Genesis
Rock Theatre

Genesis: Turn It On Again - The Hits Genesis: Genesis Archive - 1967-1975 (4th disc) Main Green Page Song list



next song Genesis: Genesis Archive - 1967-1975 (4th disc) Genesis: Turn It On Again - The Hits Genesis: Rock Theatre Genesis: Genesis Archive - 1967-1975 Genesis: The Way We Walk Vol. 2: The Longs Genesis: Seconds Out Genesis: Selling England By The Pound I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
(Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
It's one o'clock and time for lunch,
When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench
I can always hear them talk.

There's always been Ethel:
   "Jacob, wake up! You've got to tidy your room now."
And then Mister Lewis:
   "Isn't it time that he was out on his own?"
Over the garden wall, two little lovebirds - cuckoo to you!
                Keep them mowing blades sharp...

   I know what I like, and I like what I know;
   getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show.

Sunday night, Mr Farmer called, said:
   "Listen son, you're wasting your time; there's a future for you
    in the fire escape trade. Come up to town!"
But I remebered a voice from the past;
   "Gambling only pays when you're winning"
- I had to thank old Miss Mort for schooling a failure.
                Keep them mowing blades sharp...

   I know what I like, and I like what I know;
   getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show.

When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench,
I can always hear them talk.
Me, I'm just a lawnmower - you can tell me by the way I walk.
next song previous song Genesis: Rock Theatre Genesis: Nursery Cryme Harold The Barrel
(Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
News:

         A well-known Bognor restaurant-owner disappeared
                        early this morning.
         Last seen in a mouse-brown overcoat,
                        suitably camouflaged,
                        they saw him catch a train.


Man-in-the-street:

               "Father of three its disgusting"
               "Such a horrible thing to do"
         Harold the Barrel cut off his toes and he served them all
                                                           for tea
     "Can't go far", "He can't go far".
     "Hasn't got a leg to stand on"
     "He can't go far".


Man-on-the-spot:

     I'm standing in a doorway on the main square
                        tension is mounting
     There's a restless crowd of angry people


Man-on-the-council:

                        "More than we've ever seen.
                        - had to tighten up security"

     Over to the scene at the town hall
     The Lord Mayor's ready to speak


Lord Mayor:

     "Man of suspicion, you can't last long, the British Public
                                                 is on our side"


British Public:

     "Can't last long", "You can't last long".
     "Said you couldn't trust him, his brother was just the same"
     "You can't last long".


Harold:

          If I was many miles from here,
          I'd be sailing in an open boat on the sea
          Instead I'm on this window ledge,
          With the whole world below
                  Up at the window
                  Look at the window...



Mr.Plod:

       "We can help you"

Plod's Chorus:

       "We can help you"

Mr. Plod:

       "We're all your friends, if you come on down
        and talk to us son"

Harold:

                You must be joking
                Take a running jump

          The crowd was getting stronger and our Harold
                      getting weaker;
          Forwards, backwards, swaying side to side
                      Fearing the very worst
                      They called his mother to the sight
              Upon the ledge beside him
              His mother made a last request.


67-yr-old Mrs Barrel:

         "Come off the ledge if your father were alive he'd be very,
                                                very, very upset.
         "Just can't jump, you just can't jump"
         "Your shirt's all dirty, there's a man here from
                                                the B.B.C."
         "You just can't jump"


Mr. Plod:

      "We can help you"

Plod's Chorus:

      "We can help you"

Mr. Plod:

      "We're all your friends, if you come on down
        and talk to us Harry"


Harold:

               You must be joking.
               Take a running jump......
next song previous song Genesis: Rock Theatre Genesis: Nursery Cryme Harlequin
(Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
Came the night a mist dissolved the trees
And in the broken light colours fly, fading by.
Pale and cold as figures fill the glade
Grey is the web they spin, on and on, and on and on.
Through the flame still summer lingers on
Though her pictures soon shatter.

   All, always the same.
   But there appears in the shades of dawning,
   Though your eyes are dim,
   All of the pieces in the sky.

There was once a harvest in this land.
Reap from the turquoise sky, harlequin, harlequin,
Dancing round, three children fill the glade,
Theirs was the laughter in the winding stream, and in between.
Close your door, the picture fades again
From the flames in the firelight.

   All, always the same,
   But there appears in the shades of dawning,
   Though your eyes are dim,
   All of the pieces in the sky.

   All, all is not lost,
   And light appears in the shades of dawning
   When your eyes can see
   Order the pieces, put them back, put them back.
next song previous song Genesis: Rock Theatre Genesis: Genesis Archive - 1967-1975 Genesis: Three Sides Live (UK version) Genesis: Genesis Live Genesis: Foxtrot Watcher Of The Skies
(Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
Watcher of the skies watcher of all
His is a world alone no world is his own,
He whom life can no longer surprise,
Raising his eyes beholds a planet unknown.

Creatures shaped this planet's soil,
Now their reign has come to an end,
Has life again destroyed life,
Do they play elsewhere, do they know
more than their childhood games?
Maybe the lizard's shed its tail,
This is the end of man's long union with Earth.

Judge not this race by empty remains
Do you judge God by his creatures when they are dead?
For now, the lizard's shed it's tail
This is the end of man's long union with Earth.

From life alone to life as one,
Think not now your journey's done
For though your ship be sturdy, no
Mercy has the sea,
Will you survive on the ocean of being?
Come ancient children hear what I say
This is my parting council for you on your way.

Sadly now your thoughts turn to the stars
Where we have gone you know you never can go.
Watcher of the skies watcher of all
This is your fate alone, this fate is your own.
next song previous song Genesis: Rock Theatre Genesis: Three Sides Live (UK version) Genesis: Nursery Cryme Fountain Of Salmacis
(Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
Hermaphrodite: a flower containing both male and female organs; a person or animal of both sexes.

The child Hermaphroditus was the son of Hermes and Aphrodite, the result of a secret love affair. For this reason he was
entrusted to the nymphs of the isolated Mount Ida, who allowed him to grow up as a wild creature of the woods. After his
encounter with the water-nymph Salmacis, he laid a curse upon the water. According to fable, all persons who bathed in the
water became hermaphrodites.


From a dense forest of tall dark pinewood,
Mount Ida rises like an island.
Within a hidden cave, nymphs had kept a child;
Hermaphroditus, son of gods, so afraid of their love.

   As the dawn creeps up the sky
   The hunter caught sight of a doe.
   In desire for conquest,
   He found himself within a glade he'd not beheld before.

Hermaphroditus:                   Narrator:
 "Where are you, my father?        "Then he could go no farther
  Give wisdom to your son"          Now lost, the boy was guided by the sun"

   And as his strength began to fail
   He saw a shimmering lake.
   A shadow in the dark green depths
   Disturbed the strange tranquility.

Salmacis:                         Narrator:
 "The waters are disturbed         "The waters are disturbed
  Some creature has been stirred"   Naiad queen Salmacis has been stirred"

As he rushed to quench his thirst,
A fountain spring appeared before him
And as his heated breath brushed through the cool mist,
A liquid voice called, "Son of gods, drink from my spring".

   The water tasted strangely sweet.
   Behind him the voice called again.
   He turned and saw her, in a cloak of mist alone
   And as he gazed, her eyes were filled with the darkness of the lake.

Salmacis:                         Narrator:
 "We shall be one                  "She wanted them as one
  We shall be joined as one"        Yet he had no desire to be one"

Hermaphroditus:     "Away from me cold-blooded woman
                     Your thirst is not mine"
Salmacis:           "Nothing will cause us to part
                     Hear me, O Gods"

Unearthly calm descended from the sky
And then their flesh and bones were strangely merged
Forever to be joined as one.

   The creature crawled into the lake.
   A fading voice was heard:
   "And I beg, yes I beg that all who touch this spring
   May share my fate"

Salmacis:                         Narrator:
 "We are the one                   "The two are now made one,
  We are the one"                   Demi-god and nymph are now made one"

Both had given everything they had.
A lover's dream had been fulfilled at last,
Forever still beneath the lake.
Genesis: Turn It On Again - The Hits previous song Genesis: Rock Theatre Genesis: Genesis Archive - 1967-1975 Genesis: Seconds Out Genesis: Foxtrot Supper's Ready
(Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
a) Lover's Leap
Walking across the sitting-room, I turn the television off.
Sitting beside you, I look into your eyes.
As the sound of motor cars fades in the night time,
I swear I saw your face change, it didn't seem quite right.
...And it's hello babe with your guardian eyes so blue
           Hey my baby don't you know our love is true.

Coming closer with our eyes, a distance falls around our bodies.
Out in the garden, the moon seems very bright,
Six saintly shrouded men move across the lawn slowly.
The seventh walks in front with a cross held high in hand.
...And it's hey babe your supper's waiting for you.
           Hey my baby, don't you know our love is true.

I've been so far from here,
Far from your warm arms.
It's good to feel you again,
It's been a long long time. Hasn't it?
b) The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man
I know a farmer who looks after the farm.
With water clear, he cares for all his harvest.
I know a fireman who looks after the fire.

You, can't you see he's fooled you all.
Yes, he's here again, can't you see he's fooled you all.
          Share his peace,
          Sign the lease.
He's a supersonic scientist,
He's the guaranteed eternal sanctuary man.
Look, look into my mouth he cries,
And all the children lost down many paths,
I bet my life you'll walk inside
Hand in hand,
gland in gland
With a spoonful of miracle,
He's the guaranteed eternal sanctuary.
       We will rock you, rock you little snake,
       We will keep you snug and warm.
c) Ikhnaton And Itsacon And Their Band Of Merry Men
Wearing feelings on our faces while our faces took a rest,
We walked across the fields to see the children of the West,
But we saw a host of dark skinned warriors
standing still below the ground,
          Waiting for battle.

The fight's begun, they've been released.
Killing foe for peace...bang, bang, bang. Bang, bang, bang...
And they're giving me a wonderful potion,
'Cos I cannot contain my emotion.
And even though I'm feeling good,
Something tells me I'd better activate my prayer capsule.

Today's a day to celebrate, the foe have met their fate.
The order for rejoicing and dancing has come from our warlord.
d) How Dare I Be So Beautiful?
Wandering through the chaos the battle has left,
We climb up a mountain of human flesh,
To a plateau of green grass, and green trees full of life.
A young figure sits still by a pool,
He's been stamped "Human Bacon" by some butchery tool.
               (He is you)
Social Security took care of this lad.
We watch in reverence, as Narcissus is turned to a flower.
         A flower?
e) Willow Farm
If you go down to Willow Farm,
to look for butterflies, flutterbyes, gutterflies
Open your eyes, it's full of surprise, everyone lies,
like the fox on the rocks,
and the musical box.
Oh, there's Mum & Dad, and good and bad,
and everyone's happy to be here.

There's Winston Churchill dressed in drag,
he used to be a British flag, plastic bag, what a drag.
The frog was a prince, the prince was a brick, the brick was an egg,
the egg was a bird.
(Fly away you sweet little thing, they're hard on your tail)
          Hadn't you heard?
(They're going to change you into a human being!)
Yes, we're happy as fish and gorgeous as geese,
and wonderfully clean in the morning.

We've got everything, we're growing everything,
          We've got some in
          We've got some out
We've got some wild things floating about
Everyone, we're changing everyone,
          you name them all,
          We've had them here,
And the real stars are still to appear.

ALL CHANGE!

Feel your body melt;
Mum to mud to mad to dad
Dad diddley office, Dad diddley office,
          You're all full of ball.

Dad to dam to dum to mum
Mum diddley washing, Mum diddley washing,
          You're all full of ball.

Let me hear you lies, we're living this up to the eyes.
Ooee-ooee-ooee-oowaa
Momma I want you now.

And as you listen to my voice
To look for hidden doors, tidy floors, more applause.
You've been here all the time,
Like it or not, like what you got,
You're under the soil (the soil, the soil),
Yes, deep in the soil (the soil, the soil, the soil, the soil!).
So we'll end with a whistle and end with a bang
and all of us fit in our places.
f) Apocalypse In 9/8
With the guards of Magog, swarming around,
The Pied Piper takes his children underground.
Dragons coming out of the sea,
Shimmering silver head of wisdom looking at me.
He brings down the fire from the skies,
You can tell he's doing well by the look in human eyes.
Better not compromise.
         It won't be easy.

666 is no longer alone,
He's getting out the marrow in your back bone,
And the seven trumpets blowing sweet rock and roll,
Gonna blow right down inside your soul.
Pythagoras with the looking glass reflects the full moon,
In blood, he's writing the lyrics of a brand new tune.

And it's hey babe, with your guardian eyes so blue,
Hey my baby, don't you know our love is true,
I've been so far from here,
Far from your loving arms,
Now I'm back again, and babe it's gonna work out fine.
g) As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs (Aching Men's Feet)
Can't you feel our souls ignite
Shedding ever changing colours, in the darkness of the fading night,
Like the river joins the ocean, as the germ in a seed grows
We have finally been freed to get back home.

There's an angel standing in the sun, and he's crying with a loud voice,
"This is the supper of the mighty one",
Lord of Lords,
King of Kings,
Has returned to lead his children home,
To take them to the new Jerusalem.