Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Like the dust that settles all around me,
I must find a new home.
The ways and holes that used to give me shelter,
Are all as one to me now.
But I, I would search everywhere
Just to hear your call,
And walk upon stranger roads than this one
In a world I used to know before.
I miss you more.
Than the sun reflecting off my pillow,
Bringing the warmth of new life.
And the sounds that echoed all around me,
I caught a glimpse of in the night.
But now, now I've lost everything,
I give to you my soul.
The meaning of all that I believed before
Escapes me in this world of none, no thing, no one.
And I would search everywhere
Just to hear your call,
And walk upon stranger roads than this one
In a world I used to know before.
For now I've lost everything,
I give to you my soul.
The meaning of all that I believed before
Escapes me in this world of none,
I miss you more.
I must find a new home.
The ways and holes that used to give me shelter,
Are all as one to me now.
But I, I would search everywhere
Just to hear your call,
And walk upon stranger roads than this one
In a world I used to know before.
I miss you more.
Than the sun reflecting off my pillow,
Bringing the warmth of new life.
And the sounds that echoed all around me,
I caught a glimpse of in the night.
But now, now I've lost everything,
I give to you my soul.
The meaning of all that I believed before
Escapes me in this world of none, no thing, no one.
And I would search everywhere
Just to hear your call,
And walk upon stranger roads than this one
In a world I used to know before.
For now I've lost everything,
I give to you my soul.
The meaning of all that I believed before
Escapes me in this world of none,
I miss you more.
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Afterglow Lyrics as written by Anthony George Banks
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is definitely one of my top 10 songs because of the emotion I feel listening to it and singing along. I am guessing my interpretation was not what was intended, but ever since I really listened to this song and the lyrics, it makes me think this: someone (the person singing the song) who, while living was in an incredibly strong relationship with their soul mate, dies and leaves their soul mate on Earth (still living). They "lost everything" material and they miss their partner so much that they decide to give the only thing that they have left...their soul...to their soul mate.
i remember banks saying how this song was about bein the last man left alive after neuclear fallout or whatever... whatever the reasons the whole worlds good as gone and hes nothing left, therefore offerin his soul to the person he loves, pressumably before joinin everyone else in shuffling off the mortal coil. strange for him to write a love song so its quite a rare little monkey nut really.
@parberoo Stagnation from their second album Trespass is about nuclear fallout. I never heard Tony say this song is about the same thing.
For me, it is losing someone whom you love intensely - & dreaming of that person every waking hour - the afterglow of making love, forever etched, indelibly, on the mind
This song is amazing. It's one of the few songs that when I can sing along to, I sing loudly along to, because there's so much energy in it.
It's probably one of the finest songs in the Genesis repertoire... I know they're all very proud of it, which is why they leave it until the end of their gigs. It's by far the most powerful to end with, and has often left the crowds in uncontrollable tears as they've screamed for more at the end. Personally, it's the one piece of music I'd have playing at my funeral...
@exgenesisroadie EXACTLY!
Jeez - Over 2 years for a comment - it must be just me who sees this song as so special
@nagromnai If I ever knew of this song, I had forgotten about it. Now I hum it at work. Watch the videos. It is one of the songs my fiance wanted played at his funeral. I keep holding onto it. It's how I found this blog.
A beautiful piece. No other way to describe it so simply. TB is a genius regardless of what people say. He is the brains of Genesis. Afterglow is an example of brilliant basic musicianship that speaks out so deeply.
To me, the lyrics tell about someone who believed that he knew himself, his qualities, his passion, and the way he could live his life, but never found a way to really live all these. Now he has been fighting too long in vain to survive in a world where he doesn't feel accepted for who he is and what he can mean to the world. And he lays his plaint before Life/God: if you wanted me to be who I am and to do something with the gifts I got, and nothing worked, what am I gonna do now? I miss the days that I could dream aloud and felt my life was still lying before me, but as I grow older, I'm wondering, what's really in it for me? What's really my life about?
@rovap I really like this post for Afterglow. My fiance died from Diabetic Coma. He had previously had three strokes/stroke like episodes. The week before he died; he told me what three songs he wanted played at his funeral. Two hymns and Afterglow by Genesis. I copied it down and had no idea I would be needing it so soon.
Tony once said how he noticed after a few days of writing this, he noticed it strangely resembled Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. I guess it could be about the mere feeling of the day after Christmas, that sort of let down disappointed feeling. An afterglow is a feeling that remains after a pleasure or happy experience. Otherwise, I agree with rovapu, about someone who knew all his qualities but never found a way to use them and worked hard and failed. And that is something I can personally relate to.
I am so drawn to the live version. Phil looks so reverent. Like he's searching the face of God. Like he's come to the realization that nothing of this world is a good gift to Him. So....I offer you my soul. It's all we have on this dirtball worthy to be given.