Released: October 13, 1973
Songwriter: Tony Banks Phil Collins Peter Gabriel Steve Hackett Mike Rutherford
Producer: John Burns Genesis
One of the best loved and most recognizable tunes of Gabriel-area Genesis, Firth of Fifth first appeared on 1973's "Selling England by the Pound". Written by keyboard player Tony Banks, it features a very elaborate piano intro and a lengthy instrumental middle piece consisting of a flute solo, a synth variation on the opening theme, and a "violinesque" guitar solo by Steve Hackett that recalls the flute bit. The song was featured on many of Genesis' subsequent tours, including 2007's reunion tour. Read more on Last.fm.
Length: 9:32
[Verse 1]
The path is clear
Though no eyes can see
The course laid down long before
And so with gods and men
The sheep remain inside their pen
Though many times they've seen the way to leave
[Verse 2]
He rides majestic
Past homes of men
Who care not or gaze with joy
To see reflected there
The trees, the sky, the lily fair
The scene of death is lying just below
[Bridge]
The mountain cuts off the town from view
Like a cancer growth is removed by skill
Let it be revealed
A waterfall, his madrigal
An inland sea, his symphony
Na na na na na
Na na
[Verse 3]
Undinal songs
Urge the sailors on
'Til lured by the sirens' cry
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Verse 4]
Now as the river dissolves in sea
So Neptune has claimed another soul
And so with gods and men
The sheep remain inside their pen
Until the shepherd leads his flock away
The sands of time were eroded by
The river of constant change
- Selling England by the Pound (1973)
- 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.