Afterglow

Genesis

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.


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Afterglow Lyrics as written by Anthony George Banks

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Afterglow song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +2
    General Commenti 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.
    parberooon April 15, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General CommentThis 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.
    La_Grange57on September 27, 2008   Link
  • +2
    My OpinionIt'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...
    exgenesisroadieon March 07, 2009   Link
  • +2
    My InterpretationTo 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?
    rovapuon February 27, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General CommentFor 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
    nagromnaion August 18, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentJeez - Over 2 years for a comment - it must be just me who sees this song as so special
    nagromnaion November 03, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentA 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.
    Arialon March 16, 2008   Link
  • +1
    My InterpretationThis 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.
    beren14on February 06, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General CommentTony 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.
    vtrc1220on December 04, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAre you kidding me!!! I have been listening to Genesis for 30 years, how in the world is tonight the first time I have ever heard this song! This song is FANTASTIC! I can\'t stop listening to this, it makes me want to cry it\'s so beautiful, I loved this band before but my God, this brings this band to a whole new level. I thought I knew music, but this is my new favorite Genesis song. One of the best songs I have ever heard. So many flats and sharps, but it works so well....
    Kidcopernicus6on January 07, 2022   Link

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