A Trick of the Tail
Genesis * Track #7 On A Trick of the Tail
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A Trick of the Tail by Genesis
Release Date
Performed by
GenesisProduced by
David HentschelWrited by
Tony BanksAbout
Discussing the adventures of a beast, “A Trick of the Tail” is the eponymous song on Genesis‘ sixth album, released in 1976. The song was the band’s first single featuring Phil Collins as the lead vocalist, following the departure of the previous one.
The song was inspired by parts of the William G...
A Trick of the Tail Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Bored of the life in the city of gold
He'd left and let nobody know
Gone were the towers he had known from a child
Along with a dream of a life
He traveled the wide open road, the blinkered arcade
In search of another to share in his life
Nowhere, everyone looked so strange to him
[Chorus]
They got no horns and they got no tail
They don't even know of our existence
Am I wrong to believe in the city of gold
That lies in the deep distance?
[Verse 2]
He cried and wept as they led him away to a cage
"Beast that can talk," read the sign
The creatures, they pushed and they prodded his frame
And questioned his story again
But soon they grew bored of their prey
The beast that can talk?
More like a freak or publicity stunt
Oh, oh, no, oh
[Chorus]
They got no horns and they got no tail
They don't even know of our existence
Am I wrong to believe in the city of gold
That lies in the deep distance?
[Post-Chorus]
He cried and broke down the door
Of the cage and marched on out
He grabbed a creature
By the scruff of his neck, pointing out
[Bridge]
"There, beyond the bounds
Of your weak imagination
Lie the noble towers
Of my city, bright and gold
Let me take you there
Show you a living story
Let me show you others such as me
Why did I ever leave?"
[Chorus]
They got no horns and they got no tail
They don't even know of our existence
Am I wrong to believe in the city of gold
That lies in the deep distance?
He cried and wept
[Verse 3]
And so we set out with the beast and his horns
And his crazy description of home
After many days journey, we came to a peak
Where the beast gazed abroad and cried out
We followed his gaze and we thought that maybe we saw
A spire of gold? No, a trick of the eye, that's all
But the beast was gone and a voice was heard
[Chorus]
"They got no horns and they got no tail
They don't even know of our existence
Am I wrong to believe in the city of gold
That lies in the deep distance?"
(Hello friend, welcome home)
A Trick of the Tail Q&A
Who wrote A Trick of the Tail's ?
A Trick of the Tail was written by Tony Banks.
Who produced A Trick of the Tail's ?
A Trick of the Tail was produced by David Hentschel.
When did Genesis release A Trick of the Tail?
Genesis released A Trick of the Tail on Mon Feb 02 1976.