Predictive Rock

suede wrote: It would be quite interesting to hear the different interpretations that members of the forum may have of this mammoth of a prog rock classic. Seeing as it's probably on many a member's desert island list (and not merely for the economy of its length). Genesis have got some very cryptic lyrics in many of their songs but this has always felt rather straightforward to me as being about the perils of trusting in the words of state propaganda and organised religion - which has both all too often throughout history been fanning the flames of war while speaking beautifully of peace. Any other insights into the meaning of the lyrics I'd be happy to hear!

I used to have a tour programme (either Foxtrot or Selling England By The Pound, maybe both) with an insert containing a short explanation of the various parts of the song - something about two lovers & a series of religious-like experiences ending with apocalypse and finally Jerusalem. I don't try & understand or read too much into Suppers Ready - one of many hallucinogen inspired 60s-70s masterpieces.

At least the LSD-fuelled young people of that time were largely peaceful. Contrast that with today's violent and lawless young, and the political support which says they should be given the "space to destroy".

The same group - Genesis, performed one song regularly, which was about a future unthinkable violent event.

Quote - Wikipedia: "The song was unusually aggressive for Genesis at the time, as most of their work consisted of soft, pastoral acoustic textures and poetic lyrics."

Quote - Peter Gabriel: "The lyrics for The Knife were partly me being a public schoolboy rebelling against my background. I'd been heavily influenced by a book on Gandhi at school, and I think that was a part of the reason I became a vegetarian as well as coming to believe in non-violence, as a form of protest. And I wanted to try and show how all violent revolutions inevitably end up with a dictator in power."

Egged on by people like this?



And his mate who succeeded in politicizing music recently...

So here's another Genesis track for your delectation



Sorry if you don't like me pointing out the obvious.



Edited by Graham Slee - 15 Jul 2017 at 1:36am

Eve of Destruction