The explanation of this song, from the liner notes of the LP:
THE MUSICAL BOX
While Henry Hamilton-Smythe minor was playing croquet with Cynthia Jane De Blaise-William, sweet-smiling Cynthia raised her mallet high and gracefully removed Henry’s head. Two weeks later, in Henry’s nursery, she discove...
[Part I]
[Verse 1]
Play me "Old King Cole"
That I may join with you
All your hearts now seem so far from me
It hardly seems to matter now
[Verse 2]
And the nurse will tell you lies
Of a kingdom beyond the skies
But I am lost within this half-world
It hardly seems to matter now
[Chorus]
Play me my song
Here it comes again
Play me my song
Here it comes again
[Bridge]
(La-la-la-la-la-la)
Just a little bit (La-la-la-la-la-la)
Just a little bit more time (La-la)
Time left to live out my life (La-la)
(La-la, la-la)
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
Play me my song
Here it comes again
Play me my song
Here it comes again
[Part II]
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 3]
Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he
So he called for his pipe
And he called for his bowl
And he called for his fiddlers three
But the clock, tick-tock
On the mantelpiece
And I want, and I feel
And I know, and I touch her warmth
[Instrumental Break]
[Part III]
[Verse 3]
She is a lady, she's got time
Brush back your hair (She’s got time)
And let me get to know your face (For she’s a lady)
She is a lady, she is mine
Oh, brush back your hair (She is mine)
And let me get to know your flesh (She is a lady)
[Verse 4]
I've been waiting here for so long
And all this time has passed me by
It doesn't seem to matter now
You stand there with your fixed expression
Casting doubt on all I have to say
Why don't you touch me, touch me?
Why don't you touch me, touch me?
Touch me now, now, now, now, now!
Now, now, now, now, now!
Now, now, now, now, now!
Now, now, now, now!
Now, now, now, now!
[Instrumental Outro]
The Musical Box was written by Phil Collins & Peter Gabriel & Steve Hackett & Mike Rutherford & Tony Banks.
The Musical Box was produced by John Anthony.
Genesis released The Musical Box on Fri Nov 12 1971.