The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway is arguably the the pinnacle of the creative genius of Genesis. This is the opening track of the album of the same name. In this series of articles I look at the story Peter Gabriel wrote for the inside of the gatefold cover on the Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Album and relate it to the lyrics of each of the tracks.
This is the second blog of this series which looks a the very first track on the album. The first blog is an introduction and a personal recollection of he very first time I actually read the story. I have to say it was a revelation!
Read my personal experience and let me know what your experience was like.
TRACK - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Keep your fingers out of my eye.
While I write I like to glance at the butterflies in glass that are all around the walls. The people in memory are pinned to events I can't recall too well, but I'm putting one down to watch him break up, decompose and feed another sort of life.
The one in question is all fully biodegradable material and categorised as 'Rael'. Rael hates me, I like Rael, - yes, even ostriches have feelings, but our relationship is something both of us are learning to live with.
Rael likes a good time, I like a good rhyme, but you won't see me directly anymore - he hates my being around. So if his story doesn't stand, I might lend a hand, you understand? (ie. the rhyme is planned, dummies).
The flickering needle jumps into red. New York crawls out of its bed.
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.
Early morning Manhattan,
Ocean winds blow on the land.
The weary guests are asked to leave the warmth of the all-night theater, having slept on pictures others only dream on.
Movie-Palace is now undone,
The all-night watchmen have had their fun.
Sleeping cheaply on the midnight show,
It's the same old ending - time to go.
Get out!
It seems they cannot leave their dream.
The un-paid extras disturb the Sleeping Broadway. WALK to the left DON'T WALK to the right: on Broadway, directions don't look so bright. Autoghosts keep the pace for the cabman's early mobile race.
There's something moving in the sidewalk steam,
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.
Nightime's flyers feel their pains.
Drugstore take down the chains.
Metal motion comes in bursts,
The gas station can quench that thirst.
Suspension cracked on unmade road
The trucker's eyes read 'Overload'
Enough of this - our hero is moving up the subway stairs into day-light. Beneath his leather jacket he holds a spray gun which has left the message R-A-E-L in big letters on the wall leading underground. It may not mean much to you but to Rael it is part of the process going towards 'making a name for yourself.' When you're not even a pure-bred Puerto Rican the going gets tough and the tough gets going.
And out on the subway,
Rael Imperial Aerosol Kid
Exits into daylight, spraygun hid,
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.
With casual sideways glances along the wet street, he checks the motion in the steam to look for potential obstruction. Seeing none, he strides along the sidewalk, past the drugstore with iron guard being removed to reveal the smile of the toothpaste girl, past the nightladies and past Patrolman Frank Leonowich (48, married, two kids) who stands in the doorway of the wig-store. Patrolman Leonowich looks at Rael in much the same way that other Patrolmen look at him, and Rael only just hides that he is hiding something. Meanwhile from out of the steam a lamb lies down. This lamb has nothing whatsoever to do with Rael, or any other lamb - it just lies down on Broadway.
The lamb seems right out of place,
Yet the Broadway street scene finds a focus in its face.
Somehow it's lying there,
Brings a stillness to the air.
Though man-made light, at night is very bright,
There's no whitewash victim,
As the neons dim, to the coat of white.
Rael Imperial Aerosol Kid
Wipes his gun - he's forgotten what he did,
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.
Suzanne tired her work all done,
Thinks money - honey - be on - neon.
Cabman's velvet glove sounds the horn
And the sawdust king spits out his scorn.
Wonder women you can draw your blind!
Don't look at me! I'm not your kind.
I'm Rael!
Something inside me has just begun,
Lord knows what I have done,
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.
On Broadway
They say the lights are always bright on Broadway.
They say there's always magic in the air.
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway FULL Album
Side one
1.The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 4:54
2.Fly on a Windshield 2:45
3.Broadway Melody of 1974 2:11
4.Cuckoo Cocoon 2:13
5.In the Cage 8:12
6.The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging 2:46
Side two
1.Back in N.Y.C. 5:39
2.Hairless Heart" (instrumental) 2:10
3.Counting Out Time 3:41
4.Carpet Crawl 5:16
5.The Chamber of 32 Doors 5:45
Side three
1.Lilywhite Lilith 2:49
2.The Waiting Room (instrumental) 5:17
3.Anyway 3:17
4.Here Comes the Supernatural Anaesthetist 2:49
5.The Lamia 6:58
6.Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats (instrumental) 3:01
Side four
1.The Colony of Slippermen 8:12
a. The Arrival
b. A Visit to the Doktor
c. The Raven
2.Ravine (instrumental) 2:06
3.The Light Dies Down on Broadway 3:32
4.Riding the Scree 4:07
5.In the Rapids 2:22
6.it 4:19
