous song Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 2: The Longs Genesis: Seconds Out Genesis: Genesis Live Genesis: Nursery Cryme The Musical Box
(Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford/Phillips/Barnard)
While Henry Hamilton-Smythe minor (8) was playing croquet with
Cynthia Jane De Blaise-William (9), sweet-smiling Cynthia raised
her mallet high and gracefully removed Henry's head. Two weeks
later, in Henry's nursery, she discovered his treasured musical
box. Eagerly she opened it and as "Old King Cole" began to play,
a small spirit- figure appeared. Henry had returned - but not for
long, for as he stood in the room his body began ageing rapidly,
leaving a child's mind inside. A lifetime's desires surged through
him. Unfortunately the attempt to persuade Cynthia Jane to fulfill
his romantic desire led his nurse to the nursery to investigate
the noise. Instinctively Nanny hurled the musical box at the
bearded child, destroying both.


Play me Old King Cole
That I may join with you,
All your hearts now seem so far from me
It hardly seems to matter now.

And the nurse will tell you lies
Of a kingdom beyond the skies.
But I am lost within this half-world,
It hardly seems to matter now.

   Play me my song.
   Here it comes again.
   Play me my song.
   Here it comes again.

Just a little bit,
Just a little bit more time,
Time left to live out my life.

   Play me my song.
   Here it comes again.
   Play me my song.
   Here it comes again.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he.
So he called for his pipe,
And he called for his bowl,
And he called for his fiddlers three.

But the clock, tick-tock,
On the mantlepiece -
And I want, and I feel, and I know, and I touch,
Her warmth...

   She's a lady, she's got time,
   Brush back your hair, and let me get to know your face.
   She's a lady, she is mine.
   Brush back your hair, and let me get to know your flesh.

I've been waiting here for so long
And all this time has passed me by
It doesn't seem to matter now
You stand there with your fixed expression
Casting doubt on all I have to say.
Why don't you touch me, touch me,
Why don't you touch me, touch me,
Touch me now, now, now, now, now...
song list Genesis: Letter N previous song Genesis: Genesis Archive - 1967-1975 The Mystery Of The Flannan Isle Lighthouse
(...)
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