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walrus333 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 29 2005
Location: United States
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 Topic: Harold the Barrell
Posted: December 19 2005 at 20:50 |
I got Nursery Cryme yesterday and I was wondering about the lyrics of harold the barrell. Musically the song doesnt seem very serious but lyrically its pretty serious its about a guy comiting suicide, whats up with that?!
myabe im just completely confused on the lyrics though 
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If anyone knows where I can get a copy of some Flute and Voice (Indo-Prog/Raga Rock) albums please PM me! Many thanks!
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The Wizard
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Joined: July 18 2005
Location: United States
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Points: 7341
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Posted: December 19 2005 at 20:56 |
Good song. I like how Gabriel plays the role of different people using his voice. Similar to David Bowie in style and lyrical content.
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el böthy
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Location: Argentina
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Points: 6336
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Posted: December 19 2005 at 21:01 |
jejeje theres a man here from the BBC
jejeje I love that part
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"You want me to play what, Robert?"
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Bern
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Posted: December 19 2005 at 21:04 |
If I recall, it is about a guy who cuts off one of his toes and then he serve tea(with the toe in this tea) to his children. And then, he tries to commit suicide or something because everyone suddenly hate him (for some reaon). I just think it is a pretty weird story so I guess it is normal that it doesn't sound very serious...
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RIP in bossa nova heaven.
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carpet_crawler
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Joined: December 17 2005
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Posted: December 19 2005 at 22:22 |
Yeah, it's surprisingly light-hearted for being about a man killing himself.
The bit about his mother telling him he can't jump, because his shirt's
dirty and the man from the BBC is there -- that's hilarious. It really
isn't such a surprise why he'd be in a situation like that to begin
with, considering that.
The changes in this song -- especially the "you must be joking/ take a running jump" sections -- really make it a fun track.
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FragileDT
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Posted: December 19 2005 at 22:24 |
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The song is has dark humor like a lot of Genesis' songs do. It's about a man
who is about the kill himself and the media blows it up and it goes into
detail. I haven't read the lyrics in a while but it's a very interesting track. It's
not intended to be a joke in any way.
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One likes to believe
In the freedom of music
But glittering prizes
And endless Compromises
Shatter the illusion
Of integrity
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The Miracle
Prog Reviewer
Joined: May 29 2005
Location: hell
Status: Offline
Points: 28427
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Posted: December 19 2005 at 22:28 |
Yea, a great, fun song Robbery, Assault, and Battery reminds me of it. I never looked deeply into the lyrics, but looks like FDE is right... it doesn't seem like a joke to me.
Edited by The Miracle
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goose
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Points: 4097
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 05:05 |
 el böthy wrote:
jejeje theres a man here from the BBC
jejeje I love that part |
 Makes me proud to be British, that one 
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Moogtron III
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 26 2005
Location: Belgium
Status: Offline
Points: 10616
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 05:26 |
FragileDT wrote:
The song is has dark humor like a lot of Genesis' songs do. It's about a man
who is about the kill himself and the media blows it up and it goes into
detail. I haven't read the lyrics in a while but it's a very interesting track. It's
not intended to be a joke in any way. |
Dark humour, that's what it is. The music is fantastic, by the way . The were a creative bunch of people in those days. Just imagine, they were only about 21 years old when they made it, and Phil Collins was 19 if I'm not mistaken.
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BiGi
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Joined: June 01 2005
Location: Italy
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 05:33 |
FragileDT wrote:
The song is has dark humor like a lot of Genesis' songs do. It's about a man
who is about the kill himself and the media blows it up and it goes into
detail. I haven't read the lyrics in a while but it's a very interesting track. It's
not intended to be a joke in any way. |
A very interesting track from a wonderful album!
The jumpy mood of the song conveys perfectly the idea of people rushing and hurrying to the place where the action takes place, as well as the gossip chitchat of the bystanders.
Then we have the relaxed bridge, in which the main character is perfectly portrayed as he stands on the ledge strongly desiring to be far away from all the fuss and the strife of everyday life and get it over with the hypocrite ways people expect him to behave in.
At last we have the closing section with its dramatic chord sequence which gives the precise idea of when he jumps off the ledge and plummets into the void...and it always gives me the creeps...
Peter Gabriel at his best composing and acting: he succeeds in giving the perfect idea of the nosy crowd, of the prude mother, of the bold lord mayor and of course of the tormented main character!
The song itself is tight in structure, much more convincing than the similar Get 'em out by Friday, this last one indulging too much in winding instrumental sections which in the end turn out rather boring.
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A flower?
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Snow Dog
Special Collaborator
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 06:33 |
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Its an easy enough song to understand.
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Losendos
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Joined: June 03 2005
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Points: 571
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 06:53 |
Fantastic track from a fantastic album
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How wonderful to be so profound
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Under
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Joined: June 02 2005
Location: Netherlands
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 07:20 |
FragileDT wrote:
The song is has dark humor like a lot of Genesis' songs do. It's about a man
who is about the kill himself and the media blows it up and it goes into
detail. I haven't read the lyrics in a while but it's a very interesting track. It's
not intended to be a joke in any way. |
I remember an interview where it was said that this song and I Know What I Like were in fact intended as some sort of critical jokes, a joke with a deeper thought and meaning.
If you listen to Harrold the Barrel you must surely say that the lyrics are not fully serious, but the subject is. Genesis liked to make songs like that. Presenting a serious subject in a funny way. That makes the subject and the story told even more ridiculous and shoudl give the listener a feeling of relativity. Get "M Out By Friday is an example as well.
That probably is the thought behind the open end. Well, it is not that open, but you don't hear a bang or something. Genesis wants you to remain with your thoughts about the subject and not end the song laughing out loud or skipping the last seconds just not to hear the bang.
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Jim Garten
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Retired Admin & Razor Guru
Joined: February 02 2004
Location: South England
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 07:36 |
BiGi wrote:
The song itself is tight in structure, much more convincing than the similar Get 'em out by Friday |
Personally, I much prefer 'Harold' to all the other character driven narratives of Gabriel's (Get'em out by Friday, Battle Of Epping Forest'), and certainly more than Robbery Assault & Battery, which I think was written as the band considered this is what the post-Gabriel audience would expect/want.
As far as 'Harold' goes - "your shirt's all dirty, and there's a man here from the BBC" - pure British!
Edited by Jim Garten
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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chopper
Special Collaborator
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Joined: July 13 2005
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 08:13 |
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Very black humour, this song. It is a great lyric and there are some nice one liners ("hasn't got a leg to stand on"). It's fits in very well with the macabre nature of some of the other songs (man-eating plants, people getting their heads knocked off with mallets etc).
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FragileDT
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 08:58 |
BiGi wrote:
FragileDT wrote:
The song is has dark humor like a lot
of Genesis' songs do. It's about a man
who is about the kill himself and the media blows it up and it goes into
detail. I haven't read the lyrics in a while but it's a very interesting track.
It's
not intended to be a joke in any way. |
A very interesting track from a wonderful album!
The jumpy mood of the song conveys perfectly the idea of people rushing
and hurrying to the place where the action takes place, as well as the
gossip chitchat of the bystanders.
Then we have the relaxed bridge, in which the main character is perfectly
portrayed as he stands on the ledge strongly desiring to be far away from
all the fuss and the strife of everyday life and get it over with the
hypocrite ways people expect him to behave in.
At last we have the closing section with its dramatic chord sequence
which gives the precise idea of when he jumps off the ledge and
plummets into the void...and it always gives me the creeps...
Peter Gabriel at his best composing and acting: he succeeds in giving the
perfect idea of the nosy crowd, of the prude mother, of the bold lord
mayor and of course of the tormented main character!
The song itself is tight in structure, much more convincing than the
similar Get 'em out by Friday, this last one indulging too much in
winding instrumental sections which in the end turn out rather boring.
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Well said. I would only disagree with the Get 'em out by Friday
comment but agree to disagree.
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One likes to believe
In the freedom of music
But glittering prizes
And endless Compromises
Shatter the illusion
Of integrity
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FragileDT
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: June 20 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1485
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 08:59 |
Under wrote:
FragileDT wrote:
The song is has dark humor like a
lot of Genesis' songs do. It's about a man who is about the kill himself
and the media blows it up and it goes into detail. I haven't read the lyrics
in a while but it's a very interesting track. It's not intended to be a joke in
any way. |
I remember an interview where it was said that this song and I Know
What I Like were in fact intended as some sort of critical jokes, a joke with
a deeper thought and meaning.
If you listen to Harrold the Barrel you must surely say that the lyrics are
not fully serious, but the subject is. Genesis liked to make songs like that.
Presenting a serious subject in a funny way. That makes the subject and
the story told even more ridiculous and shoudl give the listener a feeling
of relativity. Get "M Out By Friday is an example as well.
That probably is the thought behind the open end. Well, it is not that
open, but you don't hear a bang or something. Genesis wants you to
remain with your thoughts about the subject and not end the song
laughing out loud or skipping the last seconds just not to hear the bang.
|
I guess you could think of it as somewhat of a "joke" if in that matter. My
intention was only to say that they meant for the song to be taken
seriously with a sort of dark humor type edge.
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One likes to believe
In the freedom of music
But glittering prizes
And endless Compromises
Shatter the illusion
Of integrity
|
|
Bj-1
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: June 04 2005
Location: No(r)Way
Status: Offline
Points: 31621
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 09:39 |
Typically Genesis humour. Very "Bad mood in a good mood" song. I think it's a nice track 
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RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on!
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tomasm
Forum Newbie
Joined: November 22 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 5
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 14:43 |
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I think they were influenced by Monty Python
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Chris_Kemp
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Joined: September 02 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 113
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Posted: December 20 2005 at 15:18 |
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Actually, the inrospective middle part is kind of moving and not really funny at all. A stunning contrast. This is basically a rock opera in under three minutes.
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"That's not your face...it's mine! IT'S MINE!!
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Harold the Barrell
