Home > Messages from the Ether > Transcription: "Down and Out" by Genesis

Transcription: "Down and Out" by Genesis

I took interest in this song when I noticed the chromatic mediant relationship with the key of B moving to D (early on in the instrumental opening). I also liked the D min to D maj relationship (introduced in the second verse)--in my songs I'll periodically switch from the major chord to the minor, and so I'm shocked when it's done in reverse. Anyway, the transcription is average but adequate.

Notably I had recently read that Tony Banks disliked this song on the album (And Then There Were Three [Wikipedia]). It's weird to like a song that is disliked by (one of) it's composer(s). This album was always low, probably the lowest, on my list of Genesis albums. Why?

Why?

This brings into question much of what I feel I understand about rock music. I suspect that the biggest flaw in this album is arrangement (orchestration)--based on the horrific "Follow You, Follow Me." Yet, in a greater album (Selling England by the Pound), an equally horrific/popular song (no-they're-not-always-synonymous-but-they-can-often-be) "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)," is so poorly ... ignorantly ... arranged as to be offensive. This is the same Genesis that--on the same album, mind you--produced "The Battle of Epping Forest." Am I missing something?

Someone please tell me if I am.

Anyway, to continue, the Web pisses me off to no end. There's no absolute location for rock lyrics. Yesyesyes, I know they're copyrighted, but restricting their publication is about as affective as restricting key signatures for music. That is: if you say it's in E major, it's in E major. If you sing "hey hey mama, said the way you move," then everybody freakin' knows you've said that!

Anyway, here are the lyrics as stolen from some anonymous Web site that stole them from the album by simply listening to it:

It's good to be here! How've you been?
Check my bags, boy! Where's my room?
I sit on the phone, that's my game,
Keep up the pressure all the way!

I don't want to beat about the bush
but none of us are getting any younger.
There's people out there who could take your place.
A more commercial view! A fresher face!

I need a shower, take a nap
I'll meet you in the bar, we must have a rap.
There's a lot on the line, a lot to say.
There's something I must tell you today.

You and I both know the score,
you can't go on like this forever.
So it's with regret that I tell you now
that from this moment on,
you're on your own!

I don't talk round corners, it's right between the eyes
If you're slow they'll run past you,
Stand tall, see them falling over.
I walk a straight line, it's right between the eyes.
Well show me the door, show me someone who'll do it better.

The drinks are on me, be my guest.
Smoke a cigar? Take the best.
Don't hedge your bets, we can make a deal,
you got it in your pocket, how do you feel?

So glad that's over, now you know,
but I'm only acting under orders.
And looking down on you from way up here.
You've got to sink or swim, get off the floor!

I don't talk round corners, it's right between the eyes
If you're slow they'll run past you,
Stand tall, see them falling over,
I walk a straight line, right between the eyes.
Well show me the door, show me someone who'll do it better.

For any transcription more than a few measures, I'm going to use the Allegro plug-in for display. It is much better than JPGs because of playback and printing, but much worse because it forces the person to install a plug-in. I don't like 'em. You shouldn't like 'em. But until something better comes along, this is what I'll use.