Look up on the wall, there on the floor
Under the pillow, behind the door
There's a crack in the mirror
Somewhere there's a hole in a window pane
Do you think I'm to blame?
Tell me, do you think I'm to blame?
(When we do it) you're never there
(When you show it) just stop and stare
(Abacab) he's in anywhere
(Abacab)
If you're wrappin' up the world
'Cause you've taken someone else's girl
When they turn on the pillow
Even when they answer the telephone
Don't you think they'll find out
Tell me, don't you think they'll find out
(When we do it) you're never there
(When you show it) just stop and stare
(Abacab) he's in anywhere
(Abacab) doesn't really care
Do you want it? You got it, now you know
Do you want it? You got it, now you know
It's an illusion, it's a game
Or reflection of someone else's name
When you wake in the morning
Wake and find you're covered in cellophane
Well, there's a hole in there somewhere
Yeah, there's a hole in there somewhere
Baby, there's a hole in there somewhere
Now there's a hole in there somewhere
(When we do it) you're never there
(When you show it) you stop and stare
(Abacab) he's in anywhere
(Abacab)
Under the pillow, behind the door
There's a crack in the mirror
Somewhere there's a hole in a window pane
Do you think I'm to blame?
Tell me, do you think I'm to blame?
(When you show it) just stop and stare
(Abacab) he's in anywhere
(Abacab)
'Cause you've taken someone else's girl
When they turn on the pillow
Even when they answer the telephone
Don't you think they'll find out
Tell me, don't you think they'll find out
(When you show it) just stop and stare
(Abacab) he's in anywhere
(Abacab) doesn't really care
Do you want it? You got it, now you know
Or reflection of someone else's name
When you wake in the morning
Wake and find you're covered in cellophane
Well, there's a hole in there somewhere
Yeah, there's a hole in there somewhere
Baby, there's a hole in there somewhere
Now there's a hole in there somewhere
(When you show it) you stop and stare
(Abacab) he's in anywhere
(Abacab)
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I sat and read these lyric after having sung them for years anf not really listened to myself. Its a song about a bloke taking advantage of other people women (obviously) but I think perhaps its sung from the position of either someone looking on or perhaps more indirectly, his conscience. References to lookin around for things like cracks in mirrors and what have you suggest paranoia which could relate to the conscience thing. - I always thought that the 'dont you think that by now' part was singing 'dont you think they'll find out'... anyway, yeah i think its a paranoid song regarding someone thats leading taken women on without having the same feelings for them that they perhaps have for him. -Maybe thats only the meaning you take if you can impose your own life onto it? were that the case then... good song!
A_B_A_C_A_B was a method used to remember the original sequence of the song when it was in it's embryonal state. "A" was the verse, "B" was the chorus, and "C" was the bridge. So the original version went verse, chorus, verse, bridge, verse, chorus. However that sequence was later changed, but the name stuck. I am almost sure the lyrics were Mike Rutherford's.
this is one of those songs I'll never stop listening to. It's such a brilliant pop song
Someone, help me out. Is Abacab a code name for something/someone? It seems like it could be the intuition that a person gets but doesn't understand, like when a person gets the feeling that they're not being told the truth. "If you're wrapping up the world 'Cos you've taken someone elses girl, When they turn on the pillow, Even when they answer the telephone, Don't you think that by now..." But I'm so not sure.
Yes it's actually codename for public transport...
Yes it's actually codename for public transport...
Grab-a-cab
Grab-a-cab
:-)
:-)
Someone told me it is the chords they play, I do not know much about if the music matches...thought that might be it , what does Grab a Cab have to do with the song?
Someone told me it is the chords they play, I do not know much about if the music matches...thought that might be it , what does Grab a Cab have to do with the song?
@LeArtist - it's the (original) song structure. A=verse, B=chorus, C=bridge, etc. A more usual song structure is ABABCAB. In any case, they eventually changed the song structure but kept the name.
@LeArtist - it's the (original) song structure. A=verse, B=chorus, C=bridge, etc. A more usual song structure is ABABCAB. In any case, they eventually changed the song structure but kept the name.
Sections of songs are usually broken up by the musical themes running through the song, or even what key a particular section of a song is based in. The structure of the song is denoted by letters, and every time a new section is written, and if it sounds different (or if the chord structure is different) than prior sections, then it is assigned a new letter.
Originally, there were sections of the song ABACAB named A, B, and C. So, there would be a section A, then B, then A was repeated, then a new section named C, came, then sections A and B were repeated, closing the song. Down the line, the original song was re-worked, and the structure no longer followed that original order (ABACAB), but they liked the name so they kept it and incorporated it into the chorus.
You folks assuming a musical reference are correct. The title refers to the musical structure of the song. But what about the lyrics? I think it's Phil's answer to Peter's "Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging" in that people will respond to anything formuliac and familiar.
ok to clear up the title of the song, i bought the platinum hits collection and in the book they say that it is the musical structure, at one point while they were making the song it was A_B_A_C_A_B but eventually it changed to something else... as far as the meaning of the lyrics not sure yet :P
I'm a non native english speaker and i think that's this song is really hard to understand. Maybe English speakers could help us better understand. My understanding is that it's about a bloke who feels in danger because he's taken someone else's girl and he feels "wanted". He could be anyone and his name is ABACAB because he has no name for him.Is this feeling pure paranoia or really serious ?
I like this song very much from a musical perspective because it would reflect this atmosphere of feeling in danger.
@nayyan Everything you said makes good sense; except for your meaning of the word Abacab in the song. Mike Rutherford said that at the beginning of composing the song, they had the chord progression of A B A C A B written down. The music eventually changed to what it is now. Yet, they thought the word Abacab was special, so it ended up in the lyrics. Does it have a special meaning beyond that? I am not sure. You would have to ask the guys from Genesis on that one.
@nayyan Everything you said makes good sense; except for your meaning of the word Abacab in the song. Mike Rutherford said that at the beginning of composing the song, they had the chord progression of A B A C A B written down. The music eventually changed to what it is now. Yet, they thought the word Abacab was special, so it ended up in the lyrics. Does it have a special meaning beyond that? I am not sure. You would have to ask the guys from Genesis on that one.
I believe this is about infidelity. It's referenced in the autobiographies of Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford.
I've heard Phil discuss (in interviews) when he's working on a song, he will lyrically throw out some nonsense words and I kind of thought that's where "abacab" came from, but the sequential thing does make sense. Musically and lyrically it's a great song, no matter what it means or where it came from. It does sound a bit reminiscent of a guy who can't seem to look himself in the mirror... or maybe it's even more abstract, a metaphor for drug or substance abuse? One of my favorite Genesis songs.