- Back in N.Y.C.
Song_infobox
Name = Back in N.Y.C.
SorA = album
Artist = Genesis
Album =The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Released =29 November 1974
track_no = 7
Recorded = August-October 1974
Genre =Progressive rock
Length = 5:43
Writer =Peter Gabriel ,Steve Hackett , Tony Banks,Mike Rutherford , andPhil Collins .
Composer =
Label = Charisma/Virgin (UK)
Atco (original US)
Atlantic (remastered CD)(U.S.)
Producer = John Burns and Genesis
Chart position =
prev = "The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging "
prev_no = 6
next = "Hairless Heart "
next_no = 8Back in N.Y.C. is a song written by
Peter Gabriel ,Steve Hackett , Tony Banks,Mike Rutherford , andPhil Collins , and first recorded and performed by theirprogressive rock band Genesis, appearing on from their 1974concept album "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway " and subsequent live tour.It is one of the band's more popular works from their progressive era and was the concert opener for their reunion as
Six of the Best . The song was performed rarely by Genesis after Gabriel's departure. It was originally used to open 1980's Duke tour, but was quickly replaced by "Deep in the Motherlode " after only a few shows. It was also used as an encore at the final show of the Duke tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City.Musically, the song is notable for being almost entirely in the unusual asymmetric
time signature of 7/8. The main verse sections are largely based around a 7/8 arpeggio/riff played onARP synthesizer and Steve Hackett's electronically processed guitar. Other instrumentation includes chord parts onpiano andHammond organ ,bass pedals and 'fuzz bass' (distortedbass guitar . Gabriel's vocal is in the main part hoarse and aggressive, and in places is processed using a synthesizer to add an unusual modulation effort.Brian Eno assisted the band with many of these electronic 'treatments'.The song's intro features a pulsing bass riff similar to that of "In the Cage,"
The song's lyrics give a flashback of the main character of "The Lamb", Rael, and his life before the events that occur as part of the album. According to Rael, "They call me the trail blazer; Rael electric razor. I'm the pitcher in the chain gang...." The song also describes Rael lighting gas fires and his distaste for "progressive hypocrites," illuminating his previously violent nature.
A notable cover version of the song was performed on
Jeff Buckley 's 1998 album "Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk ".Another cover version was done in 2005 by the band
…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead . They re-titled it without the abbreviations as "Back in New York City".External links
* [http://www.rawbw.com/~marka/music/lamb.html "The Annotated Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" - An interpretation of "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"]
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