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.
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.