This was the first 'funny' song done by Genesis (they did more on later albums). The lyrics were written by Peter Gabriel with a few added by Phil Collins. On the album cover they are presented as a script of a news report or play of the tragic events, as if it was on Play For Today. There is also a small picture of a street scene in a provincial English town, complete with ladder and figure on a window ledge.
As other comments indicate, it is the sad story of a business man who has a mental breakdown, apparently involving self mutilation before committing suicide. As I said, 'funny' stuff! The humour comes from the uncaring attitudes of all around him - the British public, the Lord Mayor, and even poor Harold's own mother, who is more bothered about respectability than her son's mental health. A sign of the times (1971) perhaps. Only the police officer seems to care, but even he is characterised as 'Mr Plod', the officer from the Noddy books. The end is as tragic as it is inevitable.
Interestingly, the words are sung by Gabriel and Collins together, but Collins' higher pitch dominates. As they were both recorded on the same track, Gabriel's vocals could not be made any louder.
This was the first 'funny' song done by Genesis (they did more on later albums). The lyrics were written by Peter Gabriel with a few added by Phil Collins. On the album cover they are presented as a script of a news report or play of the tragic events, as if it was on Play For Today. There is also a small picture of a street scene in a provincial English town, complete with ladder and figure on a window ledge. As other comments indicate, it is the sad story of a business man who has a mental breakdown, apparently involving self mutilation before committing suicide. As I said, 'funny' stuff! The humour comes from the uncaring attitudes of all around him - the British public, the Lord Mayor, and even poor Harold's own mother, who is more bothered about respectability than her son's mental health. A sign of the times (1971) perhaps. Only the police officer seems to care, but even he is characterised as 'Mr Plod', the officer from the Noddy books. The end is as tragic as it is inevitable. Interestingly, the words are sung by Gabriel and Collins together, but Collins' higher pitch dominates. As they were both recorded on the same track, Gabriel's vocals could not be made any louder.