released in 1970
Tony Banks - Peter Gabriel - Mike Rutherford -
Steve Hackett - Phil Collins


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WATCHER OF THE SKIES (Banks/Gabriel/Rutherford/Hackett/Collins)
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Watcher of the skies watcher of all
He is a world alone no world is his own
he whom life can no longer surprise
Raising his eyes beholds a plante unknown

Creatures shaped this planet's soil
Now their reign has come to an end
Has life again destroyed life
Do they play elsewhere, or do they kno
more than their childhood games?
Maybe the lizard's shed its tail
This is the end of man's long union with Earth

Judge not this race by empty remains
Do you judge God by his creatures when they are dead?
For now, the lizard's shes it's tail
This is the end of many's long union with the Earth

From life alone to life as one
Think not your journey done
For though your ship be sturdy, no
Mercy has the sea
Will you survive on the ocean of being?
Come ancient children hear what I say
This is my parting council for you on your way

Sadly now your thoughts turn to the stars
Where we have gone you know you never can go
Watcher of the skies watcher of all
This is your fate alone, this fate is your own


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TIME TABLE (Banks/Gabriel/Rutherford/Hackett/Collins)
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A carved oak table
Tells a tale
Of times when kings and queen sipped wine from goblets gold
And the brave would lead their ladies from out of the room to
arbors
cool

A time of valor, and legend born
A time when honor meant more to a man than life
And the days knew only strife to tell right from wrong
Through lance and sword

Why, why can we never be sure till we die
Or have killed for an answer
Why, why do we suffer each race to believe
That no race has been grander?
It seems because through time and space
Though names may change each face retains the mask it wore

A dusty table
Musty smells
Tarnished silver lies discarded upon the floor
Only feeble light descends through a film of grey
That scars the panes
Gone the carving
And those who left their mark
Gone the kings and queens now only the ratsa hold sway
And the weak must die according to nature's law
As old as they


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GET 'EM OUT BY FRIDAY (Banks/Gabriel/Rutherford/Hackett/Collins)
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JOHN PEBBLE OF STYX ENTERPRISES:
"Get 'em out by Friday!
You don't get paid till the last one's well on his way
Get 'em out by Friday!
It's important that we keep to schedule, there must be no delay."

MARK HALL OF STYX ENTERPRISES (OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 'THE WINKLER'):
"I represent a firm of gentlemen who recently purchased this
house and
all the others on the road
In the interest of humanity we've found a better place for you to
go-
go-go."

MRS. BARROW (A TENANT):
"Oh no, this I can't believe,
Oh Mary, they're asking us to leave."

MR. PEBBLE:
"Get 'em out by Friday!
I've told you before, 's good many gone if we let them stay.
And if it isn't easy,
You can squeeze a little grease and our trouble will soon runaway."

MRS. BARROW:
"After all this time, they ask us to leave,
And I told them we could pay double the rent.
I don't know why it seemed so funny,
Seeing as how they'd take more money.
The winkler called again, he came here this morning,
with four hundred pounds and a photograph of the place he has
found.
A block of flats with central heating.
I think we're goind to find that hard."

MR. PEBBLE:
"Now we've got them!
I've always said that cash cash cash can do anything well.
Work can be rewarding
When a flash of intuition is a gift that helps you
excel-sell-sell."

MR. HALL:
"Here we are in Harlow New Town, did you recognize your block across
the square, over there,
Sadly since last time we spoke we've found we've had to raise 
the
rent again
just a bit."

MRS. BARROW:
"Oh, no, this I can't believe
Oh Mary, and we agreed to leave."

(a passage of time)

18/9/2012 T.V. FLASH ON ALL DIAL-A-PROGRAM SERVICES:
This is an announcement from Genetic Control-
"It is my sad duty to inform you of a four foot restriction on
humanoid height."

EXTRACT FROM CONVERSATION OF JOE ORDINARY IN LOCAL PUBORAMA:
"I hear the directors of Genetic Control have been buying all the 
properties that have recently been sold, taking risks oh so bold.
It's said now that people will be shorter in height, they can fit
twice as many in the same building site.
(they say that's alright),
Beginning with the tenatns of the town of Harolw,
in the interest of humanity, they've been told they must
go-go-go-go-."

SIR JOHN DE PEBBLE OF UNITE BLACKSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL:
"I think we've fixed a new deal
A dozen properties--we'll buy at five and sell at thrity four,
Some are still inhabited
It's time to send the winkler to see them,
he'll have to work some more."

MEMO FROM SATIN PETER OF ROCK DEVELOPMENT LTD.:
With the land in your hand, you'll be happy on earth
Then invest in the Church for your heaven.


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CAN-UTILITY AND THE COASTLINERS (Banks/Gabriel/Rutherford/Hackett/
---------------------------------Collins)-----------------------------

The scattered pages of a book by the sea
Held by the sand and washed by the waves
A shadow forms cast by a cloud
Skimming by as eyes of the past, but the rising tide
Absorbs them effortlessly claiming

They told of one who tired of all singing
"Praise him, praise him."
"We heed not flatters," he cried
"By our command, waters retreat,
Show my power, halt at my feet."
But the curse was lost,
Now cold winds blow.

Far from the north, overcast ranks advance
Fear of the storm accusing with rage and scorn
The waves surround the sinking throune.
Singing "Crown him, crown him.'
"Those who love our majesty show yourselves!"
All bent their knees.

But he forced a smile even though
His hopes lay dashed where offering fell
Nothing can out peace destroy as long as no one smiles
More opened ears and opened eyes,
And soon they dare to laugh.
See a little man with his face turning red
Though his story's often told you can tell he's dead


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HORIZON'S (Hackett)
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INSTRUMENTAL


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SUPPER'S READY (Banks/Gabriel/Rutherford/Hackett/Collins)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

i.  LOVER'S LEAP

Walking across the sitting-room, I turn the television off
Sitting beside you, I look into your eyes
As the sound of motor cars fades in the night time
I swear I saw your face change, it didn't seem quite right
...And it's hello babe with your guardian eyes so blue
Hey, my baby don't you know our love is true?

Coming closer with our eyes, a distance falls around our bodies
Out in the garden, the moon seems very bright
Six saintly shrouded men move across the lawn slowly
The seventh walks in front with a cross held hight in hand
...And it's hello babe your supper's waiting for you
Hey my baby, don't you know our love is true?

I've been so far from here
Far from your warm arms
It's good to feel you again
It's been a long, long time.  Hasn't it?

ii.  THE GUARANTEED ETERNAL SANCTUARY MAN

I know a farmer who looks after the farm
With water clear, he cares for all his harvest
I know a fireman who looks after the fire

You, can't you see he's foold you all
Yes, he's here again, can't you see he's fooled you all.
Share his peace,
sign the lease
He's a supersonic scientist
He's the guaranteed eternal sanctuary man
Look, look into my mouth he cries
And all the children lost down many paths
I be my life you'll walk inside
Hand in hand
Gland in gland
With a spoonful of miracle
He's the guaranteed eternal sanctuary man
We will rock you, rock you little snake
We will keep you snug and warm

iii.  IKHNATON AND ITSACON AND THEIR BAND OF MERRY MEN

Wearing feeling on our faces when faces took a rest
We walked acrossed the field to see the children of the West
But we saw a host of dark skinned warriors
standing still below the ground
Waiting for battle

The fight' begun, they've been released
Killinf foe for peace...bang, bang, bang.  Bang, bang, bang.
And they're giving me a wonderful potion 
'Cos I cannot contain my emotion
And even though I'm feeling good
Something tells me I'd better activate my prayer capsule
Today's a day to celebrate, the foe have met their fate
The order for rejoicing and dancing has come from our warlord

iv.  HOW DARE I BE SO BEAUTIFUL?

Wandering through the chaos the battle has left
We climb upon the mountain of human flesh
To a plateau of green grass, and green trees full of life
A young figure sits still by the pool
He's been stamped human bacon by some butchery tool.
(he is you)
Social security took care of this lad
We watch in reverence, s Narcissus is turned to a flower
A flower?

v.  WILLOW FARM

If you go down to Willow Farm
to look for butterflies, flutterbyes, gutterflies
Open your eyes, it's full of surprise, everyone lies
like the focks on the rocks
and the musical box.

Oh, there's mum & dad, and good and bad
and everyone's happy to be here.

There's Winston Churchill dressed in drag
he used to be a British flag, plastic bag, what a drag
The frog was a prince, the prince was a brick, the brick was an
egg, and the egg was a bird
Fly away you sweet little thing
Hadn't you heard
They're going to change you into a human being
Yes, we're happy as fish and gorgeous as geese
and wonderfully clean in the morning

We've got everything, we're growing everything
We've got some in
We've got some out
We've got some wild things floating about
Everyone, we're changing everyone
you name them all
We've had them here
And the real stars are still to appear

ALL CHANGE!

Feel your body melt
Mum to mud to mad to Dad
Dad diddley office, Dad diddley office
You're all full of ball

Dad to dam to dum to Mum
Mum diddley washing, Mum diddley washing
You're all full of ball

Let me hear you lies, we're living this up to the eyes
Ooee-ooee-ooee-oowaa
Momma I want you now

And as you listen to my voice
To look for hidden doors, tidy floors, more applause
You've been here all the time
Like it or not, like what you got
You're under the soil
(the soil, the soil, the soil)
Yes, deep in the soil
(the soil, the soil, the soil)
So we'll end with a whistle and end with a bang
and all of us fit in our places.

vi.  APOCALYPSE IN 9/8 (CO-STARRING THE DELICIOUS TALENTS OF GABBLE
     RATCHET)

With the guards of Magog swarming around
The Pied Piper takes his children underground.
The Dragon's coming out of the sea
with the shimmering silver head of wisdom lloking at me
He brings down the  fire from the skies
You can tell he's doing well by the look of human eyes
You'd better not compromise
It won't be easy

666 is no longer alone
He's getting out the marrow in your back bone
And the seven trumpets blowing sweet rock and roll
Gonna blow right down inside your soul
Pythagoras with the looking glass reflects the full moon
In blood, he's writing the lyrics of a brand new tune

And it's hey babe, with your guardian eyes so blue
Hey my baby, don't you know our love is true
I've been so far from here,
Far from your loving arms,
Now I'm back again, and baby it's going to work out fine

vii.  AS SURE AS EGGS IS EGGS (ACHING MAN'S FEET)

Can't you feel our souls ignite
Shedding ever changin colours in the darkness of the fading night
Like the river joins the ocean, as the germ in the seed grows
We have finally been freed to get back home

There's and angel standing in the sun, and he's crying with a loud
  voice
"This is the supper of the mighty one,"
Lord of Lords
King of Kings
Has returned to take his children home
To take them to the new Jerusalem

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Tony Banks-Organ, Mellotron, Piano, Electric Piano, 12 String, Voices
Steve Hackett-Electric Guitar, 12 string and 6 string solo
Phil Collins-Drums, Voices, assorted Percussion
Peter Gabriel-Lead Voice, Flute, Bass Drum, Tambourine, Oboe
Michael Rutherford-Bass, Bass Pedals, 12 String Guitar, Voices, Cello

Go Back To The Moonlit Knight's Genesis Lyric List