A Trick of the Tail (song)

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A trick of the tail
genesis
publication February 20, 1976
length 4:35
Genre (s) Progressive rock
Author (s) Tony Banks
Label Charisma Records
album A trick of the tail
Genesis 1977

A Trick of the Tail is a Genesis song from the 1976 album of the same name . It was written by Tony Banks.

background

The song was released as a single with Ripples as the b-side but was unsuccessful. Most of the song was written years earlier. According to Banks, the song is partly influenced by the Beatles song Getting Better .

The text is inspired by the book The Inheritors by William Golding (1955). The lyrics focus on the "beast" leaving his realm and entering the human world. He is captured and put on display at a fair ; his kidnappers had previously refused to believe in his kingdom. The beast laments his decision to leave his home, describing it as a paradise covered in gold. His kidnappers release him to allow himself to be led into his world. But when they see a "golden tower", they realize that the beast has disappeared, although they hear its voice.

Music video

A Trick of the Tail was the first Genesis song to be supported by a video and was the first single with Phil Collins as the band's lead singer. Previously, Collins was the drummer who provided backing vocals, now the band's vocalist while continuing to play the drums. The video, directed by Bruce Gowers , shows the band gathering around a piano. Through special effects, Collins goes in miniature on the piano and on Steve Hackett's guitar; the video ends with all four members of the band miniaturized on the piano keyboard.

In a 1994 interview with VH1 titled Phil Collins One on One , Collins described the video as the most embarrassing and terrifying video of his entire career.

occupation

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Mark Blake2019-02-01T18: 32: 05Z: Genesis: the miracle of A Trick Of The Tail and life without Peter Gabriel. Accessed December 30, 2019 .