The compositions were generally much longer and complex than before, featuring several different musical sections. The sound evokes a kind of 'pastoral English idyll' espoused by numerous progressive rock bands of the time. To this end, much use is made of multi-tracked 12-string acoustic guitars, blended with folky vocal harmonies, flute, acoustic piano, and gentle keyboard pads on Hammond organ and mellotron. The drum playing is generally fairly soft, which actually complements the atmosphere, although the band were unhappy with John Mayhew's skills and replaced him with Phil Collins following Trespass' completion and Anthony Phillips' departure.
Despite its generally muted, pastoral, folky feel, the album is not without dynamic moments. Peter Gabriel's vocals are soulful and angst-ridden throughout, particularly at the climax of "Stagnation", which also includes a prominent Hammond organ solo from Tony Banks. Closing track "The Knife" is aggressive and bombastic, featuring some biting lyrics from Gabriel, with Mike Rutherford playing fuzz bass. The song, which received great praise by The Nice's Keith Emerson, became a favourite closer to live shows and appeared — with lyrical changes — on Genesis' 1973 first live album Genesis Live.
Although Trespass was not a commercial success, it was a critical one and despite its lack of sales, it managed to reach a peak of #98 in the UK upon its 1984 re-release.
Looking For Someone
Genesis Lyrics
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I guess I'm doing that
Trying to find a memory in a dark room
Dirty man, you're looking like a Buddha, I know you well
Yeah
Keep on a straight line
I don't believe I can,
Trying to find a needle in a haystack,
Chilly wind you're piercing like a dagger, it hurts me so.
Yeah
Nobody needs to discover me, I'm back again.
You see the sunlight through the trees, to keep you warm
in peaceful shades of green
Yet in the darkness of my mind
Damascus wasn't far behind.
Lost in a subway,
I guess I'm losing time.
There's a man looking at a magazine
You're such a fool, your mumbo-jumbo never tells me anything
Yeah
Nobody needs to discover me I'm back again
You feel the ashes from the fire that kept you warm
its comfort disappears
And still the only friend I know
Will never tell me where I go
Looking for someone and now I've found myself a name
Come away, leave me, all that I have I will give
Leave me, leave me, all that I am I will give
The lyrics to Genesis's song "Looking For Someone" are full of cryptic imagery and introspective contemplation. The singer is searching for someone or something but is unsure of what it is they are looking for. The opening lines suggest that the search is taking place in a dark room, indicating that it might be a metaphorical search for self-discovery. The reference to the Dirty man looking like Buddha is also interesting as Buddha is viewed as an enlightened being, which could imply that the singer is looking for enlightenment or perhaps trying to embody it.
As the song progresses, the singer struggles to keep on a straight line, indicating how difficult it can be to stay focused when searching for something elusive. The mention of looking for a needle in a haystack is a well-known idiom that conveys the sense of searching for something impossible to find. The chilly wind piercing like a dagger is a sensory image that suggests emotional pain. All these elements hint that the search is not going well.
The final lines of the song reveal the singer's realization that they have been looking for themselves all along: "Looking for someone and now I've found myself a name." The ambiguous nature of these lyrics invites the listener to interpret them in their own way, adding to the timeless appeal of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking for someone,
Searching for a person,
I guess I'm doing that
I suppose that's what I'm doing
Trying to find a memory in a dark room
Attempting to recall a memory in a place devoid of light
Dirty man, you're looking like a Buddha, I know you well
Unclean individual, resembling Buddha, whom I'm familiar with
Keep on a straight line
Maintain a direct course
I don't believe I can,
I doubt I am capable
Trying to find a needle in a haystack,
Attempting to locate something tiny in something vast
Chilly wind you're piercing like a dagger, it hurts me so.
Cold air, akin to a sharp weapon, causing physical discomfort
Nobody needs to discover me, I'm back again.
I don't require being discovered, I've returned once more
You see the sunlight through the trees, to keep you warm in peaceful shades of green
You observe the sun radiating through foliage, facilitating comfort
Yet in the darkness of my mind
However, in my mind's obscurity
Damascus wasn't far behind.
The metaphorical city of Damascus was close by
Lost in a subway,
Confused in a subway system
I guess I'm losing time.
I think I'm wasting time
There's a man looking at a magazine
There's an individual perusing a publication
You're such a fool, your mumbo-jumbo never tells me anything
You're a fool, your nonsense never informs me
Nobody needs to discover me I'm back again
No one has to find me, I've returned
You feel the ashes from the fire that kept you warm its comfort disappears
You experience the remnants of the extinguished warmth-providing flames
And still the only friend I know Will never tell me where I go
However, my sole acquaintance will never inform me of my destination
Looking for someone and now I've found myself a name
Searching for an individual, and now I've discovered my own identity
Come away, leave me, all that I have I will give
Leave me, leave me, all that I am I will give
Leave my presence, I will present all that I possess and all that I am
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PHIL COLLINS, STEVE HACKETT, TONY BANKS, MIKE RUTHERFORD, PETER BRIAN GABRIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rogerio Nuno Correia
on Ripples…
dont u think it as got to do with Peter Gabriel getting out of the Band? im 56.... just a thought...