Genesis

Released: October 13, 1973

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

Producer: Genesis John Burns

[Intro]
"Can you tell me where my country lies?"
Said the unifaun to his true love's eyes
"It lies with me!" cried the Queen of Maybe
For her merchandise, he traded in his prize

[Verse 1]
"Paper late!" cried a voice in the crowd
"Old man dies!" The note he left was signed 'Old Father Thames'
It seems he's drowned
Selling England by the pound

[Verse 2]
Citizens of Hope and Glory
Time goes by, it's the time of your life
Easy now, sit you down
Chewing through your Wimpy dreams
They eat without a sound
Digesting England by the pound

[Verse 3]
Young man says "you are what you eat," eat well
Old man says "you are what you wear," wear well
You know what you are, you don't give a damn
Bursting your belt that is your homemade sham

[Chorus]
The Captain leads his dance right on through the night
Join the dance

[Bridge]
Follow on 'til the Grail sun sets in the mould
Follow on 'til the gold is cold
Dancing out with the moonlit knight
Knights of the Green Shield stamp and shout

[Instrumental

[Verse 4]
There's a fat old lady outside the saloon
Laying out the credit cards she plays Fortune
The deck is uneven right from the start
And all of their hands are playing apart

[Chorus]
The Captain leads his dance right on through the night
Join the dance

[Outro]
Follow on, a Round Table-talking down we go
You're the show, off we go with
You play the hobbyhorse
I'll play the fool
We'll tease the bull
Ringing round diddle loud, loud diddle round
Follow on with a twist of the world we go
Follow on 'til the gold is cold
Dancing out with the moonlit knight
Knights of the Green Shield stamp and shout

{Instrumental]

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

Selling England by the Pound

From the albums

Selling England by the Pound (1973)
The Best Prog Rock Album In The World...Ever! (2003)

Genesis popular songs

Dancing with the Moonlit KnightGenesis

Genesis

Selling England by the Pound