Genesis - Heathhaze

Genesis Heathhaze - This cold weather gives you time to think in Upstate New York. Countless days of contemplating what is....reminds me of the song Heathhaze. This is one of the great songs from Duke.The first part describes the feeling of just doing nothing but taking in the feeling of nature's breezes, sun, trees gently dancing with the early breezes of spring and summer. Just one with yourself, like the dead of winter allows you to be. For days, I have been just thinking about what is, and why am I here. What can I do with my life today and tomorrow....  The next part of the song is the sounds of people interrupting my slumber. Life steps in, time for me to wake up. (orange lights and smokey atmosphere) and go back to "working" to sustain the "life system" that is bestowed upon us. Trees, are mentioned a lot in Genesis songs. They lose their leaves and represent the dead of winter....only to renew themselves in spring. People cannot hibernate in winter such as trees. They must go to work everyday to pay the bills in this "new" way of life. I feel like I don't belong here; like an alien... in a alien place so removed from a natural way of life and consumed by material things that are all perversely perpetuated by the system of money. What is it all for? Might as well throw some bread to the ducks instead...it's easier that way. Such Genesis wisdom to get me through this winter.

 

Me And Sarah Jane....

Me and Sarah Jane was written by Tony Banks, and to me it sounds like someone describing their dream of a woman that they very much wish existed . Why do I think this? Such creative lines as "I invent a name" suggesting that she does not exist at all, only in our minds. Tony Banks had a habit of writing songs that were caught between two worlds, one that is real and one that is imaginative.  The song has typical transitions that make it a pure Genesis song.

Was This The Swan Song All Along?

Fading Light is how Genesis closes out their last song as the trio of Mike, Tony, and Phil.  Tony said about this song, "This is a sad song, that Iyrically reflects back on times past. It's the age thing, when you realize you are not going to do a certain thing again or see that person again. It's one number on the album with an extended instrumental section where we let ourselves go a bit with more drama." For Genesis fans, this song is the swan song. While they toured again in 2007, they would never enter the studio to create new music. For me, this song was the proper way to close the era of songwriting for the big 3.