This concept piece is 23 minutes long and divided into seven sections.
It tells the story of two lovers who travel to strange worlds, eventually returning to their world only to witness The Apocalypse. At Genesis concerts, pamphlets were distributed with notes detailing what was going on in each section.
This helped the crowd follow along. Peter Gabriel was the band's lead singer at the time, and the lyrics he wrote for this song were inspired by a night he spent with his first wife, Jill, at her parents' house.
Gabriel believes Jill became possessed by a spirit, which gave him the starting point for a song about the battle between good and evil.
Gabriel: "One of the first times that I felt as if I was really singing from my soul, almost like singing for my life."
Section 6 is titled "Apocalypse." Gabriel got the idea for it while reading the book of Revelations in The Bible. This section features a solo over an unusual 9/8 rhythm.
This was the first big production number Genesis came up with. Led by Gabriel, they started putting on extravagant stage performances to please the fans and generate publicity. In 1974, they took it to a new level by performing their entire double album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway on tour. In that show, Gabriel changed costumes a number of times.
A few years after Gabriel left, Genesis moved from anthems like this to short pop songs. Led by Phil Collins, they lost some fans but had a string of hits.
When Gabriel left the band in 1975, they continued to perform this in concert, with Phil Collins on vocals. It is included on their 1977 live album Seconds Out. Gabriel told Mojo magazine that it was a "weird thing" seeing Collins sing a song with personal elements in it. He added: "It was like watching someone in your old clothes and you're not sure how well they fit."
(1) Welcome to the annotated lyrics to the epic song that is the 23 minute long opus, "Supper's Ready"! Such a complex work as this can be befuddling to the average listener, and so these notes are provided for the complete lunatic who wishes to know more. The information here is from various sources, some of them cited and others not, as this is not meant to be an academic work. Most sources are as accurate as possible, however, and hopefully there is not too much of the editor's belief imposed onto the structure of the song, as it should be left up to the listener/reader. One of the main sources is The Genesis Discography by members of the online magazine Paperlate, from the section on song meanings, collecting various anecdotes from band members and other sources. Wkipedia and other internet resources were also used. Several books on the band and it's members were used as well. Finally, the story in red that accompanies the lyrics is from a programme handed out during one of the early tours.
Peter Gabriel is quoted as saying: "I really felt that I was writing about myself in a lot of ways…". One story Peter would tell to introduce the song at shows went like this:
"Old Michael, walked past the pet shop – which was never open – into the park – which was never closed. And in the park was a very smooth, clean green grass. So Michael, took off all his clothes, and began rubbing his flesh into the wet, clean green grass. He accompanies himself with a little tune… It went like this…
(Sometimes Phil Collins would pretend he wasn't listening by saying "I'm sorry everybody, I wasn't actually paying attention to what he was saying", then start playing a jazzy little riff on the hi-hat. Peter would then improvise some vocal sounds like "Bom tiddly BAM toodly doobim toodoo" or something like that.)
Beneath the ground, the dirty brown writhing things, called worms, interpreted the pitter patter from above as rainfall. Rainfall in worm-world means two things: Mating and Bathtime. Both of these experiences were found thoroughly enjoyable to the worm colony… simultaneously. And within seconds, the entire surface of the park was a mass of dirty, brown, soggy, writhing forms. He was still pleased – Old Michael, and he began whistling a tune this time, to accompany himself. It went like this:"
At this point Phil would again play the hi-hat and Peter would whistle a version of the hymn "Jerusalem" (37).
"Jerusalem Boogie to us perhaps, but to the birds it meant THE SUPPER IS READY!"
Who are these birds? And to what does Supper's Ready refer to? Fasten your seatbelt and read onwards…
I. Lovers' Leap (2)
In which two lovers are lost in each other's eyes, and found again transformed in the bodies of another male and female.
Walking across the sitting-room, I turn the television off. (3)
Sitting beside you, I look into your eyes.
As the sound of motor cars fades in the night time,
I swear I saw your face change, (4) it didn't seem quite right.
… And it's hello babe with your guardian eyes so blue
Hey my baby don't you know our love is true.
Coming closer with our eyes, a distance falls around our bodies.
Out in the garden, the moon seems very bright,
Six saintly shrouded men move across the lawn slowly.
The seventh walks in front with a cross held high in hand. (5)
… And it's hey babe your supper's waiting for you.
Hey my baby, don't you know our love is true.
I've been so far from here,
Far from your warm arms.
It's good to feel you again,
It's been a long long time. Hasn't it?
II. The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man
The lovers come across a town dominated by two characters: one a benevolent farmer, and the other the head of a highly disciplined scientific religion. (6) The latter likes to be known as "The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man" (7) and claims to contain a secret new ingredient capable of fighting fire. (8) This is a falsehood, an untruth, a whopper and a taradiddle, (9) or to put it in clearer terms; a lie.
I know a farmer who looks after the farm. (10)
With water clear, he cares for all his harvest.
I know a fireman who looks after the fire. (11)
You, can't you see he's fooled you all.
Yes, he's here again, can't you see he's fooled you all.
Share his peace,
Sign the lease.
He's a supersonic scientist, (12)
He's the guaranteed eternal sanctuary man.
Look, look into my mouth he cries,
And all the children lost down many paths, (13)
I bet my life you'll walk inside
Hand in hand,
gland in gland
With a spoonful of miracle,
He's the guaranteed eternal sanctuary man.
We will rock you, rock you little snake,
We will keep you snug and warm (14)
III. Ikhnaton (15) and Itsacon (16) and their Band of Merry Men
Who the lovers see clad in grays and purples, awaiting to be summoned out of the ground. At the G.E.S.M.'s command they pour forth, from the bowels of the earth, to attack all those without an up-to-date "Eternal Life Licence" which were obtainable at the head office of the G.E.S.M.'s religion. (17)
Wearing feelings on our faces while our faces took a rest,
We walked across the fields to see the children of the West,
But we saw a host of dark skinned warriors
standing still below the ground,
Waiting for battle.
The fight's begun, they've been released.
Killing foe for peace… bang, bang, bang. Bang, bang, bang…
And they're giving me a wonderful potion,
'Cos I cannot contain my emotion.
And even though I'm feeling good,
Something tells me I'd better activate my prayer capsule. (18)
Today's a day to celebrate, the foe have met their fate.
The order for rejoicing and dancing has come from our warlord.
IV. How Dare I Be so Beautiful? (19)
In which our intrepid heroes investigate the aftermath of the battle and discover a solitary figure, obsessed by his own image. They witness an unusual transmutation, and are pulled into their own reflections in the water.
Wandering in the chaos the battle has left,
We climb up the mountain of human flesh,
To a plateau of green grass, and green trees full of life.
A young figure sits still by a pool,
He's been stamped "Human Bacon" by some butchery tool.
(He is you)
Social Security took care of this lad. (20)
We watch in reverence, as Narcissus is turned to a flower.
A flower? (21)
V. Willow Farm
Climbing out of the pool, they are once again in a different existence. They're right in the middle of a myriad of bright colours, filled with all manner of objects, plants, animals and humans. Life flows freely and everything is mindlessly busy. At random, a whistle blows and every single thing is instantly changed into another. (22)
If you go down to Willow Farm,
to look for butterflies, flutterbyes, gutterflies (23)
Open your eyes, it's full of surprise, everyone lies,
like the focks on the rocks,
and the musical box.
Oh, there's good and bad, there's Mum & Dad
and everyone's happy to be here.
There's Winston Churchill dressed in drag,
he used to be a British flag, plastic bag, what a drag.
The frog was a prince, the prince was a brick, the brick was an egg, the egg was a bird.
(Fly away you sweet little thing, they're hard on your tail)
Hadn't you heard?
(They're going to change you into a human being!) (24)
Yes, we're happy as fish and gorgeous as geese,
and wonderfully clean in the morning.
We've got everything, we're growing everything,
We've got some in
We've got some out
We've got some wild things floating about
Everyone, we're changing everyone,
you name them all,
We've had them here,
And the real stars are still to appear.
ALL CHANGE! (25)
Feel your body melt;
Mum to mud to mad to dad
Dad diddley office, Dad diddley office,
You're all full of ball.
Dad to dam to dum to mum
Mum diddley washing, Mum diddley washing,
You're all full of ball.
Let me hear you lies, we're living this up to the eyes.
Ooee-ooee-ooee-oowaa
Momma I want you now.
And as you listen to my voice
To look for hidden doors, tidy floors, more applause.
You've been here all the time, (26)
Like it or not, like what you got,
You're under the soil (the soil, the soil),
Yes, deep in the soil (the soil, the soil, the soil!).
So we'll end with a whistle and end with a bang
and all of us fit in our places.
VI. Apocalypse in 9/8 (Co-starring the Delicious Talents of Gabble Ratchet) (27)
At one whistle the lovers become seeds in the soil, where they recognize other seeds to be people from the world in which they had originated. While they wait for Spring, they are returned to their old world to see the Apocalypse of St. John in full progress. The seven trumpeters cause a sensation, the fox keeps throwing sixes, (28) and Pythagoras (a Greek extra) is deliriously happy as he manages to put exactly the right amount of milk and honey on his corn flakes.
With the guards of Magog, swarming around,
The Pied Piper takes his children underground. (30)
Dragons coming out of the sea,
Shimmering silver head of wisdom looking at me.
He brings down the fire from the skies,
You can tell he's doing well by the look in human eyes.
Better not compromise.
It won't be easy. (31)
666 is no longer alone,
He's getting out the marrow in your back bone, (33)
And the seven trumpets blowing sweet rock and roll,
Gonna blow right down inside your soul. (34)
Pythagoras with the looking glass reflects the full moon,
In blood, he's writing the lyrics of a brand new tune. (35)
And it's hey babe, with your guardian eyes so blue,
Hey my baby, don't you know our love is true,
I've been so far from here,
Far from your loving arms,
Now I'm back again, and babe it's gonna work out fine.
VII. As Sure as Eggs is Eggs (36) (Aching Men's Feet)
Above all else an egg is an egg. "And did those feet…" (37) making ends meet.
Can't you feel our souls ignite
Shedding ever changing colours, in the darkness of the fading night, (38)
Like the river joins the ocean, as the germ in a seed grows (39)
We have finally been freed to get back home. (40)
There's an angel standing in the sun, and he's crying with a loud voice,
"This is the supper of the mighty one",
Lord of Lords,
King of Kings, (41)
Has returned to lead his children home,
To take them to the new Jerusalem.
Jerusalem = A place of peace. (42)
