Jump to content

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by GoingBatty (talk | contribs) at 22:33, 4 July 2020 (Importing Wikidata short description: "1974 song by Genesis" (Shortdesc helper)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"
Single by Genesis
from the album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
ReleasedNovember 29, 1974 (1974-11-29)
RecordedAugust–October 1974
GenreProgressive rock
Length5:03
LabelCharisma/Virgin (UK)
Atco (original US)
Atlantic (remastered CD)(U.S.)
Songwriter(s)Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford
Producer(s)John Burns and Genesis

"The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" is the first song from Genesis's 1974 album of the same name. The song was released as a single in the U.S.. Although it did not chart, it was frequently played on American FM radio stations.

Like other songs on the album, the music and lyrics in "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" are partially derived from 1960s soul songs. The end of the song features the words "They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway. They say there's always magic in the air" from The Drifters' song "On Broadway". The studio recording features a variation on the former lyric ("They say the lights are always bright on Broadway"), but subsequent live recordings feature the original.

The bass-playing on the song by Mike Rutherford has been described as having "connotations of aggressive energy" that fits in well with the concept album's angry and defiant character Rael.[1]

After Gabriel's departure, the Phil Collins-fronted incarnation of the band performed the song often during their first few tours, usually segueing into the closing section of "The Musical Box".[2] A live version appears on Seconds Out from 1977 as well as part of the "Old Medley" on The Way We Walk, Volume Two: The Longs from 1993. The song was also played in full during the 1998 Calling All Stations tour, with Ray Wilson on vocals.

Peter Gabriel also performed the song during his 1978 performances as an encore.

Steve Hackett added the song to the setlist during the Genesis Revisited II tour in 2012.

Progressive rock band The Flower Kings covered the song on their first live album Alive on Planet Earth. Rock guitarist Paul Gilbert covered the song on his 2003 solo album Gilbert Hotel.

Personnel

References

  1. ^ Holm-Hudson, Kevin (2008). Genesis and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Ashgate. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-7546-6139-9.
  2. ^ Couture, François. "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway: Song Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 16 January 2012.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Lamb_Lies_Down_on_Broadway_(song)&oldid=966045694"