Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utcsrgv.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!peterr From: peterr@utcsrgv.UUCP (Peter Rowley) Newsgroups: net.music Subject: Re: Re: The Return of Yes (Genesis lyrics) Message-ID: <3289@utcsrgv.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Feb-84 14:18:04 EST Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.3289 Posted: Wed Feb 15 14:18:04 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 15-Feb-84 15:31:55 EST Organization: CSRG, University of Toronto Lines: 29 People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. R. Henthorn uses strong words to state that early Genesis lyrics had no relevance to our world. Absolute rubbish. "Get 'Em Out By Friday" was a comment on evil real estate developers. Virtually all of "Selling England by the Pound" dealt with workaday life in present-day England. "The Knife" from "Trespass" is a condemnation of false revolutionary movements. "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" has a good deal to say about urban US, as well as a good deal of mythical imagery. Many other examples exist. Genesis didn't always have literal lyrics, but literal lyrics are boring-- they don't allow listeners to provide their own interpretations. I feel they had a very good balance; lyrics specific enough to make the situation depicted unmistakable, but vague enough to add mystery and richness and to allow listeners to work out some ideas on their own. I haven't looked at Yes' lyrics closely enough to comment on them, but Mr. Henthorn is just plain wrong about Genesis. Early Genesis discography: Genesis to Revelation (69), Trespass (70), Nursery Cryme (71), Foxtrot (72), Genesis Live (72), Selling England By the Pound (73), The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (74) After TLLDOB, Peter Gabriel left and the band started its conversion from progressive music to pretty ordinary, though well-done, pop which is what it's making these days. Peter Gabriel, on the other hand, continues to make thought-provoking albums, all entitled "Peter Gabriel" and released in 77, 78, 80, and 82 (The last was also called "Security"). p. rowley, U. Toronto