This album reminds me of Summer, 1980. I bought this album from a local record store with some allowance money, on a Saturday afternoon after my weekly piano lesson. I played it over and over and over again. "Wake up now... this is the time you've waited for..." Wow... just wow... The sound is so warm.
Tony, if you by chance read this, then please see if my interpretation of the lyrics is close - i think there is no better meaning than the one that occured to me. Thank you for writing this song, and everything else - you're a giant! Your/Genesis' fan, Gera
@skintrade I always felt it was more about an arrogant army who thought they were unbeatable, and blindly marching on into certain death because they're too proud to admit defeat.
e.g. "You thought you'd rule the world forever", "you're not what you thought you were at all".
I love the second verse, which implies this supposedly mighty army won't even rate a footnote in history ("just another cul-de-sac on nature's hard unfeeling trail", "extinct until the end of time").
@Marcuskristicus Whereas I thought that this, Heathaze and Man Of Our Times told a intertwining story in which a king gets kicked out of his land by a media landslide caused by his opponent, whereas his opponent is even more barbaric then him, so he gets kicked out the land (Man Of Our Times referring to the new king), Heathaze details the King going to an alien country to propose an alliance between him and the aliens, the previous rulers of the country. (I'll continue the rest down below.)
@mimefan So after the Aliens begrudgingly accept the old King's quest, they set up on a journey, the old King sends a DVD telling this song to the New King, the New King sends in his elite armies, who at the start of the song kill off everyone who knows them, then after going after the alien army, the 3:00 mark details how the aliens have killed off all the army, then the Old King kills off the new king before being impaled through the back by the aliens then they become the new rulers.
@mimefan wow talk about literal translation, i always thought it was about how the music industry was changing and prog-rock was generally becoming less mainstream and pop rock was taking it's place. This song describes the other bands that would stay prog-rockish and in that way die out ;)
Amazingly, Genesis never did this song nor "Heathaze" live during the 1980 "Duke" Tour............. and I personally think "Cul-de-sac" would have been a strong addition to the set.
I have always loved the lyrics in this song. When I was young, when something was on my mind, I'd put on this tape( cassette, back then) and headphones, and crank up this album. By the time I'd get to the last track "Duke's Travel's" whatever was bothering me was gone.
in line with what? got to be completly ignoranst about the tremendous sucess of Genesis uo to 1975. They used to pack live concerts and happened to be known worldwde. The changes didn't brought sucess, they continued a huge sucess.
This album reminds me of Summer, 1980. I bought this album from a local record store with some allowance money, on a Saturday afternoon after my weekly piano lesson. I played it over and over and over again. "Wake up now... this is the time you've waited for..." Wow... just wow... The sound is so warm.
popomatic1970 1 week ago
i think i was phils album, because he was that time devoce from his first wife?!
btom22259 4 months ago
OOPS... SORRY... in my comment below there are spaces in that URL that must be removed in order for it to work!
GeraInna 4 months ago
Tony, if you by chance read this, then please see if my interpretation of the lyrics is close - i think there is no better meaning than the one that occured to me. Thank you for writing this song, and everything else - you're a giant! Your/Genesis' fan, Gera
songmeanings. net/songs/view/1663/#73016088787
GeraInna 4 months ago
Dramatic from 3:53. Thats the way i like genesis.
btom22259 4 months ago
Music great, words maybe stupid.
btom22259 4 months ago
damm i know i sound stupid for asking but... what is it about?
fucktardickis 6 months ago
@fucktardickis it was about soldiers or airmen going into a hopeless battle.. the air battle of britain always came to mind for me
skintrade 6 months ago
@skintrade I always felt it was more about an arrogant army who thought they were unbeatable, and blindly marching on into certain death because they're too proud to admit defeat.
e.g. "You thought you'd rule the world forever", "you're not what you thought you were at all".
I love the second verse, which implies this supposedly mighty army won't even rate a footnote in history ("just another cul-de-sac on nature's hard unfeeling trail", "extinct until the end of time").
Great lyrics.
Marcuskristicus 6 months ago
@Marcuskristicus Whereas I thought that this, Heathaze and Man Of Our Times told a intertwining story in which a king gets kicked out of his land by a media landslide caused by his opponent, whereas his opponent is even more barbaric then him, so he gets kicked out the land (Man Of Our Times referring to the new king), Heathaze details the King going to an alien country to propose an alliance between him and the aliens, the previous rulers of the country. (I'll continue the rest down below.)
mimefan 4 months ago
@mimefan So after the Aliens begrudgingly accept the old King's quest, they set up on a journey, the old King sends a DVD telling this song to the New King, the New King sends in his elite armies, who at the start of the song kill off everyone who knows them, then after going after the alien army, the 3:00 mark details how the aliens have killed off all the army, then the Old King kills off the new king before being impaled through the back by the aliens then they become the new rulers.
mimefan 4 months ago
@mimefan wow talk about literal translation, i always thought it was about how the music industry was changing and prog-rock was generally becoming less mainstream and pop rock was taking it's place. This song describes the other bands that would stay prog-rockish and in that way die out ;)
fucktardickis 2 weeks ago
@fucktardickis Yeah that's probably right, it's just my over-imaginative mind just thinking of an intertwining story between the three.
mimefan 2 weeks ago
I'm catching up with all the Genesis that I somehow missed while I was listening to them since birth...
The lyrics on this album appear to be absolutely fantastic.
1776Matthew 7 months ago
"Singable solos" like I love them from 3:54. No need to play 200 notes a minute like some guitarists do.
Gentilseulement 8 months ago
@Gentilseulement Love that guitar lead as well, the climax of the song it seems.
Jzmt77 6 months ago
I would like to hear an album exclusively written by Banks and sung by Collins.
Gentilseulement 8 months ago
The first line of lyrics remind me of Silver Rainbow..
pagani43 9 months ago
Comment removed
pagani43 9 months ago
Amazingly, Genesis never did this song nor "Heathaze" live during the 1980 "Duke" Tour............. and I personally think "Cul-de-sac" would have been a strong addition to the set.
NS9144 1 year ago 8
I have always loved the lyrics in this song. When I was young, when something was on my mind, I'd put on this tape( cassette, back then) and headphones, and crank up this album. By the time I'd get to the last track "Duke's Travel's" whatever was bothering me was gone.
MrColin12151 1 year ago 11
Best Banks piano intro since Firth of Fifth. :)
mfnickster 1 year ago 4
@tjrtherocksponge You forgot Yes. 90125 baby.
UC7media 1 year ago
@tjrtherocksponge heck yea! i saw Rush on sept 18 for the first time, it pwned all other concerts ive ever been to!
TrevorsaurusRex 1 year ago
In my top five all-time favourite songs...
An absolute classic!
imperiallover 1 year ago 2
in line with what? got to be completly ignoranst about the tremendous sucess of Genesis uo to 1975. They used to pack live concerts and happened to be known worldwde. The changes didn't brought sucess, they continued a huge sucess.
mrrn100 1 year ago
me encanta, tenía el vinilo pero lo perdí en mi divorcio. Hacía tanto que no oía esta canción.....MUCHAS GRACIAS
780841 1 year ago 2
*****
sirronald69 1 year ago
Great !!!
jenroaria 1 year ago