Firth of Fifth
Genesis Lyrics
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Though no eyes can see
The course laid down long before
And so with gods and men
The sheep remain inside their pen
Though many times they've seen the way to leave
He rides majestic
Who care not or gaze with joy
To see reflected there
The trees, the sky, the lily fair
The scene of death is lying just below
The mountain cuts off the town from view
Like a cancer growth is removed by skill
Let it be revealed
A waterfall, his madrigal
An inland sea, his symphony
Undinal songs
Urge the sailors on
'Til lured by the sirens' cry
Now as the river dissolves in sea
So Neptune has claimed another soul
And so with gods and men
The sheep remain inside their pen
Until the shepherd leads his flock away
The sands of time were eroded by
The river of constant change
The lyrics of Genesis's song Firth of Fifth are both ambiguous and multi-layered, making it subject to many interpretations. However, one of the most common interpretations is that the song is about the human tendency to follow established rules and paths, even if deep down we know it's not the right thing to do. The lyrics might suggest that a guiding force beyond our understanding has already set out our destiny, and we are simply following a script. The line "The path is clear though no eyes can see" could refer to our intuition telling us what we should be doing but not seeing the big picture.
Even though we can break out of the mold, as indicated in the line: "Though many times they've seen the way to leave," as a human race from Gods to men, we stay complacent in our comfort zones of the pen, represented by the line "The sheep remain inside their pen." Our leaders, religious or secular, are no different than us and are just as much a part of this predefined order. Although the signs are all around us, we choose to remain inside our pens.
The song takes a turn, and it turns to a metaphorical description of a natural landscape, which presents a stark contrast to the man-made constructions of the town. The majestic ride past the homes and lilies fair are a respite from the mechanical world. The singer knows what he must do, but the scene of death awaits him, and he can't ignore it.
Line by Line Meaning
The path is clear
The way forward is evident
Though no eyes can see
Although it may not be visible
The course laid down long before
The direction was predetermined
And so with gods and men
All creatures great and small
The sheep remain inside their pen
The masses stay confined
Though many times they've seen the way to leave
Despite repeated chances to escape
He rides majestic
Splendidly mounted on his steed
Past homes of men
Towns and villages he passes by
Who care not or gaze with joy
Uninterested in his regal presence
To see reflected there
In the water's shimmering surface
The trees, the sky, the lily fair
The natural beauty of the surroundings
The scene of death is lying just below
The potential danger beneath the surface
The mountain cuts off the town from view
The barrier obstructs the vista
Like a cancer growth is removed by skill
Acting decisively to avert disaster
Let it be revealed
The truth should come to light
A waterfall, his madrigal
The cascading water as a form of music
An inland sea, his symphony
The expansive body of water akin to an orchestral work
Undinal songs
The mystical melodies of the water spirits
Urge the sailors on
Encouraging the seafarers forward
'Til lured by the sirens' cry
Tricked by the alluring but treacherous allure of the feminine spirits
Now as the river dissolves in sea
At the confluence where water meets water
So Neptune has claimed another soul
One more life lost to the water deity
The sands of time were eroded by
The passage of time when viewed as a natural phenomenon
The river of constant change
The perpetual flow of life and all its transformations
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Anthony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@-EndlessHorizon
The path is clear
Though no eyes can see
The course laid down long before
And so with gods and men
The sheep remain inside their pen
Though many times they've seen the way to leave
He rides majestic
Past homes of men
Who care not or gaze with joy
To see reflected there
The trees, the sky, the lily fair
The scene of death is lying just below
The mountain cuts off the town from view
Like a cancer growth is removed by skill
Let it be revealed
A waterfall, his madrigal
An inland sea, his symphony
Undinal songs
Urge the sailors on
'Til lured by the sirens' cry
Now as the river dissolves in sea
So Neptune has claimed another soul
And so with gods and men
The sheep remain inside their pen
Until the shepherd leads his flock away
The sands of time were eroded by
The river of constant change
@RealtorCardozo
It should be a crime to place an ad in the middle of this song.
@801GMC
install an adblocker friend
@dariodiiasio6786
This and many others
@robertmiller1655
Yeah, but then I used to say the same during the original Star Trek.
@williamlaporte3647
This literally ruins this part of the song
@bensimon6267
Yea I know
@paselli5093
The best progessive rock song ever composed. Tony's intro is amazing. I downloaded the keybord notes and my 20 year old daughter played it on her piano. I nearly cried.
@carolball5764
Aww that's so sweet.
@michaelgiordani3967
Thats Echoes from PF or Islands from KC
@sauloherrera1717
@@michaelgiordani3967 Fuck or Supper's Ready of Genesis, that song makes me cry bro