I always thought the "fire escape trade" was cat-burglary: you sneak up onto the second storey via the fire escape, pry open an unlocked door or window, and slip back down to get away
But "gambling only pays when you're winning"--he's content with his lazy life, why would he risk imprisonment and a criminal record for something as trivial as money? So, he "ha[s] to thank old Miss Mort for schooling a failure"--if he had been raised to pursue status and money, he might be willing to sell out like that.
So, going with the album theme of England sacrificing its culture and history to try to compete with America, the lawnmower is pointing out how the lust for money that drives people to earn more and more also drives them to theft and crime, and what's wrong with being happy as a lawnmower? He's content to eavesdrop on the lords and ladies and listen to the neighbors sneaking around on a liaison (the "two little lovebirds"), dozing off on the garden bench. Why should he earn more money to try to impress others (e.g., spending all his money on getting a new outfit, "getting better in your wardrobe")?
Yes you have a good point there. An alternative life of crime with lots of Armaney in his wardrobe !
Yes you have a good point there. An alternative life of crime with lots of Armaney in his wardrobe !
I think the lyrics of this early 70´s period were built as ´´poetry´´ to have many meanings all at once - you know, to entertain and keep things interesting (even decades later ). PG´s were in my opinion, very well crafted in this respect and could be a lot more amusing than his contemporaries. That´s what makes them great – they are stuffed full of bits and pieces from all over the place.
I think the lyrics of this early 70´s period were built as ´´poetry´´ to have many meanings all at once - you know, to entertain and keep things interesting (even decades later ). PG´s were in my opinion, very well crafted in this respect and could be a lot more amusing than his contemporaries. That´s what makes them great – they are stuffed full of bits and pieces from all over the place.
My own fire-escape trade related idea simply came...
My own fire-escape trade related idea simply came from noticing the Fireman on Foxtrot in close proximity to the Farmer. Interestingly somebody from the distant past once used the term fire-escape as a description of western religion, but this maybe just a coincidence !
@ProfessorKnowItAll "There's a future for you in the fire escape trade." Mr. Farmer is offering Jacob a step-up in the economic world, albeit a sales position in about as banal an industry as one could imagine. Jacob has no interest in sales, or in cat burglary - far too demanding.
@ProfessorKnowItAll "There's a future for you in the fire escape trade." Mr. Farmer is offering Jacob a step-up in the economic world, albeit a sales position in about as banal an industry as one could imagine. Jacob has no interest in sales, or in cat burglary - far too demanding.
A bit late to the show I know - but the songs been buzzing round in my head for a few days - probably due to the hot sunny weather we've been having here in France.
A bit late to the show I know - but the songs been buzzing round in my head for a few days - probably due to the hot sunny weather we've been having here in France.
My take on "fire escape trade" - in 1971 the "Fire Precautions Act" was introduced which made it compulsory for hotels and boarding houses to comply with health and safety legislation - so no doubt a new opportunity for flogging fire escapes to said premises - the sort Genesis might well have used on tour.
My take on "fire escape trade" - in 1971 the "Fire Precautions Act" was introduced which made it compulsory for hotels and boarding houses to comply with health and safety legislation - so no doubt a new opportunity for flogging fire escapes to said premises - the sort Genesis might well have used on tour.
I always thought the "fire escape trade" was cat-burglary: you sneak up onto the second storey via the fire escape, pry open an unlocked door or window, and slip back down to get away
But "gambling only pays when you're winning"--he's content with his lazy life, why would he risk imprisonment and a criminal record for something as trivial as money? So, he "ha[s] to thank old Miss Mort for schooling a failure"--if he had been raised to pursue status and money, he might be willing to sell out like that.
So, going with the album theme of England sacrificing its culture and history to try to compete with America, the lawnmower is pointing out how the lust for money that drives people to earn more and more also drives them to theft and crime, and what's wrong with being happy as a lawnmower? He's content to eavesdrop on the lords and ladies and listen to the neighbors sneaking around on a liaison (the "two little lovebirds"), dozing off on the garden bench. Why should he earn more money to try to impress others (e.g., spending all his money on getting a new outfit, "getting better in your wardrobe")?
Yes you have a good point there. An alternative life of crime with lots of Armaney in his wardrobe !
Yes you have a good point there. An alternative life of crime with lots of Armaney in his wardrobe !
I think the lyrics of this early 70´s period were built as ´´poetry´´ to have many meanings all at once - you know, to entertain and keep things interesting (even decades later ). PG´s were in my opinion, very well crafted in this respect and could be a lot more amusing than his contemporaries. That´s what makes them great – they are stuffed full of bits and pieces from all over the place.
I think the lyrics of this early 70´s period were built as ´´poetry´´ to have many meanings all at once - you know, to entertain and keep things interesting (even decades later ). PG´s were in my opinion, very well crafted in this respect and could be a lot more amusing than his contemporaries. That´s what makes them great – they are stuffed full of bits and pieces from all over the place.
My own fire-escape trade related idea simply came...
My own fire-escape trade related idea simply came from noticing the
Firemanon Foxtrot in close proximity to theFarmer. Interestingly somebody from the distant past once used the termfire-escapeas a description of western religion, but this maybe just a coincidence !@ProfessorKnowItAll "There's a future for you in the fire escape trade." Mr. Farmer is offering Jacob a step-up in the economic world, albeit a sales position in about as banal an industry as one could imagine. Jacob has no interest in sales, or in cat burglary - far too demanding.
@ProfessorKnowItAll "There's a future for you in the fire escape trade." Mr. Farmer is offering Jacob a step-up in the economic world, albeit a sales position in about as banal an industry as one could imagine. Jacob has no interest in sales, or in cat burglary - far too demanding.
@ProfessorKnowItAll @ProfessorKnowItAll
@ProfessorKnowItAll @ProfessorKnowItAll
A bit late to the show I know - but the songs been buzzing round in my head for a few days - probably due to the hot sunny weather we've been having here in France.
A bit late to the show I know - but the songs been buzzing round in my head for a few days - probably due to the hot sunny weather we've been having here in France.
My take on "fire escape trade" - in 1971 the "Fire Precautions Act" was introduced which made it compulsory for hotels and boarding houses to comply with health and safety legislation - so no doubt a new opportunity for flogging fire escapes to said premises - the sort Genesis might well have used on tour.
My take on "fire escape trade" - in 1971 the "Fire Precautions Act" was introduced which made it compulsory for hotels and boarding houses to comply with health and safety legislation - so no doubt a new opportunity for flogging fire escapes to said premises - the sort Genesis might well have used on tour.