Inside And Out
Genesis Lyrics


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Brother Seems they're letting him out next year
He's behaving himself, I hear
Governor Conway says it will be fine
Just as long as he can tow the line

It's the same old story
But it says here "Mum you're not to worry"
'Cos some you lose and some you lose

At this party, he was on his own
All he did was say he'd take her home
But it seems they didn't go straight there
'cos on the porch, she told him,
"put your hand here"

Yes it's that same old story
They told her mum she's not to worry

Police "If what she says is so,
we'll never let him go!"

Him "Never a word could be heard
Not even the sound of a bird
Singing it over again, telling a different story
Never the same as before
See the summer going out by the door"
Brother And now that you've paid for those lies
Get another disguise

"It's twenty years now since our Kid came free
Oh I remember August '53
But it wasn't quite like they said
With that behind you, you can't plan ahead
Yes it's the same old story
They say you're free, but don't worry
What they said's not so
They'll never let you go!"

Him "Never a word could be heard
Not even the sound of a bird
Singing it over again, telling a different story
Never the same as before
See the summer going out by the door"




Brother And now that you've paid for those lies
Get another disguise

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Genesis's song "Inside and Out" are open to interpretation, but they seem to tell a story of a man who is about to be released from prison under the condition that he behaves. However, the community is still suspicious of him, and when he is at a party, he is alone when he offers to take a woman home. They never go there immediately, and on the porch, the woman places the man's hand on her. The police are called, and he is arrested again.


The lyrics suggest that the man has been in prison before, and the reference to "our kid" being freed in August '53 suggests that there is a family dynamic at work here. It seems he has been falsely accused, and he is stuck in a cycle of being arrested and then released, only to be arrested again. The chorus repeats that it is the same old story, and they are telling his mother not to worry.


The song is ambiguous, and some interpretations suggest that the lyrics are about a sexual assault, while others suggest that it is a political commentary about government power and control. The melody and arrangement of the song add mystery to the lyrics, and the haunting guitar riff further emphasizes the eeriness of the song's message.


Line by Line Meaning

Brother Seems they're letting him out next year
The singer's brother is going to be released from prison soon.


He's behaving himself, I hear Governor Conway says it will be fine Just as long as he can tow the line
The singer has heard that his brother has been behaving while in prison and the governor is okay with releasing him if he follows the rules.


It's the same old story But it says here "Mum you're not to worry" 'Cos some you lose and some you lose
The singer is tired of hearing the same story over and over again about people getting in trouble with the law. The singer's mother has been told not to worry, but the singer believes that sometimes people are not so lucky and still lose despite trying to follow the rules.


At this party, he was on his own All he did was say he'd take her home But it seems they didn't go straight there 'cos on the porch, she told him,"put your hand here"
The brother got in trouble for being alone with a woman and engaging in inappropriate behavior on the porch instead of taking her straight home.


Yes it's that same old story They told her mum she's not to worry Police "If what she says is so, we'll never let him go!"
The artist is frustrated that this incident is just like so many others, but the police are taking it seriously this time and may not let his brother go if the woman's story is true.


Him "Never a word could be heard Not even the sound of a bird Singing it over again, telling a different story Never the same as before See the summer going out by the door" Brother And now that you've paid for those lies Get another disguise
The brother was not able to talk or explain his side of the story, and the singer warns him to change his ways and not to lie anymore as he's already paid for it. The singer also reflects on the end of the summer and the passing of time.


"It's twenty years now since our Kid came free Oh I remember August '53 But it wasn't quite like they said With that behind you, you can't plan ahead Yes it's the same old story They say you're free, but don't worry What they said's not so They'll never let you go!"
The singer reflects on when their sibling was last released from prison twenty years ago, and how things didn't go exactly as planned. The singer is cautious and doesn't believe that the release is truly the end for the brother and that he will always be kept under scrutiny.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michael Rutherford, Phil Collins, Steven Hackett, Tony Banks

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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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...

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