Genesis began as a 1960s pop band playing moody, simple keyboard-driven melodies. During the 1970s, they evolved into a progressive rock band, incorporating complex song structures and elaborate instrumentation, while their concerts became theatrical experiences with innovative stage design, pyrotechnics, elaborate costumes and onstage stories. This second phase was characterised by lengthy performances such as the 23 minute "Supper's Ready" and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, the 1974 concept album. In the 1980s, the band produced accessible pop music based on melodic hooks; this change of direction gave them their first number one album in the United Kingdom, Duke, and their only number one single in the United States, "Invisible Touch".
Genesis has changed personnel several times. Founding member Anthony Phillips left the band in 1970 due to stage fright. In 1975, Collins, then the band's drummer, replaced Gabriel as lead singer after a lengthy search for a replacement. To facilitate Collins's move to lead vocals during concerts, Bill Bruford, and later Chester Thompson, played drums for the band, with Collins joining in briefly during lengthy instrumental passages. After Phil Collins left the band in 1996, Genesis recruited Ray Wilson (formerly of Stiltskin), who appeared on the 1997 album Calling All Stations. As a result of the commercial failure of Calling All Stations, the band announced an indefinite hiatus. However, in 2007, Banks, Collins and Rutherford reunited for a 20-city tour of Europe and North America, which included a free concert at Rome's Circo Massimo in front of 500,000 fans.
I Can't Dance
Genesis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burning my feet just walking around
Hot sun makin' me sweat
Gators getting close, hasn't got me yet
I can't dance
I can't talk
Only thing about me is the way I walk
I can't dance
I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling everything
Blue jeans sittin' on the beach
Her dog's talking to me, but she's out of reach
Mhm, she's got a body under that shirt
But all she wants to do is rub my face in the dirt
'Cause I can't dance
I can't talk
Only thing about me is the way I walk
I can't dance
I can't sing
I'm just standing here sellin'
Oh, and checking everything is in place
You never know who's lookin' on
Young punk spillin' beer on my shoes
Fat guy's talkin' to me, tryin' to steal my blues
Thick smoke, see her smiling through
I never thought so much could happen just shootin' pool
But I can't dance
I can't talk
The only thing about me is the way that I walk
I can't dance
I can't sing
I'm just standing here sellin'
Oh, and checking everything is in place
You never know who's looking on
A perfect body with a perfect face
Mhm
No, I can't dance
I can't talk
The only thing about me is the way I walk
No, I can't dance
I can't sing
I'm just standing here sellin' everything
No, I can't walk
No, I can't dance
No, no, no, I can't dance
No, I said, I can't sing
The song "I Can't Dance" by Genesis tells the story of a man who's at a beach party but isn't really enjoying himself. The hot sun is making him uncomfortable, and he's worried about getting too close to the gators in the area. The man's lack of dancing and singing ability serves as a metaphor for his awkwardness in social situations. He's only got one thing going for him, and that's the way he walks. Through the song, he encounters various people at the party who he struggles to connect with. A woman catches his eye, but she seems uninterested in him. He also deals with irritating people, including a young man who spills beer on his shoes and a "fat guy" who tries to "steal [his] blues." Despite all of this, the man continues to stand around and "sell everything," perhaps implying that he is trying to present himself in the most positive light possible, even if the reality is different.
The song is a critique of the superficiality of social interactions at parties and the expectations placed on people to perform certain behaviors, such as dancing or singing. The singer is uncomfortable with these expectations and feels insecure about his inability to meet them. However, despite this, he still puts on a front and tries to sell himself to others, showing the pressure that people can feel to present themselves in a certain way.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot sun beating down
The sun is shining very bright
Burning my feet just walking around
His feet are getting hot just from walking around
Hot sun makin' me sweat
The heat is making him sweat
Gators getting close, hasn't got me yet
Alligators are nearby but have not attacked him yet
I can't dance
He is unable to dance
I can't talk
He is unable to talk
Only thing about me is the way I walk
The only noteworthy thing about him is his walking style
I can't sing
He is unable to sing
I'm just standing here selling everything
He is standing and selling everything he can
Blue jeans sittin' on the beach
A person in blue jeans is sitting on the beach
Her dog's talking to me, but she's out of reach
The woman's dog is making noise but she is too far away to hear
Mhm, she's got a body under that shirt
The woman has an attractive body
But all she wants to do is rub my face in the dirt
The woman is being mean to him
Oh and checking everything is in place
He is checking that everything is in order
You never know who's lookin' on
He is aware that others might be watching him
Young punk spillin' beer on my shoes
A young person accidentally spilled beer on his shoes
Fat guy's talkin' to me tryin' to steal my blues
An overweight person is talking to him and trying to bring him down
Thick smoke, see her smiling through
There is thick smoke and she can still be seen smiling
I never thought so much could happen just shootin' pool
He is surprised so much can happen while playing pool
No, I can't walk
He cannot walk very well
No, no, no, I can't dance
He really cannot dance
No, I said, I can't sing
He repeated that he cannot sing
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Anthony Banks, Michael Rutherford, Phil Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Amish_Ezekiel
Lyrics
Hot sun beating down
Burning my feet just walking around.
Hot sun making me sweat
'Gators getting close, hasn't got me yet
I can't dance, I can't talk.
The only thing about me is the way I walk.
I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling everything.
Blue jeans sitting on the beach,
Her dog's talking to me, but she's out of reach.
She's got a body under that shirt,
But all she wants to do is rub my face in the dirt.
Cause, I can't dance, I can't talk.
The only thing about me is the way I walk.
No, I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling.
And checking everything is in place,
You never know who's looking on.
Young punk spilling beer on my shoes,
Fat guy's talking to me trying to steal my blues.
Thick smoke, see her smiling through.
I never thought so much could happen just shooting pool.
But I can't dance, I can't talk.
The only thing about me is the way I walk.
I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling
And checking everything is in place
You never know who's looking on
A perfect body with a perfect face
@57thorns
This is how a music video is done. With humor, relevance to the lyrics. And a great beat.
@Jovocale
…I agree…and so entertaining without being vulgar!!
@IDeronME
There's something I love about the irony of belting out the line "I can't sing" perfectly
@burkhardraum1956
I agree, cheers from Cologne 😀🍷🍷🎉🇩🇪
@estilkind
If Phil Collins is retiring this year, like the news says, he's a legend and I'm glad that we had the chance to hear him throughout all of his different musical styles.
@thefirstofthelastones8952
Agree because just like other musicians he makes music and songs that reaches out to you.
@texasgonzo67
Ahmen to both my fellow fans. Rock on. But damnnnn i miss Neil Peart 😣
@IAmInfinitus208
Gotta love the brits' tongue in cheek humor! Phil's definitely strong with his love of Motown too especially!
@chriswright8114
even if it weren't true, he's still a legend
@bird20040
@@texasgonzo67 I miss entwistle