No Reply at All
| "No Reply at All" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
No Reply at All is a song by British band Genesis, released on their 1981 album Abacab.
The song is well-known among Genesis fans and non-fans alike, and is notable for being the first Genesis song to make prominent use of a horn section, played by the Earth, Wind, and Fire horn section. No Reply at All is arguably the most well-known track off Abacab, and to this day can still be heard on FM radio stations.
Like many songs, the meaning of the lyrics are open to interpretation. Many believe it is told from the perspective of a down-on-his-luck guy, similar to the earlier Phil Collins solo song I Missed Again, who can't get a woman's attention despite his numerous attempts, but decides to keep trying. Others, however, believe it was written about bassist Mike Rutherford's daughter, who was a troubled youth [1].
The music video only features Genesis, and not the EWF horn section. Camera's revolve around the band playing their parts in a rehearsal setting, and when the horn part is prominent, it cuts to a different shot of the band, wearing hats, sunglasses, and jackets to conceal their identity, playing the horns.