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.
Undertow
Genesis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now the fire warms the room
Meanwhile outside
Wind from the north-east chills the air
It will soon be snowing out there
And some there are
Cold, they prepare for a sleepless night
But we're safe in each other's embrace
All fears go as I look on your face
Better think awhile
Or I may never think again
If this were the last day of your life, m friend
Tell me, what do you think you would do then?
Stand up to the blow that fate has struck upon you
Make the most of all you still have coming to you
Lay down on the ground and let the tears run from you
Crying to the grass and trees and heaven finally on your knees
Let me live again, let life come find me wanting
Spring must strike again against the shield of winter
Let me feel once more the arms of love surround me
Telling me the danger's past, I need not fear the icy blast again
Laughter and music and perfume linger here
And there, and there
Wine flows from flask to glass and mouth
As it soothes, confusing our doubts
And soon we feel
Why do a single thing today
There's tomorrow sure as I'm here
So the days they turn into years
And, still no tomorrow appears
Better think awhile, ...
The lyrics of Genesis’ song “Undertow” are a contemplation on mortality and the preciousness of life. The opening lines describe a cozy scene, with the curtains drawn and the fire warming the room, while outside the wind is cold and it is about to snow. Some people are preparing for a sleepless night and possibly their last fight, while the singer finds comfort in the embrace of his loved one, where all fears vanish as he looks at their face.
The lyrics then take a dark turn, with the singer urging the listener to think about what they would do if this were the last day of their life. The chorus is a call to action, encouraging the listener to stand up to the challenges fate has thrown their way, make the most of what they still have, or even cry out to the grass and trees, but not to give up on life. The second verse then takes a more frivolous tone, with the singer describing a scene of laughter, music, and wine, tempting one to put off important commitments until tomorrow. The final lines serve as a warning that, if we allow ourselves to give in to procrastination, time will slip away before we know it, and we will have missed our chance to live life to the fullest.
Overall, “Undertow” is a powerful song that forces the listener to introspect and take stock of their priorities. It reminds us of the fragility of life and how we should not take it for granted. It encourages us to embrace love and to live every day as if it is our last.
Line by Line Meaning
The curtains are drawn
The curtains have been closed, and the room is now dark and private.
Now the fire warms the room
The fire is lit, and it is casting a warm glow throughout the room, providing comfort and light.
Meanwhile outside
At the same time, outside of this warm and cozy room, a different reality exists.
Wind from the north-east chills the air
A cold wind is blowing from the north-east and making the air feel colder than it actually is.
It will soon be snowing out there
The cold wind and chill in the air are a sign that snow is on its way soon.
And some there are
There are some people who are not as fortunate as those in the warm room.
Cold, they prepare for a sleepless night
These people are cold and shivering, and they are getting ready to spend a night without any rest or sleep.
Maybe this will be their last fight
These people are in a dire situation, and they might not survive this ordeal.
But we're safe in each other's embrace
The people in the warm room are safe and comforted by each other's presence and support.
All fears go as I look on your face
The presence of a loved one is a source of strength and courage, and it helps to dissipate all worries and anxieties.
Better think awhile
It is important to take some time to pause and reflect on the situation at hand.
Or I may never think again
If I do not take this moment to reflect, I might never have another chance to do so.
If this were the last day of your life, m friend
Imagine if today was your last day alive, my friend.
Tell me, what do you think you would do then?
What actions would you take, and what would be your priorities, if this was your last day on Earth?
Stand up to the blow that fate has struck upon you
Face the challenges and difficulties that life throws at you, and do not let them defeat you.
Make the most of all you still have coming to you
Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, and make the most of your remaining time.
Lay down on the ground and let the tears run from you
Allow yourself to feel and express your emotions, even if that means crying and letting out all the pain and sorrow.
Crying to the grass and trees and heaven finally on your knees
Lean on the natural world and the spiritual realm for support and solace during difficult times.
Let me live again, let life come find me wanting
Let me experience the joys of life again, and let me be eager and ready for whatever comes next.
Spring must strike again against the shield of winter
Life and renewal will always triumph over death and decay, just as spring overcomes winter.
Let me feel once more the arms of love surround me
Let me experience the warmth and comfort of love again, and let it envelop me completely.
Telling me the danger's past, I need not fear the icy blast again
Let love and comfort reassure me that the worst is over, and that I no longer need to be afraid or anxious about what might happen.
Laughter and music and perfume linger here
This place is full of joyous sounds and smells, such as laughter, music, and perfume.
And there, and there
These joyful sounds and smells are present throughout the space.
Wine flows from flask to glass and mouth
People are drinking wine, passing it around, and savouring its taste.
As it soothes, confusing our doubts
The wine has a calming effect and helps to ease our minds and make us forget our worries.
And soon we feel
As we drink more wine and get lost in the moment, we begin to feel...
Why do a single thing today
There is no reason to do anything today...
There's tomorrow sure as I'm here
...because we can always do it tomorrow, right?
So the days they turn into years
Time passes by quickly, and before we know it, the years have gone by.
And, still no tomorrow appears
Despite our plans to do things tomorrow, tomorrow never seems to actually arrive.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Anthony Banks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@augustblue5972
The curtains are drawn
Now the fire warms the room
Meanwhile outside
Wind from the north-east chills the air
It will soon be snowing out there
And some there are
Cold, they prepare for a sleepless night
Maybe this will be their last fight
But we're safe in each other's embrace
All fears go as I look on your face
Better think awhile
Or I may never think again
If this were the last day of your life, m friend
Tell me, what do you think you would do then?
Stand up to the blow that fate has struck upon you
Make the most of all you still have coming to you
Lay down on the ground and let the tears run from you
Crying to the grass and trees and heaven finally on your knees
Let me live again, let life come find me wanting
Spring must strike again against the shield of winter
Let me feel once more the arms of love surround me
Telling me the danger's past, I need not fear the icy blast again
Laughter and music and perfume linger here
And there, and there
Wine flows from flask to glass and mouth
As it soothes, confusing our doubts
And soon we feel
Why do a single thing today
There's tomorrow sure as I'm here
So the days they turn into years
And, still no tomorrow appears
Better think awhile, ...
@VinceHagenbeek
This song was played during my mother's funeral on April 11, 2023, when everybody came in.
She died aged 62 of leukemia on March 31, 2023.
@johannes2489
😇🙏🤝
@SJHUE
This song and the album it was from never received the recognition it deserved. Perhaps some fans could not accept and acknowledge that they could write such a brilliant song without Gabriel and Hackett? Who knows. What I do know is that for a ballad, the underlying power in this track is astonishing. One of the all time greats for me.
@jimoconnell9870
Couldn't agree more sjhue,this is my favourite album 'and then there were three 'and this is my favourite song, a piece of brilliance, I bought the vinyl 40 years ago this year, jim O'Connell
@dieteroetzel8071
Fortunately as for me it has my full recogniton . Couldn't love it more!!Listen to it for over 4 decades , since I was a student, again and again!
@joeblow2069
It's the power and beauty of Mr Tony Banks. Banks was the backbone of that band.
@garyball1587
I agree with you
@garyball1587
This song in a few songs from Styx which will never get there to say we are all there in the first place
@M_Dutch97
I will never understand why this album is seen as a lesser Genesis record. Imo this is one of their best albums and it's perfect for when you're sitting next to your fireplace enjoying a winter's night.
@matthewstroud4294
They have always been the most melodic and integrated of the "prog" bands. I find that many of the prog fans that prefer the more avant garde and scattered stuff, can't accept this era of the greatest of all the prog bands. They think it's "commercial" selling out, but really it's just more of the same, with Tony's classical music influences spilling out.