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.
Who Dunnit?
Genesis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Who dunnit?
I didn't, I, I didn't do it...
Oh but we know, we know, we know...
So was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it you or was it me?
Who dunnit?
I, I, I didn't, I didn't do it...
But we know, we know, we know...
Yeah we don`t know, we don`t know, we don`t know...
We all know, we all know, we all know...
The song "Who Dunnit?" by Genesis is a mysterious and suspenseful track that poses the question of who committed a crime without providing any clear answers. The lyrics are a series of questions, asking whether it was the singer, the listener, or someone else who may have committed the unknown offense. The chorus, which repeats the question "Who dunnit?", conveys a sense of urgency and confusion, as if everyone is trying to figure out who is responsible.
The song is structured like a detective story, with clues and suspects being presented without any conclusive evidence. The lack of a clear answer adds to the sense of tension and uncertainty, leaving the listener wondering what has happened and who is to blame. The repeated refrain of "I didn't do it" also adds to the suspicion, as if everyone is trying to exonerate themselves before being accused.
Overall, "Who Dunnit?" is a clever and intriguing song that uses a simple concept to create a compelling narrative. By leaving the crime and culprit ambiguous, the song invites the listener to use their imagination and try to solve the mystery themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Was it you or was it me?
Asking about who is responsible for an incident or issue, possibly indicating a shared blame.
Or was it he or she?
Suggesting that someone else might be responsible, uninvolved or having nothing to do with the issue.
Was it A or was it be?
Listing some possibilities or options for who might be responsible, showing uncertainty or confusion about how to identify the culprit.
Or was it X or Z?
Adding more options or alternatives to the list, demonstrating a lack of clarity or evidence to narrow down the choices.
Who dunnit?
Asking directly and emphatically about who is guilty or liable, expecting an answer or a confession.
I didn't, I, I didn't do it...
Denying any responsibility or involvement, possibly indicating a perceived injustice or an attempt to avoid punishment.
Oh but we know, we know, we know...
Repeating an assertion or a claim that contradicts the previous denial, suggesting that there is evidence or suspicion against the person speaking.
So was it you or was it me?
Restating the central question, perhaps implying that the previous answer was not satisfactory or credible.
Yeah we don't know, we don't know, we don't know...
Admitting ignorance or uncertainty, acknowledging the difficulty of assigning blame or proving guilt.
We all know, we all know, we all know...
Contrasting the previous statement by claiming that there is a shared understanding or agreement about who is responsible, possibly hinting at a shared guilt or a conspiracy.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Anthony George Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Lyrics to this iconic track: 🔥
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Who dunnit?
I didn't, I, I didn't do it...
Oh but we know, we know, we know...
So was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it A or was it be ?
Or was it X or Z?
Was it you or was it me?
Or was it he or she?
Was it you or was it me?
Who dunnit?
I, I, I didn't, I didn't do it...
But we know, we know, we know...
Yeah we don`t know, we don`t know, we don`t know...
We all know, we all know, we all know...
The Rockingbird .
As a new Genesis fan, I had no idea this song was hated. I love it. It's so freaking goofy and weird. Obviously the band was just messing around with this song. I love whenever Phil puts on a cockney British accent. He did the same on Hello, I Must Be Going on one track and it was awesome and hilarious.
P S
Like China, it's a great song. I love that accent too. This is the part where he does it most:
Your mom and dad don't like me and they tell me every time I call around to see you,
I don't know why 'cause I always straighten my tie and comb my hair,
I know your brother thinks that I'm a limp-wristed wimp from the other side of town,
I know he's got me wrong because I'm really not like that I'll tell you why
There are no rhymes in that song and it works and I love it.
As a new Genesis fan, you're in for a treat. I've been a fan for 30 years (since I was 10) and I'm still discovering stuff I've never heard. I really like "You Might Recall", it's a hidden gem from the Abacab sessions (c.1980), the drums are incredible and his vocals are at the top of his game. "Who Dunnit?" actually replaced it on the final album. "Evidence of Autumn" is another one, a Banks masterpiece from the same era.
Have fun discovering it all!
Christian Heaford
Agreed! This song gets too much hate. Some people complain that Genesis can take themselves too seriously, but this song proves otherwise.
kombarris
it's ahh
Alianger
As a (hobby, mostly) musician it feels like a song you get out of your system while jamming so you can focus on the good stuff
Maria Schatz
Always loved this song. Been a fan of Genesis & Phil Collins since 1982..I am the type that would listen to it over & over again.
T Dog
This song is awesome! One of my favorites. Genesis is having fun and putting their fans on notice. It’s time to put the past behind and move in a new and different musical direction.
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Such an iconic track, really "unique". Amazes me how Genesis' would come up with tracks like these, but they truly are a one of a kind. Legends forever, with a never ending legacy. Congrats on the 300k milestone on YouTube, All the best legends! This couldn't have been premiering any other better day, then my country's national day 🇵🇹
Long Live Legends!
💙😂
Anne-Marie Bridoux
Salut le 10 juin est la fête nationale du Portugal ! Bonne fête 🥳 et Vive le Portugal ! 🇵🇹 🙂👋❣🇧🇪
Sté
@Anne-Marie Bridoux Et bonne fête à Justin aussi, d'ailleurs ! 🐷🥓🏅