Explanations of Genesis/Phil Collins songs?
Pepijn Schmitz
Hi,
The lyrics to Genesis songs and to a lesser extent Phil Collins songs
have always fascinated me. I was wondering: is theres a place on the web
where I can find explanations as to what the motivations of the writers
were when writing the songs and what the meanings of the songs are?
Pepijn
--
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B Arends
varm...@india.mastech.com wrote:
>
> In article <3535267E...@no.spam.stormtech.com>,
> Pepijn Schmitz <psch...@no.spam.stormtech.com> wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > The lyrics to Genesis songs and to a lesser extent Phil Collins songs
> > have always fascinated me. I was wondering: is theres a place on the web
> > where I can find explanations as to what the motivations of the writers
> > were when writing the songs and what the meanings of the songs are?
> >
> > Pepijn
> >
>
> But, why do u want to know what were their feelings?
> Why don't U try to search for your own meanings?
> That's what U do while reading poetry.Don't U?
> Music is not very different from poetry.
As for music and poetry, you're right. Some people like to compare their
own experience when reading a poem or hearing a song to the author's,
and in some cases information about the person who wrote the poem can
clarify an unitellible, dark one... It's all about satisfaction and some
get that sooner than others. Bye!
varm...@india.mastech.com
In article <3535267E...@no.spam.stormtech.com>,
Pepijn Schmitz <psch...@no.spam.stormtech.com> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> The lyrics to Genesis songs and to a lesser extent Phil Collins songs
> have always fascinated me. I was wondering: is theres a place on the web
> where I can find explanations as to what the motivations of the writers
> were when writing the songs and what the meanings of the songs are?
>
> Pepijn
>
> Remove the 'no.spam.' from my email adress if you want
> to reply via email!
>
>
Hi Pepijn,
But, why do u want to know what were their feelings?
Why don't U try to search for your own meanings?
That's what U do while reading poetry.Don't U?
Music is not very different from poetry.
Bye.
Varma
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Pepijn Schmitz
varm...@india.mastech.com wrote:
> In article <3535267E...@no.spam.stormtech.com>,
> Pepijn Schmitz <psch...@no.spam.stormtech.com> wrote:
> > The lyrics to Genesis songs and to a lesser extent Phil Collins songs
> > have always fascinated me. I was wondering: is theres a place on the web
> > where I can find explanations as to what the motivations of the writers
> > were when writing the songs and what the meanings of the songs are?
> >
>
> Hi Pepijn,
> But, why do u want to know what were their feelings?
To help me understand the lyrics. In some songs it's pretty clear what they
are about (like Driving the last spike), but others are less clear. Home by
the sea, for instance. It appears to be about a haunted house, but what I'd
like to know is: is that correct? Is it based on a real one? Or on a real
legend? Or is it meant to be a metaphor? You know, things like that.
> Why don't U try to search for your own meanings?
Because those aren't valid. I can read whatever meaning I want into a song,
but it's all irrelevant as long as I don't know what the _real_ meaning (ie:
the writer's meaning) is.
> That's what U do while reading poetry.Don't U?
I never read poetry.
> Music is not very different from poetry.
True.
Pepijn
Mark Rae
Pepijn Schmitz wrote in message <353657C3...@no.spam.stormtech.com>...
>varm...@india.mastech.com wrote:
>
>To help me understand the lyrics. In some songs it's pretty clear what they
>are about (like Driving the last spike), but others are less clear. Home by
>the sea, for instance. It appears to be about a haunted house, but what I'd
>like to know is: is that correct? Is it based on a real one? Or on a real
>legend? Or is it meant to be a metaphor? You know, things like that.
I must admit, I have never subscribed to the "burglar breaking into a
haunted house" theory. HBTS always seemed to me to be about an old people's
home.
>I never read poetry.
That's a real shame.
Mark
Jeff
Hi Pepijn,
I disagree that your own meanings to song are irrelevant, in
fact a song is often better if you attach your own personnel meanings. Maybe
sometimes the writers don't have a "true" meaning for their songs, I mean it
is up to each individual to decide whether he/she likes a song or not. I
personally think "Home By The Sea" refers to an old peoples home on the
coast and is a satirical look at getting old, but then again who cares it's
just a great song! Of course it would be interesting to see other peoples
incites into Phil Collins and Genesis songs!
Nick Coons
Hi Mark!
> I must admit, I have never subscribed to the "burglar breaking into a
> haunted house" theory. HBTS always seemed to me to be about an old
> people's home.
I believe
Phil said
something
like the
following
at a
Genesis
concert
before
'Home By
The Sea':
"Today
we're
going to
do a song
for you
about an
intrusion
into
another
world,
called
'Home By
The Sea.'"
--
Nick
nick....@juno.com
http://www.dcs-home.com
Tempe, AZ
USA
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Pepijn Schmitz
Dude, you need to fix the margins in your newsreader!
I know, that version is on the The Way We Walk live album, which I own.
But it doesn't tell you much. 'An intrusion into another world' could
still mean anything. If you listen to the actual lyrics there's tons of
implicit references to ghosts and stuff, and none to old people, so I
think it's about a haunted house.
I'd just like to know _which_ haunted house. Knowing Phil Collins, it's
probably based on some real life story or legend or something.
Pepijn
Pepijn Schmitz
Hi Jeff,
Well, to each his own. I attach my own meanings to songs too, but as
long as I don't know what the writer's meaning (the 'real' meaning, if
you will) was, I always have the nagging feeling that my interpretation
is somehow 'wrong'. I'm just interested in what the writer was thinking
about at the time, what he based the song on, what he means to say with
it, which emotions he wants to evoke. Hey, call me crazy... :-)
Pepijn
Pepijn Schmitz
Mark Rae wrote:
> I must admit, I have never subscribed to the "burglar breaking into a
> haunted house" theory. HBTS always seemed to me to be about an old people's
> home.
That's interesting. I definately think there's ghosts involved. Maybe
it's about a burglar breaking into a haunted old folk's home, and the
ghosts are those of all the old people who died there over the years?
Here are the lyrics of the live version on The Way We Walk, volume two:
Home by the sea
Home by the sea
Home by the sea
Home by the sea
Creeping up the blind side, shinning up the wall
Stealing thru the dark of night
Climbing thru the window, stepping to the floor
Checking to the left and the right
Picking up the pieces, putting them away
Something doesn't feel quite right
Help me someone, let me out of here
Then out of the dark was suddenly heard
"Welcome to the Home by the Sea"
Coming out the woodwork, thru the open door
Pushing from above and below
Shadows with no substance, in the shape of men
Round and down and sideways they go
Adrift without direction, eyes that hold despair
Then as one they sigh and they moan
Help us someone, let us out of here
'Cause living here so long undisturbed
Dreaming of the time we were free
So many years ago
Before the time when we first heard
"Welcome to the Home by the Sea"
Sit down, sit down
Just sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
As we relive out lives, what we tell you, ooh
Images of sorrow, pictures of delight
Things that go to make up a life
Endless days of summer, longer nights of gloom
Just waiting for that morning light
Scenes of unimportance photos in a frame
Things that go to make up a life
Help us someone, let us out of here
'Cause living here so long undisturbed
Dreaming of the time we were free
So many years ago
Before the time when we first heard
"Welcome to the Home by the Sea"
Just sit down, sit down
Just sit down, just sit down, just sit down, sit down
As we relive our lives in what we tell you
Ah please let us relive out lives in what we tell you, oooh
Just sit down, just sit down, just sit down, sit down
No you won't get away
'Cause with us you will stay
For the rest of your days. Sit down
As we relive out lives in what we tell you
Please, let us relive our lives in what we tell you
--Instrumental--
Images of sorrow, pictures of delight
Things that go to make up a life
Endless days of summer, longer nights of gloom
Just waiting for that morning light
Scenes of unimportance photos in a frame
Things that go to make up a life
As we relive our lives in what we tell you
Ooowoooh Oooooh Oooh
> >I never read poetry.
> That's a real shame.
I should qualify that statement: I _almost_ never read poetry. Usually
it's not compatible with me, but occasionaly I find some real gems. And
of course music is a form of poetry too...
Pepijn
Wiles
In article <6hacm1$mb7$1...@svr-c-01.core.theplanet.net>, Jeff <news@hutchi
nson.simplyonline.co.uk> writes
>Hi Pepijn,
> I disagree that your own meanings to song are irrelevant, in
>fact a song is often better if you attach your own personnel meanings. Maybe
>sometimes the writers don't have a "true" meaning for their songs, I mean it
>is up to each individual to decide whether he/she likes a song or not. I
>personally think "Home By The Sea" refers to an old peoples home on the
>coast and is a satirical look at getting old, but then again who cares it's
>just a great song! Of course it would be interesting to see other peoples
>incites into Phil Collins and Genesis songs!
>
>
>
>
>
during the IT tour as I think someone says. Ipersonally thought it was
about a couple visiting a haunted Hotel by the sea, or moving into a
haunted house and not being able to escape.
--
Wiles
Remove NOSPAM from address before replying via E-mail!!
synthuser
Pepijn Schmitz wrote:
> If you listen to the actual lyrics there's tons of
> implicit references to ghosts and stuff, and none to old people, so I
> think it's about a haunted house.
I remember Phil introduced it as a song about ghosts...
Synthuser
Mark Rae
Jeff,
At last, someone else who thinks HBTS is about residents in an old people's
home trying to recapture their younger days by telling stories to anyone
willing to listen and not about a burglar breaking into a haunted house. As
you say: who cares? It's a superb piece. So is Silver Rainbow.
With you all the way, brother!
Mark
Jeff wrote in message <6hacm1$mb7$1...@svr-c-01.core.theplanet.net>...
Mark Rae
Nick,
My point exactly!
Mark
Nick Coons wrote in message
<773568E1770B44EC.D7B84C4E...@library-proxy.airnews.ne
t>...
>Hi Mark!
>
>> I must admit, I have never subscribed to the "burglar breaking into a
>> haunted house" theory. HBTS always seemed to me to be about an old
>> people's home.
>
Jeff
Hey Pepijn you are crazy!
Pepijn Schmitz wrote in message <353BCC42...@no.spam.stormtech.com>...
>Hi Jeff,
Nick Coons
Hi Pepijn!
> Dude, you need to fix the margins in your newsreader!
I agree, and I hope the change that I just made will be sufficient.
> I know, that version is on the The Way We Walk live album, which I own.
> But it doesn't tell you much. 'An intrusion into another world' could
> still mean anything. If you listen to the actual lyrics there's tons of
> implicit references to ghosts and stuff, and none to old people, so I
> think it's about a haunted house.
Yes, it could mean anything; and I also don't think that it is about a
break-in or burglury.
ian shipley
Ok. I guess you're looking for an explanation of Home By the Sea. Here's
what I think...
Its about someone who breaks into a haunted house and has to stay there
(maybe in the place of the ppl/things who are there already).
Ian Shipley.
Pepijn Schmitz
Hi Nick,
Nick Coons wrote:
>
> > Dude, you need to fix the margins in your newsreader!
>
> I agree, and I hope the change that I just made will be sufficient.
It would appear so.
> > I know, that version is on the The Way We Walk live album, which I own.
> > But it doesn't tell you much. 'An intrusion into another world' could
> > still mean anything. If you listen to the actual lyrics there's tons of
> > implicit references to ghosts and stuff, and none to old people, so I
> > think it's about a haunted house.
>
> Yes, it could mean anything; and I also don't think that it is about a
> break-in or burglury.
Take a look at the first lines of the lyrics:
Creeping up the blind side, shinning up the wall
Stealing thru the dark of night
Climbing thru the window, stepping to the floor
Checking to the left and the right
Picking up the pieces, putting them away
Something doesn't feel quite right
Now that's clearly about a burglar breaking in somewhere, IMHO.
Pepijn
Nick Coons
Hi Pepijn!
> Take a look at the first lines of the lyrics:
> Creeping up the blind side, shinning up the wall
> Stealing thru the dark of night
> Climbing thru the window, stepping to the floor
> Checking to the left and the right
> Picking up the pieces, putting them away
> Something doesn't feel quite right
> Now that's clearly about a burglar breaking in somewhere, IMHO.
Possibly; or it could also refer to the movements of spirits.
Dave
Mark Rae wrote:
> Jeff,
>
> At last, someone else who thinks HBTS is about residents in an old people's
> home trying to recapture their younger days by telling stories to anyone
> willing to listen and not about a burglar breaking into a haunted house. As
> you say: who cares? It's a superb piece. So is Silver Rainbow.
>
> With you all the way, brother!
>
> Mark
Whohoo! Someone else who likes Silver Rainbow! BTW, I reckon all of "genesis" is
pretty damn superb.
Dave
Dave
Pepijn Schmitz wrote:
> Take a look at the first lines of the lyrics:
>
> Creeping up the blind side, shinning up the wall
> Stealing thru the dark of night
> Climbing thru the window, stepping to the floor
> Checking to the left and the right
> Picking up the pieces, putting them away
> Something doesn't feel quite right
>
> Now that's clearly about a burglar breaking in somewhere, IMHO.
>
> Pepijn
I'd say you're dead right. Perhaps the song is about a burglar breaking into an old
haunted house?
But what burglar would do that? Old haunted houses (stereotypically) look
uninhabited and gloomy. Now I give most burglars a bit of credit, they probably give
the joint a good checking over before actually breaking in. If they don't see rich
wankers dri... i mean rich Bankers driving into the garage in their Mercedes then
why would they be interested in trying to steal their way into the house? If no-one
seems to live there then there probably wouldn't be any valuables inside either. But
then again this is supposed to be about "an intrusion into another world" so who can
tell.
Personally, I think Phil and the boys were in the studio, they had come up with a
mighty fine piece of music and PC was just umming along with the music the way he
does. Suddenly he mubbles something that sounds like a word, which gives them all an
idea and a vague topic for the lyrics. They use this idea as a basic idea, and fill
in all the gaps with words along a similar line. Hey presto, you have some brilliant
music, some strange lyrics, and that is it. Another Genesis masterpiece..
Dave
MJ
Dave wrote:
Agreed. Silver Rainbow is a great song. Now try to explain that one!
mj
Nick Coons
Hi MJ!
> Agreed. Silver Rainbow is a great song. Now try to explain that one!
Ok, let me try this one :-).
When he refers to "there" (as in, "then you know that you are there"),
I believe he is referring to being in love. It focuses on where your
attention is when you are with someone that you love. For instance, if
you are with a woman and "you avoid the puddles in your way," then your
attention is not where it would be "if the sun should turn to blue" and
you didn't notice.
Sound good?
Mark Rae
Nick,
Sounds pretty damn close to me. I think Silver Rainbow is a superb song!
Anybody know which one of the three wrote the lyrics?
Mark
Nick Coons wrote in message
<6C77B34B0D33C6F9.C65D762A...@library-proxy.airnews.ne
t>...
Wot Gorilla
>> Whohoo! Someone else who likes Silver Rainbow! BTW, I reckon all of "genesis"
>is
>> pretty damn superb.
>>
>> Dave
>
>
Cough Cough!...excuse my breaking in on the flow of haunted houses and
burglars, but...
Siver Rainbow a great song? I think we should nip this in the bud!!!
List your Top 10 Genesis songs. Silver Rainbow in there?...I thought
not! How about Top 50?...100?...No, mine either!
At best i might suggest its an underrated song...wait, there's an
idea...Top Underrated Songs anyone. Allow me to start you off "Man Of
Our Times". Go now (cos' you know you haven't listened to it in ages).
Turn volume up to 11...sit back...a stonking wall of sound!
Has this suggestion allowed anyone to (re)discover a hidden gem?
--
Wot Gorilla
Robert Martin
Hello,
The meaning behind Silver Rainbow is IMHO about young love for the first
time. I think that the term Silver Rainbow could very well mean a zipper
that is about to be let down. Actually this comes from a book entitled
The Complete Guide To The Music Of Genesis, and is the opinion of the
author, Chris Welch. If this is true then Phil probably wrote the
lyrics.
hih
MJ
Robert Martin wrote:
Hi Robert
That's pretty funny. Ha. SEX. I should have know! BTW, where did you find
such a gem by Chris Welch? I always love to know what is intended in the
lyrics. PC's biography really explains what he was going through during the
period of writing Both Sides, don't you think?
Dave
Robert Martin wrote:
> Hello,
> The meaning behind Silver Rainbow is IMHO about young love for the first
> time. I think that the term Silver Rainbow could very well mean a zipper
> that is about to be let down. Actually this comes from a book entitled
> The Complete Guide To The Music Of Genesis, and is the opinion of the
> author, Chris Welch. If this is true then Phil probably wrote the
> lyrics.
>
> hih
Well, I was pertly informed once in A.M.Genesis when quoting the opening
lyrics of Silver Rainbow to "Phil, Mike, or Tony"that it was in fact Tony
who wrote them. That doesn't destroy your theory tho, as Tony was also
responsible for "Anything She Does" (about pg 3 pinup chicks in UK)
Dave