Am I Very Wrong?
Genesis Lyrics
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To hide behind the glare of an open minded stare
Am I very wrong
To wander in the fear of a never ending lie
Am I very wrong
To try to close my ears to the sound they play so loud
Am I very wrong
The happiness machine is trying hard to sing my song
Today's your birthday friend
Everything all right
Let us our greetings to you send
Happy friend
Everything all right
We hope your life will never end
Am I very wrong
To want to steal a pin then I'll check that I have skin
Am I very wrong
To want to leave my friends and the curse of the happiness machine
Today's your birthday friend
Everything all right
Let us our greetings to you send
Happy friend
Everything all right
We hope your life will never end
We hope your life will never end
They say ...
The lyrics to Genesis's song "Am I Very Wrong?" explore themes of conformity, fear, isolation, and the desire for authenticity. The songwriter questions whether it is wrong to hide behind a facade of an open-mindedness that is not genuine or to be afraid of confronting the truth. He wonders whether it is wrong to shut out the noise around him and try to find his own song to sing, while the "happiness machine" tries to force its own tune upon him. The song speaks of an existential anxiety that comes with trying to fit into a society that demands adherence to certain norms and expectations.
At its core, the song is about the struggle for individuality in a conformist culture that values conformity over authentic expression. The singer asks questions that resonate with anyone who has ever felt trapped or confined by social and cultural expectations. He seems to be asking whether it is possible to find a way to just be yourself, to shake off the shackles of conformity, and to live an authentic life.
Overall, "Am I Very Wrong?" is a reflection on the human condition and the struggle to find meaning in a world that often prizes conformity and inauthenticity over individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I very wrong
Questioning if my actions or thoughts are morally incorrect
To hide behind the glare of an open minded stare
To conceal my true self and intentions behind a facade of open-mindedness
To wander in the fear of a never ending lie
To have a constant fear and uncertainty about the truth
To try to close my ears to the sound they play so loud
To attempt to ignore or block out the opinions and beliefs of others
The happiness machine is trying hard to sing my song
The pressure to conform to society's expectations and be 'happy' is overwhelming
Today's your birthday friend
Everything all right
Let us our greetings to you send
Happy friend
Everything all right
We hope your life will never end
A birthday wish for a friend, expressing hopes for everlasting life and happiness
To want to steal a pin then I'll check that I have skin
Expressing a desire to do something small and meaningless just to feel real and alive
To want to leave my friends and the curse of the happiness machine
Desiring to break free from societal pressures and the false sense of happiness it brings
They say ...
Unfinished thought, leading the listener to contemplate and question societal norms and expectations
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANTHONY BANKS, ANTHONY EDWIN PHILLIPS, MICHAEL RUTHERFORD, PETER GABRIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
indy_go_blue60
Am I Very Wrong?
Am I very wrong
To hide behind the glare of an open minded stare?
Am I very wrong
To wander in the fear of a never ending lie
Am I very wrong
To try to close my ears to the sound they play so loud?
Am I very wrong
The happiness machine is trying hard to sing my song
Today's your birthday friend
Everything all right
Let us our greetings to you send
Happy friend
Everything all right
We hope your life will never end
Am I very wrong
To want to steal a pin then I'll check that I have skin?
Am I very wrong
To want to leave my friends and the curse of the happiness machine?
Today's your birthday friend
Everything all right
Let us our greetings to you send
Happy friend
Everything all right
We hope your life will never end
Rodolfo Lauri
AM I VERY WRONG? (Mi sbaglio molto?)
Mi sbaglio molto
nel nascondermi dietro al bagliore di uno sguardo penetrante?
Mi sbaglio molto a stupirmi spaventato da una menzogna che non ha mai termine
Mi sbaglio molto
nel cercare di chiudere le mie orecchie al rumore che essi fanno così forte?
Mi sbaglio molto
la macchina della felicità si sta sforzando di cantare la mia canzone
Oggi è il tuo compleanno, amico,
va tutto bene lascia che ti facciamo i nostri auguri,
amico felice,
va tutto bene,
noi ci auguriamo che tua vita non finisca mai.
Mi sbaglio molto
nel desiderare di rubare uno spillo per controllare di avere una pelle?
Mi sbaglio molto
nel desiderare di lasciare i miei amici ed abbandonare il percorso
della macchina della felicità?
Oggi è il tuo compleanno, amico,
va tutto bene lascia che ti facciamo i nostri auguri,
amico felice,
va tutto bene,
noi ci auguriamo che tua vita non finisca mai
John McCormick
This is one of my favorite songs by Genesis. Peter Gabriel sang it so well at such a young age, and I love the piano in the song along with the french horn. Very well put together.
v-town1980
So damn good. Not bad for a group of teens. Underrated album.
Jc Lap
you are so right it is like pink floyd with the piper at the gate of down
Jameson Jones 193
yes
indy_go_blue60
Am I Very Wrong?
Am I very wrong
To hide behind the glare of an open minded stare?
Am I very wrong
To wander in the fear of a never ending lie
Am I very wrong
To try to close my ears to the sound they play so loud?
Am I very wrong
The happiness machine is trying hard to sing my song
Today's your birthday friend
Everything all right
Let us our greetings to you send
Happy friend
Everything all right
We hope your life will never end
Am I very wrong
To want to steal a pin then I'll check that I have skin?
Am I very wrong
To want to leave my friends and the curse of the happiness machine?
Today's your birthday friend
Everything all right
Let us our greetings to you send
Happy friend
Everything all right
We hope your life will never end
Mary Abs
phenomenal album...raw talent getting ready to....the rest is history.
malawri67
The early Genesis (pre Collins) was greatly underrated.
michael greene
Why?? half of the songs on this album feature the same piano intros and pieces. This song is different with the french horn. But all the rest are the same drivel.
oilingup
@michael greene try Trespass ;)
Mark Harwood
@oilingup He would probably have something unperceptive to say about that too.