1. Genesis formed in 1967 in Go… Read Full Bio ↴There are three bands named Genesis.
1. Genesis formed in 1967 in Godalming, Surrey (United Kingdom) and was one of the most popular progressive rock bands in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. During the 1970s, Peter Gabriel was the lead singer until his departure, when drummer Phil Collins stepped up to the mic and replaced him.
Starting as an amalgam of two bands formed by schoolboys attending Charterhouse School in Godalming, England, the original lineup consisted of Peter Gabriel, Anthony Phillips, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Chris Stewart, though Stewart was soon replaced as drummer by John Silver and then John Mayhew. By the end of 1970, Phillips and Mayhew had left the band, with Collins joining as drummer, and by early 1971, guitarist Steve Hackett had filled the gap left by Phillips. The lineup of Gabriel, Banks, Hackett, Rutherford, and Collins remained in place until Gabriel's departure in 1975.
During the period of 1970-1975, the band produced some of the most widely-acclaimed albums of the progressive rock era, including "Nursery Cryme", "Foxtrot" (featuring the side-long epic "Supper's Ready") and the seminal album "Selling England by the Pound", which generated Genesis' first foray into the charts with "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)". This lineup culminated with the band's magnum opus "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" in 1974. Following the tour promoting the album, frontman Peter Gabriel left the group in mid 1975.
Genesis decided to continue on as a four-piece, producing two albums, "A Trick of the Tail" and "Wind & Wuthering", which found the band proving to themselves and to the world that they could move on after Gabriel's departure. Collins stepped up to fill the role of lead vocalist after countless auditions for a new singer proved fruitless by the completion of recording for "A Trick of the Tail". Hackett quietly departed after the "Wind & Wuthering" tour in 1977, feeling that his creative input for the band was being repressed.
In 1978, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford contributed music to a British movie called "The Shout" based on a short story by Robert Graves, directed by Jerzy Skomilowski and produced by Jeremy Thomas. (More credits and info here http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078259/combined)
Genesis then became a trio which began to move away from the dying embers of progressive rock. They established themselves as a more commercially-friendly outfit with the release of their 1978 album "...And Then There Were Three...", finding their first US hit with the single "Follow You Follow Me".
Banks, Rutherford, and Collins became more adept at writing radio-friendly songs in the 1980s. This reached a peak with the release of 1986's "Invisible Touch", in which more than half of the album's eight songs made it to the singles chart, including the title track, "Land of Confusion" and "In Too Deep". All three band members produced solo albums during Genesis' downtime in the 80s and 90s - most notably Collins' increasingly successful solo work, and Rutherford's sideline group "Mike and the Mechanics" which found moderate success - with evolving styles reflected both when going solo and when recording together as Genesis.
Collins left the group in 1996, and was replaced vocally by Ray Wilson, the former lead singer of Scottish band "Stiltskin". Israeli born drummer Nir Zidkyahu and "Spock's Beard" drummer Nick D'Virgilio stepped in to fill the drumming role. Their 1997 album "Calling All Stations" was unable to find worldwide success, and despite scoring a minor U.K. hit with "Congo", the group slowly faded out of public consciousness. In 1998, after the "Calling All Stations" tour (the US leg of which was cut short due to poor album sales), Wilson was released from the band, and Zidkyahu and D'Virgilio, having never been "official" band members, went their separate ways. The band, now down to only Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, took a break from performing and recording.
In 1999 Banks, Rutherford, Collins, Gabriel, and Hackett collaborated to re-record "The Carpet Crawlers" for greatest hits compilation "Turn It on Again: The Hits".
During the latter part of 2005, rumors spread that the band would reform again in its most famous five-man configuration. Genesis management stated that there were no current plans at that time, and that nothing would change in the following twelve months. Phil Collins then said in a radio interview in April 2006 that the classic Genesis line-up was considering a new live-staging of "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", but it was not to be. On 7th November 2006, Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford announced they would be doing a twenty-date tour of Europe in the summer of 2007, with a North American tour to follow.
A Live DVD of the final European concert in Rome, where the band performed free for 500,000 fans, was released May 26th 2008: "When In Rome - Live 2007".
In April of 2011, Phil Collins, after completing a reunion tour with Genesis, said in a newspaper interview that he has no plans to tour or make another album, effectively retiring after over 40 years in the music business.
Official website: www.genesis-music.com
2. In 1967-8, there was an American band that was also named Genesis. It was a psychedelic rock group based in Los Angeles which released one album In the Beginning in 1968. The name conflict was known to the record label of UK Genesis, which is why their debut album From Genesis to Revelation coyly omitted the band's name except in the album title. While both bands suffered poor sales for their debuts, the US band broke up in late 1968 not long after one of their members was drafted into the army. This more or less ended any significant confusion except in situations like Last.fm or lazy Googling.
3. A Colombian group called Génesis also exists. If you are scrobbling songs by that group and have ended up on this page, please fix your tags to Génesis with the first "e" accented.
Ripples…
Genesis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some are wise and some otherwise
They got pretty blue eyes
For an hour a man may change
For an hour her face looks strange
Looks strange, looks strange
Marching to the promised land
Pulls you down on your knees
While you're down a pool appears
The face in the water looks up
And she shakes her head as if to say
That it's the last time you'll look like today
Sail away, away
Ripples never come back
Gone to the other side
Sail away, sail away
The face that launched a thousand ships
Is sinking fast, that happens you know
The water gets below
Seems not very long ago
Lovelier she was than any that I know
Angels never know it's time
To close the book and gracefully decline
The song has found a tale
My, what a jealous pool she is
The face in the water looks up
She shakes her head as if to say
That the blue girls have all gone away
Sail away, away
Ripples never come back
They've gone to the other side
Look into the pool
Ripples never come back
Dive to the bottom and go to the top
To see where they have gone
Oh, they've gone to the other side
"Ripples" is a song that speaks to the fleeting nature of beauty and the inevitability of change. The blue girls in the opening lines of the song refer to the different kinds of women that a man may encounter, some wise and some not. Their pretty blue eyes are significant because they are an outward symbol of their beauty, which can be taken away from them in an instant as the subject of the song reflects. The idea of change is reinforced in the second verse as the lyrics describe a journey to the promised land, where the water of a pool has a transformative effect on the beholder. The face in the water serves as a mirror that reflects just how much time has passed and how much has been lost. The final verse of the song speaks to loss and impending endings, as the song alludes to the face that launched a thousand ships sinking fast.
The central theme of "Ripples" is loss and change, as Phill Collins reflects on the nature of beauty and how it can be fleeting. The water in the pool is significant as it serves as a symbol of time and change, washing away beauty and taking it to the other side where it cannot be retrieved. The song is a meditation on mortality and how nothing can remain the same forever - even the most beautiful things must succumb to the inexorable passage of time. The lyrics also touch on the idea of jealousy and envy, as the pool is described as being jealous in the final verse, perhaps because it is the eternal witness to the fading beauty of the blue girls and the passing of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue girls come in every size
Women come in all shapes and sizes.
Some are wise and some otherwise
Some women are intelligent and others aren't.
They got pretty blue eyes
Women are beautiful in their own unique way.
For an hour a man may change
A man's perspective can change rapidly and unpredictably.
For an hour her face looks strange
A woman's facial expressions can change a man's perception of her.
Looks strange, looks strange
Repeated reminder of how the woman's unexpected behavior is jarring.
Marching to the promised land
People are pursuing their dreams and desires.
Where the honey flows and takes you by the hand
The allure of success and happiness seems irresistible.
Pulls you down on your knees
Success and happiness can humble and overwhelm you with emotion.
While you're down a pool appears
In moments of reflection, people often see themselves clearly.
The face in the water looks up
Looking at oneself in the mirror can provide insight.
And she shakes her head as if to say
People often realize they should have made different choices.
That it's the last time you'll look like today
The present moment is fleeting and can never be regained.
Sail away, away
Escape the mundane routine and explore new possibilities.
Ripples never come back
The effects of one's choices cannot be undone.
Gone to the other side
The consequences of one's actions are permanent.
The face that launched a thousand ships
A beautiful woman can inspire great passion and desire.
Is sinking fast, that happens you know
Even the most powerful forces can be fragile and fleeting.
The water gets below
Even powerful entities can fall from grace.
Seems not very long ago
Time passes quickly, and what was once powerful can become insignificant.
Lovelier she was than any that I know
The beauty of the woman is unmatched and is mourned.
Angels never know it's time
Death is unexpected and can come at any time.
To close the book and gracefully decline
Death is often the end of a person's story, and acceptance is necessary.
The song has found a tale
This song tells a story about the fleeting nature of life and beauty.
My, what a jealous pool she is
The water in the pool is envious of the living.
The face in the water looks up
The reflection in the pool is a reminder of one's mortality.
She shakes her head as if to say
The reflection in the pool acknowledges the inevitability of death.
That the blue girls have all gone away
The beauty and allure of youth cannot last forever and will fade with time.
Look into the pool
Reflect on your own mortality and the fleeting nature of life.
Dive to the bottom and go to the top
Explore every bit of life and its possibilities before it's too late.
To see where they have gone
To understand the consequences of one's choices and actions.
Oh, they've gone to the other side
The effects of one's choices and actions are permanent, and cannot be undone.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Anthony George Banks, Mike Rutherford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rogerio Nuno Correia
dont u think it as got to do with Peter Gabriel getting out of the Band? im 56.... just a thought...
Rafael Luiz
Bluegirls come in every size
Some are wise and some otherwise
They got pretty blue eyes
For an hour a man may change
For an hour her face looks strange
Looks strange, looks strange
Marching to the promised land
Where the honey flows and takes you by the hand
Pulls you down on your knees
While you're down a pool appears
The face in the water looks up
And she shakes her head as if to say
That it's the last time you'll look like today
Sail away, away
Ripples never come back
Gone to the other side
Sail away, away
The face that launched a thousand ships
Is sinking fast, that happens you know
The water gets below
Seems not very long ago
Lovelier she was than any that I know
Angels never know it's time
To close the book and gracefully decline
The song has found a tale
My, what a jealous pool is she
The face in the water looks up
She shakes her head as if to say
That the bluegirls have all gone away
Sail away, away
Ripples never come back
They've gone to the other side
Look into the pool
Ripples never come back
Dive to the bottom and go to the top
To see where they have gone
Oh, they've gone to the other side
Sail away, away
Ripples never come back
Gone to the other side
Look into the pool
The ripples never come back, come back
Dive to the bottom and go to the top
To see where they have gone
They've gone to the other side
Ripples never come back
Sail away, away
Héctor J. Díaz
I am 62 years old. But when I listen to this Genesis album, I'm 16 again. The music of Genesis is my time machine.
42moptop
I totally agree with you!!! 61 years old returns to my teens listening to Genesis!!!!
Progpuss
Same here , am sat here gliding into a dream , stunning song I’m 61
Absolutely Positively
I was 20 when my ears heard these guys for the first time. And it was this album. I’m pushing 64 and have traveled into many musical dimensions, and just yesterday something was telling me not to forget TOTT. I pulled it out after more than 20 years of not one listen.
I’m SOOOO glad I did. It’s like coming home after decades to old familiar friends family and place. Just with grey hair and more life experience. Ripples baby.
AkumaAPN
I am 38 years old. But when I listen to this Genesis album, I'm 13 again. This, and "And Then There Were Three." Instant happy memories of my brothers and dad listening to this great music every morning on the way to school.
Franklin J
The Gift 🎁 🎶 that Keeps Giving!
Robert Edge
The duet between Steve and Tony is sublime and Phil sings his finest vocals ever!
Bill ` Vetter
I first discovered Genesis in 1984, and once I started going back through their anthology of music, I found this gem and fell in love with it. Every song on the album is exquisite...
Alison Smith
I am 68,this still gives me goosebumps,so beautiful.