In The Wilderness Lyrics
And the leaves have gathered dust to run like deer
Tearing pieces from our lives to feed the dawn
Mist surrounds the seagulls christened by the storm
And I look for something else
Rain drops pouring down the rooftops
Flowing in the drains
As the people run their lives
As their lives are run by time
Death is easy as a substitute for pride
Victors join together, happy in their bed
Leaving cold outside the children of the dead
And I look for something else
Rain drops pouring down the rooftops
Flowing in the drains
As the people run their lives
As their lives are run by time...

Once more, Jonathan King's Biblical concept gets stretched here. In fact, this song is rather difficult to interpret. It seems to be more of a kind of pop single of it's period than some of Genesis' other songs of the time. There seems to be more of a love of wordplay and clever phrases than anything concrete. Who are the "they" who disappear leaving the world to play? Are these the same people who wage these wars in the second verse? Have they gone only in a sense because instead of playing they are now the ones waging wars? And now the ones left to play - the children - are now the ones dead? In any case, it is definitely a great song celebrating music. A great line at the end, too - that people run their lives, but we all have to live within time, where we have a limited time to be, and where our schedules more often run us than the other way around...
@Madprophet Hello there! I know this must be a shock to you, to receive a reply for something posted more than a decade and a half ago (when I was a year old!), but I was a little busy during the first few years, you know, learning how to talk. I must say, I would be delighted to discover you read this reply.
@Madprophet Hello there! I know this must be a shock to you, to receive a reply for something posted more than a decade and a half ago (when I was a year old!), but I was a little busy during the first few years, you know, learning how to talk. I must say, I would be delighted to discover you read this reply.
So I am working on a school project regarding the 'From Genesis to Revelation', for extra credit on my religious studies class - I go song by song, and try to interpret the biblical tale depicted in...
So I am working on a school project regarding the 'From Genesis to Revelation', for extra credit on my religious studies class - I go song by song, and try to interpret the biblical tale depicted in it (I thought of the topic). This one has really got me stuck.
I have got two main theories - none of them fit right for me, so I'd love to hear your thoughts! The first one is that this is the story of Noah and the Arc. The second verse connects really well with the description of the sinners, left to be drowned, and all the talks of 'raindrops' and 'storm' feel right. The person talking in the chorus is Noah himself, being the only human not to understand sinner culture, and people 'running their lives' will eventually be running FOR their lives, but that is just overthinking probably. The main problem with this theory is that is leaves out a lot of stuff unexplained - which leaves? Who are 'they'? Run by what time?
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@Madprophet The second theory leads me to the story of Abraham - a fellow one-of-a-kind among his people, who seeks a new society.I like how this goes well with the line 'to fed the dawn', as some sort of polytheistic idolatry. But again, it leaves a while lot out.
@Madprophet The second theory leads me to the story of Abraham - a fellow one-of-a-kind among his people, who seeks a new society.I like how this goes well with the line 'to fed the dawn', as some sort of polytheistic idolatry. But again, it leaves a while lot out.
So, what do you think? I would love to hear your opinion on all of this!Granted, it would be a miracle if you actually answered, but you can't be to hopeful Tahnks in advance!
So, what do you think? I would love to hear your opinion on all of this!Granted, it would be a miracle if you actually answered, but you can't be to hopeful Tahnks in advance!
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Part 2/2