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Genesis — Watcher of the Skies
Album: Foxtrot
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1137









Released: 1972
Length: 7:17
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Watcher of the skies watcher of all
His is a world alone no world is his own,
He whom life can no longer surprise,
Raising his eyes beholds a planet unknown.

Creatures shaped this planets soil,
Now their reign has come to an end,
Has life again destroyed life,
Do they play elsewhere, do they know
More than their childhood games?
Maybe the lizards shed its tail,
This is the end of mans long union with earth.

Judge not this race by empty remains
Do you judge God by his creatures when they are dead?
For now, the lizards shed its tail
This is the end of mans long union with earth.

From life alone to life as one,
Think not now your journeys done
For though your ship be sturdy, no
Mercy has the sea,
Will you survive on the ocean of being?
Come ancient children hear what I say
This is my parting council for you on your way.

Sadly now your thoughts turn to the stars
Where we have gone you know you never can go.
Watcher of the skies watcher of all
This is your fate alone, this fate is your own.
Comments (235)add comment
 PFM wrote:


Thank You! I will check it out!
I love hearing old Genesis tunes on RP. Watcher of the Skies got my speakers turned up!! ...From the album FOXTROT and not Trick of the Tail. Play more from this iconic era of magical music from 1970-74...progs best years
Phish perform "Watcher of the Skies" at the 2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony watcher of the skies - Phish

Early Genesis With PG....A perfect 10....
Thanks for this! The most creative band ever, I could never get tired of listening.
However, without Peter Gabriel, band becomes way to commercial for my ears.
I bought this album right after it came out!! I can't hear enough of this tune!!!  Thanx RP!   
This is real music, not some ditty. Godlike
The opening chords of this song send chills down my back, and transport me back to a magical period in my life. (I just didn't know it at the time)
This quite impressed my 14-year old mind when I saw it performed on "Midnight Special" in 1973.
 noe.architecte169 wrote:

Phil was so good at this time


So was Peter Gabriel!!!

GODLIKE!!!!! ICONIC!!!!!!
Phil was so good at this time
 musicophile wrote:
I think this one is the most creative band ever ! I could listen to their music for hours.
There is a cover band - The Musical Box - which is very worthy to follow on stage, for those of us who were too young to know Genesis live


I have seen Genesis 4 times, Musical Box is awesome for sure! But, if you get a chance to see Steve Hacket's Genesis tour, it is even better!
This song works better when heard within the entire album. I recommend for all those who weren't born yet to buy ALL the Genesis albums from the seventies ... as well as ALL the Moody Blues albums from the same era. Then listen and enjoy ALL of them in release order.
=> A lifetime experiment guaranteed to haunt you : you'll want to repeat it times and times again, also in 30 years.
This is on a commercial station. Too cool.
Genesis is not for everyone obviously.  Don't think I've seen such a spread in votes.  Count me in the upper half.
This is an absolute joy to listen to...indeed, brings back some great memories...Peter Gabriel at his best...as always, RP never ceases to amaze...Many Thx, MKoM, Toronto
Ill give you 100€ if a regular station plays this full length.
This is where it all started for me as a Genesis fan.  My dad had this record in his collection and I played it for hours and hours when I was living at home.  The only track I never cared for was Time Table, everything else was golden.  He had the US Buddha Records release of this album which had no lyrics or gatefold. But the record sleeve had adverts for other albums on Buddha Records and two of the albums displayed were Nursery Cryme and Genesis Live.  I knew this band was something special just looking at those covers.  When I was in high school one of the first albums I bought was Nursery Cryme, just for the album cover and hung it in my locker.  Needless to say, I bought two NurseryCryme albums 1 for school and 1 for home.  Another favorite of mine.  Then I spent my high school years buying all their albums.  And I've been a fan ever since the late 70's.

Check out Bill Films on youtube if you want to see some good videos, some are very rare.
Phish perform "Watcher of the Skies" at the 2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony- wow
For Genesis fans the intro by Trey is very cool. Treys Genesis intro
 Carlo9151 wrote:

My opinion is that the departure of Steve Hackett set the turning point in Genesis music, deeper than Gabriel's
 
Interesting. I had never considered that impact because after "Trick of the Tail" it was obvious without PG they suffered a considerable wound.
For the naysayers on this track, understand it was recorded in 1972. You might try listening to Steve Hackett's 1996 remake which brings it up to date.

As with any older music, try to focus on the writing, arrangement and skill . Perhaps you'll hear the artistry going on behind the tint of years passed.
For those of you who do not understand this music, i say poor you... Lyrics, imagination with supurb musicianship all adds up to paving the way back in the beginning of prog rock...
I really love Taking England By the Pound but this is almost painful. Funny I love Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins separately.
 thewiseking wrote:
This hasn't aged well
 
Nor did you
I absolutely loved this when I was 14. It's getting very hard to remember why. It certainly has a place in music history, and I will always feel a nostaligic loyalty to (early) Genesis, but it's pretty much unlistenable now. //
I think this one is the most creative band ever ! I could listen to their music for hours.
There is a cover band - The Musical Box - which is very worthy to follow on stage, for those of us who were too young to know Genesis live
I was obsessed with this band when I first saw them at the University of Montreal in the very early 70s. They did this piece!
After 45 years, my favourite piece of theirs is 'The Lamia'.
The live version is really wicked
I love it whenever this song comes on. Thanks Bill.
 ptvl wrote:

Great song, even though it doesn't come close to being in my top ten from this band during its classic era.    Many of those choices simply present too deep a plunge even for seasoned RP listeners game for a wide range of material.    (I love Yes' Gates but not for here, either.)
So I agree that older Genesis is not for anyone, .  If you were ever into that era, as I was, you can get your fix from other sources whenever you need it.  But I certainly agree that some other classic Genesis belongs in the mix at RP.    So the question then is what else might you choose to play to introduce others to that music?    Title track to SEPTB would seem appropriate this week.    Carpet Crawl from Lamb.   Or one of my early favorites, Looking for Someone from Trespass.     Others mentioned Get 'em Out by Friday, and that's a good choice as well.   
Agree with other commenters that the heart of their catalog is music that really challenges the listener, as much as it did them to play it.
Anyone wanting to explore on their own should try on The Lamia and of course The Cinema Show.   I'm a fan of Epping Forest as well, even though the band wasn't.    Anyone who hasn't stumbled on Genesis for Two Grand Pianos should also pick that up.

 
Firth of Fith is already in the RP Genesis list
Would love to see The Cinema Show from Selling England in here.
Lamb & Carpet Crawlers are already in the RP Genesis list
Ripples from Trick of the Tail
Blood on the Rooftops from Wind and Wuthering
Many too Many and Snowbound from And Then There Were Three
Duchess is already in the RP Genesis list
Me and Sara Jane from Abacab

These could all be great additions to initiating someone to Genesis from an RP point of view.
Bill is on a roll this Sunday night. 
 westslope wrote:

No you did not.  You provided solid information on yourself.  The way you used the term 'retard' is adolescent to say the least.

You had me wondering the following:   Hmm.... I would guess that Schmoogsley has at least grade 10.  Maybe a couple of years of underwater basket weaving at some liberal arts college where most of the energy went into video games and masturbation?

If that is how you see yourself, well then what can I say?  Mission Accomplished!  

 

 
Butthurt much? {#Lol}
 thewiseking wrote:
some Prog sucked

 
some New Yorkers suck.  Generalities aside, the question (with regard to both topics) is which ones?
 Bluecobra wrote:
The best of times for genesis.

without peter G they were never the same or as
good.

 

 
A Trick of the Tail, Wind & Wuthering, ...And Then There Were Three..., and Duke would like to have a word with you...
I love this so very very much! {#War}
 Bluecobra wrote:
The best of times for genesis.

without peter G they were never the same or as
good.

 

 
My opinion is that the departure of Steve Hackett set the turning point in Genesis music, deeper than Gabriel's
All right!  Another chance to use PSD.  Thank god it works well.
some Prog sucked
Ahh the heady days of those mellotron chords wafting across smoke filled festival fields...Genesis at their best....
 
 Schmoogsley wrote:

Yeah, I guess I overreacted. 

 
No you did not.  You provided solid information on yourself.  The way you used the term 'retard' is adolescent to say the least.

You had me wondering the following:   Hmm.... I would guess that Schmoogsley has at least grade 10.  Maybe a couple of years of underwater basket weaving at some liberal arts college where most of the energy went into video games and masturbation?

If that is how you see yourself, well then what can I say?  Mission Accomplished!  

 
The best of times for genesis.

without peter G they were never the same or as
good.



 
 treatment_bound wrote:

Dude, as the gentleman pictured directly below you would say:

"retard" is not the preferred nomenclature...

 
Yeah, I guess I overreacted. 
Need to pull this out, without the kids around as they may ask what the green stuff, probably brown now, is in the middle of the cover.
My GF back then was really in to Genesis and Peter Gabriel, so happy memories for me. {#Jump}
 idiot_wind wrote:
I think what is essential about many of these bands from the 1970s, is that they experimented. Good, bad, ugly.

Ya just don't hear the same risk taking in music being created now. It's like the bands today are all working off the same notes.   

 
You apparently have heard a very limited amount of today's bands - there are many more bands than your fall-backs of Arcade Fire and The Foo Fighters.  To be fair, one would often have to search  - the "experimental" bands of today don't get a lot of airplay.
 Schmoogsley wrote:
Wow, can't believe Bill is playing this. Was my favorite band when I was a kid. I'm sure the retards of RP will bitch and complain. {#Snooty}

 
Dude, as the gentleman pictured directly below you would say:

"retard" is not the preferred nomenclature...
Wow, can't believe Bill is playing this. Was my favorite band when I was a kid. I'm sure the retards of RP will bitch and complain. {#Snooty}
 kcar wrote:
Walter Sobchak of The Big Lebowski raising eyebrows
 
yep, time to roll the PSD dice
Wow! What a throwback!

This was one of my first albums as a kid. Love it! 
Walter Sobchak of The Big Lebowski raising eyebrows

Liking this more on subsequent listens.  Liked it back in '74.

I hear a lot of Steven Wilson in this song.  Or perhaps better put, I hear some early Genesis in Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson.  
 Shmelo wrote:
This is excellent music. Never mind the luddites.

 
Love this response, mind if I borrow it?  (there are so many luddites!)
Gabriels was a damned rock-singer. Great.

Great song, even though it doesn't come close to being in my top ten from this band during its classic era.    Many of those choices simply present too deep a plunge even for seasoned RP listeners game for a wide range of material.    (I love Yes' Gates but not for here, either.)
So I agree that older Genesis is not for anyone, .  If you were ever into that era, as I was, you can get your fix from other sources whenever you need it.  But I certainly agree that some other classic Genesis belongs in the mix at RP.    So the question then is what else might you choose to play to introduce others to that music?    Title track to SEPTB would seem appropriate this week.    Carpet Crawl from Lamb.   Or one of my early favorites, Looking for Someone from Trespass.     Others mentioned Get 'em Out by Friday, and that's a good choice as well.   
Agree with other commenters that the heart of their catalog is music that really challenges the listener, as much as it did them to play it.
Anyone wanting to explore on their own should try on The Lamia and of course The Cinema Show.   I'm a fan of Epping Forest as well, even though the band wasn't.    Anyone who hasn't stumbled on Genesis for Two Grand Pianos should also pick that up.
2
 krysthal wrote:
The live version from the first Genesis Live album is fantastic as well. Would have been awesome to have caught live Genesis show back in the 70s.

Anyone have stories from when they saw them with Gabriel?

 
I got to see them do the Lamb when it first came out @ Music Hall in Cleveland (3,000 seat venue with great acoustics and sight lines), complete with the stage show and Gabriel being downright outrageous with his costumes and props.  The show was flawless with excellent sound.  IIRC Watcher was the last song of the encore.  A jaw dropping show that I'm sure was helped along with some very good vito A.
Ah, the good old days ... I still like this.
idiot_wind wrote:
I think what is essential about many of these bands from the 1970s, is that they experimented. Good, bad, ugly.

Ya just don't hear the same risk taking in music being created now. It's like the bands today are all working off the same notes.   

 
This is definitely some of the good. :)
I always liked the Mellotron solo in Watcher of the  Skies {#Smile}
I think what is essential about many of these bands from the 1970s, is that they experimented. Good, bad, ugly.

Ya just don't hear the same risk taking in music being created now. It's like the bands today are all working off the same notes.   
 ski19570 wrote:
I agree Aspicer.. Not everyone's cup of tea but for those of us who lived thru it how wonderful.. Brings back great memories.. I remember placing this infront of friends and they just went WOW.. Good stuff for the time..

 
Sounds like you and your mates loved it back then—it always amazes me how much our musical preferences are set when we're so young. I usually defend prog rock and the like but I'm not sure I ever would have thrilled to this.
 krysthal wrote:
The live version from the first Genesis Live album is fantastic as well. Would have been awesome to have caught live Genesis show back in the 70s.

Anyone have stories from when they saw them with Gabriel?

 
I wish I can say I saw them with Peter but alas, I did not. I have only seen footage from those days with Peter and his costumes. I can only imagine that concert experience.

A little doobie and 2 hours of pure genius.....or should I say... pure Genesis!


YUCK - PSD
This is excellent music. Never mind the luddites.
 torino390 wrote:
OMG, this is so so bad... can't listen to the end even. PSD saves the day.

 
Again with this song.....PSD all the way
Only here and on my turntable can I hear such fine music
OMG, this is so so bad... can't listen to the end even. PSD saves the day.
This a fine relic from the days when a few bands were actually pretty successful with the whole "churchy" orchestral keyboards section!
It's melotrontastic!
Sounds like a failed Tull rip-off!! 1 at best.

                      The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog!
                      And the Grammy of the year goes to miss pan
 1wolfy wrote:
 if it had been recorded on todays equipment, you'd here it differently...perhaps ?..or perhaps not.  Decoy wrote:
sounds like it was once good, but time has not been kind to this one.

 
 
They have done a fantastic job on the remaster of this.
This tune gets a lot of airplay on RP...perhaps something different from the Genesis catalog is in order?
 coloradojohn wrote:
Parts of Trespass were cool, but Nursery Chryme transcended it by far, and I think that this was similar; Get 'Em Out By Friday is mind-blowing, for sure. It was really interesting, all the changes they went through with the arrival of Tony Banks and Phil Collins. I thought that Trick of the Tail had some really good stuff on it, but...it all went downhill when Phil took them over-the-top Pop after that...

 
Just FYI, Tony Banks was a founding member... Phil joined Aug 1970... and Steve Hackett in Jan 1971.  Most would argue that the "classic" line-up was Gabriel, Collins, Hackett, Banks & Rutherford.  After Gabriel & then Hackett left things started to change for the worse. Although I have to confess to getting into Genesis around the time of "...And Then There Were Three" and "Duke" and working my way backwards to the "good stuff".
 coloradojohn wrote:
Parts of Trespass were cool, but Nursery Chryme transcended it by far, and I think that this was similar; Get 'Em Out By Friday is mind-blowing, for sure. It was really interesting, all the changes they went through with the arrival of Tony Banks and Phil Collins. I thought that Trick of the Tail had some really good stuff on it, but...it all went downhill when Phil took them over-the-top Pop after that...

 
I wore out several copies of this just when it came out. Well, the truth is, the pressings on the Great Charisma Label were so abysmally shitty that I was compelled to return 2 before receiving one that was not so warped that a needle could not track. That aside, this is a great concept album. Maybe a bit, or a lot bombastic, but this represents a time in the history of the world when this was possible and I think it was successful.
Parts of Trespass were cool, but Nursery Chryme transcended it by far, and I think that this was similar; Get 'Em Out By Friday is mind-blowing, for sure. It was really interesting, all the changes they went through with the arrival of Tony Banks and Phil Collins. I thought that Trick of the Tail had some really good stuff on it, but...it all went downhill when Phil took them over-the-top Pop after that...
 On_The_Beach wrote:

{#Roflol} 80s?!  Yes, very Culture Club meets Thompson Twins!

 
I guess that means it was well ahead of its time.
Still sounds great after all these years !!
I agree Aspicer.. Not everyone's cup of tea but for those of us who lived thru it how wonderful.. Brings back great memories.. I remember placing this infront of friends and they just went WOW.. Good stuff for the time..
Classic!!!  I get that is not for everyone for sure...but THIS is the unbridled talent Genesis was working with originally.  Shame they went down in flames in the 80's....but not Peter!!! {#Cowboy}
This hasn't aged well
 PockettVenus wrote:
Yikes, this is horrible! It sounds very dated (80s), and fails to form a coherent whole. The syncopation just sounds wonky. {#Beat}
 
 
Definitely not 80's
A prog rock classic from the era when Genesis were at their best. {#Bananajam}Downhill after Wind and Wuthering! {#Cry}
There's music that dates really well and music which doesn't. 

That's all I'm saying about this. {#Skull} 


 PockettVenus wrote:
Yikes, this is horrible! It sounds very dated (80s), and fails to form a coherent whole. The syncopation just sounds wonky. {#Beat}
 
 
OK but try to play it once... {#Guitarist}{#Skull}

Smell the glove!
When I think about the origins of steampunk music I think of Genesis and Yes. Organs and mellotrons.
more more more! never get tired of hearing this, especially on RP
 if it had been recorded on todays equipment, you'd hear it differently...perhaps ?..or perhaps not.  Decoy wrote:
sounds like it was once good, but time has not been kind to this one.

 

40 years later i still sing to these songs- brilliant{#Music}
Whats next? Yes Roundabout? Sick organ drums and bass....Phil and Peter together...unappreciated genius...
 
 PockettVenus wrote:
Yikes, this is horrible! It sounds very dated (80s), and fails to form a coherent whole. The syncopation just sounds wonky.
 
{#Roflol} 80s?!  Yes, very Culture Club meets Thompson Twins! (not)
Genius!
Yikes, this is horrible! It sounds very dated (80s), and fails to form a coherent whole. The syncopation just sounds wonky. {#Beat}
 
 krysthal wrote:
The live version from the first Genesis Live album is fantastic as well. Would have been awesome to have caught live Genesis show back in the 70s.

Anyone have stories from when they saw them with Gabriel?

 
Check out Youtube of the tribute band "The Musical Box." You might like.
1st year univ. I found myself in a massive co-ed dorm where certain cool dudes did the entrepreneurial thing and supplied their fellow students with 'grass'.

The same entrepreneurs had the best sound systems and introduced me to Genesis.  Foxtrot, Selling England by the pound. 
Okay, folks, this isn't a foxtrot. At best it's a progtrot.
The live version from the first Genesis Live album is fantastic as well. Would have been awesome to have caught live Genesis show back in the 70s.

Anyone have stories from when they saw them with Gabriel?
The birthplace of the progressive rock movement. Not only this band but the time frame. Defiantly on the front end of it. I love this older stuff. Not only shows what kind of talent was to be had back then but shows us how we have progressed. {#Jump} 
You know, I was never much of a fan of Genesis, but I have to echo the sentiments of others here: Sometimes it's really nice to hear "the old stuff," deep tracks from albums that no longer receive much play. Takes me back to the days of dorm parties, college radio, and wondering what albums my GF was going to bring back from California after the Christmas break.
sounds like it was once good, but time has not been kind to this one.
One of my favorite Genesis tracks ever. Delighted to hear it here.
nice to hear "the old stuff" on the radio. 
Have to appreciate the fact that we can listen to "unusual" track like this, but this is a bit of a nutter. :)
Not my cup of tea...
Chaos music...
Woah never heard this on any type of 'radio' before, well done for playing.


 bachbeet wrote:
Definitely not one of their good ones.  Can't see giving it more than a 4.
 
Depends what you define as their "good ones."

I love Gabriel-fronted Genesis.  8 for me.
Definitely not one of their good ones.  Can't see giving it more than a 4.
Maybe this sounds good on a big stereo cranked up. I have my little PC speakers turned down low so I could work and it sounded like they were malfunctioning. Worst song I've heard in a long time.
Great way to start my vacation, thanks Bill!
Powerful song! Made me stop everything I was doing to give it a strong 1 (one).
One of the great numbers from Genesis early period, before they became a predictable pop band.

"Too proggy" ?????  No such thing.

I'm an old fart but the older I get the more I'm disappointed with the efforts of most of the newer bands.

 
Wow, just made my day, now let's wait for super's ready Bill!
Only on RP   {#Meditate}
This was the very first song I ever heard from Genesis.
No warm up act, lights out.......... then wham!.... spotlight on Peter with his painted eyes & they just took us away for a tour I will never forget.
It was sitting on the floor of a gymnasium at Queens University. (Kingston, Ontario, Canada)
They just blew me away. Amazing!
What an amazing night.