Released: December 17, 1976
Songwriter: Tony Banks
Producer: Genesis David Hentschel
Fifty thousand men were sent to do the will of one
His claim was phrased quite simply, though he never voiced it loud
I am he, the chosen one
In his name they could slaughter, for his name they could die
Though many there were believed in him, still more were sure he lied
But they'll fight the battle on
Then one whose faith had died
Fled back up the mountainside
But before the top was made
A misplaced footfall made him stray
From the path prepared for him
Off of the mountain
On to a wilderness of ice
This unexpected vision made them stand and shake with fear
But nothing was his fright compared with those who saw him appear
Terror filled their minds with awe
Simple were the folk who lived
Upon this frozen wave
So not surprising was their thought
This is he, God's chosen one
Who's come to save us from
All our oppressors
We shall be kings on this world
Follow me!
I'll play the game you want me
Until I find a way back home
Follow me!
I give you strength inside you
Courage to win your battles--
No, no, no, this can't go on
This will be all that I fled from
Let me rest for a while
He walked into a valley
All alone
There he talked with water, and then with the vine
They leave me no choice
I must lead them to glory or most likely to death
They travelled cross the plateau of ice, up to its edge
Then they crossed a mountain range and saw the final plain
Still he urged the people on
Then, on a distant slope
He observed one without hope
Flee back up the mountainside
He thought he recognised him by his walk
And by the way he fell
And by the way he
Stood up, and vanished into air
His claim was phrased quite simply, though he never voiced it loud
I am he, the chosen one
In his name they could slaughter, for his name they could die
Though many there were believed in him, still more were sure he lied
But they'll fight the battle on
Then one whose faith had died
Fled back up the mountainside
But before the top was made
A misplaced footfall made him stray
From the path prepared for him
Off of the mountain
On to a wilderness of ice
This unexpected vision made them stand and shake with fear
But nothing was his fright compared with those who saw him appear
Terror filled their minds with awe
Simple were the folk who lived
Upon this frozen wave
So not surprising was their thought
This is he, God's chosen one
Who's come to save us from
All our oppressors
We shall be kings on this world
Follow me!
I'll play the game you want me
Until I find a way back home
Follow me!
I give you strength inside you
Courage to win your battles--
No, no, no, this can't go on
This will be all that I fled from
Let me rest for a while
He walked into a valley
All alone
There he talked with water, and then with the vine
They leave me no choice
I must lead them to glory or most likely to death
They travelled cross the plateau of ice, up to its edge
Then they crossed a mountain range and saw the final plain
Still he urged the people on
Then, on a distant slope
He observed one without hope
Flee back up the mountainside
He thought he recognised him by his walk
And by the way he fell
And by the way he
Stood up, and vanished into air
more tracks from the album
From the album
- Wind and Wuthering (1976)
Genesis popular songs
- That’s All
- Land of Confusion
- Supper’s Ready
- Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
- I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
- Mama
- Invisible Touch
- I Can’t Dance
- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
- Carpet Crawlers
- Jesus He Knows Me
- Firth of Fifth
- In Too Deep
- Follow You Follow Me
- The Cinema Show
- In the Cage
- The Battle of Epping Forest
- Fly on a Windshield
- The Musical Box
- Ripples
- Watcher of the Skies
- No Son of Mine
- A Trick of the Tail
- Back in N.Y.C.