Written by Banks,
Personnel: Tony Banks – Keyboards
Phil Collins – Percussion
Peter Gabriel – Vocals
Steve Hackett – Electric guitar
Michael Rutherford – Bass
Album: Foxtrot (1972)
“"Time Table” encapsulates a romantic narrative that yearns for the values of tradition, decency, and an age of king...
[Verse 1]
A carved oak table
Tells a tale
Of times when Kings and Queens
Sipped wine from goblets gold
And the brave would lead their ladies
From out of the room
To arbours cool
A time of valour
And legends born
A time when honour
Meant much more to a man than life
And the days knew only strife
To tell right from wrong
Through lance and sword
[Chorus]
Why, why can we never be sure till we die
Or have killed for an answer?
Why, why do we suffer each race to believe
That no race has been grander?
[Post-Chorus]
It seems because through time and space
Though names may change
Each face retains the mask it wore
[Verse 2]
A dusty table
Musty smells
Tarnished silver lies
Discarded upon the floor
Only feeble light descends
Through a film of grey
That scars the panes
Gone the carving
And those who left their mark
Gone the Kings and Queens
Now only the rats hold sway
And the weak must die
According to nature's law
As old as they
[Chorus]
Why, why can we never be sure till we die
Or have killed for an answer?
Why, why do we suffer each race to believe
That no race has been grander?
[Post-Chorus]
It seems because through time and space
Though names may change
Each face retains the mask it wore
Time Table was written by Tony Banks & Phil Collins & Peter Gabriel & Steve Hackett & Mike Rutherford.
Time Table was produced by Genesis & David Hitchcock.
Genesis released Time Table on Fri Oct 06 1972.