The Lady Lies (song)

Overview

"The Lady Lies" is the 10th track on Genesis ' 1978 album "…And Then There Were Three…", with all music and lyrics written by Tony Banks [Inner Sleeve of "...And Then There Were Three..."] .

Although "...And Then There Were Three.." was conceived as the album through which Genesis was changing into a pop trio, "The Lady Lies" remains one of their most complicated musical pieces [Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide] .

Lyrics

The song's dark lyrics tell the story of a man who is deceived by an evil woman (or demon-woman). The lyrics are told fancifully in an Old-English type of manner. As the story evolves, he is lured to what seems to be a "demon's lair" where many men have been seduced previously by the woman in the story [Upon listening to the song] .

Music

The music is very complicated, and is just as complex as anything on Wind and Wuthering or A Trick of the Tail.The verses are in 4/4 or 8/8, and the chorus is basically 6/8, although it was written in 3/8, like the solo section of the song. The key changes also are very complex, changing from Bb to Bmaj, Ab, etc. [Upon listening to the selection]

It is also the second longest track on the album, at about 6 minutes and 8 seconds.

The song was a live favorite from 1978-1980, along with "Deep in the Motherlode", as can be heard on bootleg tapes like "...Just A Pool of Tears..." and "Follow You, Follow Me".

Personnel

"All music/lyrics by Tony Banks"

* Tony Banks- Hammond Tonewheel T-102 Organ -> MXR Phase 100 -> Boss CE-1 Stereo Chorus , Piano, Mellotron, ARP 2600 -> Roland RE-201 space echo, Moog Polymoog (polyphonic analogue synthesizer) -> MXR Distortion+ and MXR Phase 100 (solo section), Backing vocals

*Phil Collins- Drums, Vocals, Percussion, Backing Vocals

*Mike Rutherford- Bass, Guitar, Backing vocals

Footnotes