Genesis

Released: November 12, 1971

Songwriter: Peter Gabriel Phil Collins Tony Banks Mike Rutherford Steve Hackett

Producer: John Anthony

From a dense forest of tall, dark, pinewood
Mount Ida rises like an island
Within a hidden cave, nymphs had kept a child;
Hermaphroditus, son of gods, so afraid of their love

As the dawn creeps up the sky
The hunter caught sight of a doe
In desire for conquest
He found himself within a glade he'd not beheld before

Hermaphroditus:
"Where are you my father
Give wisdom to your son"

(Narrator:
"Then he could go no further
Now lost, The boy was guided by the sun")

And as his strength began to fail
He saw a shimmering lake
A shadow in the dark green depths
Disturbed the strange tranquility

Salmacis:
"The waters are disturbed
Some creature has been stirred"

(Narrator:
"The waters are disturbed
The naiad queen Salmacis has been stirred")

As he rushed to quench his thirst
A fountain spring appeared before him
And as his heated breath brushed through the cool mist
A liquid voice called, "Son of gods, drink from my spring"

The water tasted strangely sweet
Behind him the voice called again
He turned and saw her, in a cloak of mist alone
And as he gazed, her eyes were filled with the darkness of the lake

Salmacis:
"We shall be one
We shall be joined as one"

(Narrator:
"She wanted them as one
Yet he had no desire to be one")

Hermaphroditus: "Away from me cold-blooded woman
Your thirst is not mine"
Salmacis: "Nothing will cause us to part
Hear me O Gods"

Unearthly calm descended from the sky
And then their flesh and bones were strangely merged
Forever to be joined as one

The creature crawled into the lake
A fading voice was heard:
"And I beg, that all who touch this spring
May share my fate"

Salmacis:
"We are the one
We are the one"

(Narrator:
"The two are now made one
Demi-god and nymph are now made one")

Both had given everything they had
A lover's dream had been fulfilled at last
Forever still beneath the lake

Genesis are an English rock band formed at Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey in 1967. The most commercially successful line-up includes keyboardist Tony Banks, guitarist Mike Rutherford and drummer/singer Phil Collins. Other important members were singer Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett. The band underwent several significant changes in musical style over its career, from folk music to progressive rock in the 1970s, before moving towards pop at the end of the decade.

Formed by five Charterhouse pupils including Banks, Rutherford, Gabriel and Anthony Phillips, Genesis was named by former pupil Jonathan King who arranged them to record several unsuccessful singles and an album. After splitting with King, the group began touring professionally, signing with Charisma Records. Following the departure of Phillips, Genesis recruited Collins and Hackett and recorded several progressive rock style albums, with live shows centred around Gabriel’s theatrical costumes and performances.

Their discography includes fifteen studio and six live albums, six of which topped the UK chart. They have won numerous awards and nominations, including a Grammy Award for Best Concept Music Video with “Land of Confusion” and inspired a number of tribute bands recreating Genesis shows from various stages of the band’s career. In 2010, Genesis were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their biggest hit to date is Invisible Touch which spent 3 consecutive weeks at #1.

more tracks from the album

Nursery Cryme

From the album

Nursery Cryme (1971)

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The Fountain of SalmacisGenesis

Genesis

Nursery Cryme