"There's an angel standing in the sun" "Free to get back home"
As many of you know theses lines are sung by Phil Collins in the Genesis song, Los Endos, and are fainlty heard as the "instrumental" fades out. Furthermore, these lines originate in their epic "Supper's Ready"; in the seventh section, the last section, called "As Sure as Eggs is Eggs," one of the most beautiful pieces of music anywhere (from Foxtrot). In that part, the words are:
"Can't you feel our souls ignite? Shedding ever-changing colors In the darkness of the fading night Just like the river joins the ocean As the germ in a seed grows We've finally been freed to get back home
There's an angel standing in the sun And he's crying with a loud voice 'This is the supper of the mighty one!' The Lord of Lords, King of Kings Has returned to lead his children home To take them to the new Jerusalem"
Three years after that song was written, Peter Gabriel, probably the major writer of the song (?), left the band. A Trick of the Tail was Genesis's first album without Gabriel and with Phil as lead vocalist. On that album LOS ENDOS is found. I believe that the song is very interesting in analyzing Genesis songwriting and their history--it involves these things and more. Those two final stanzas of Supper's Ready seem to be derived from the book of REVELATION, ch.19:16-17 and the surrounding verses in the Bible. Here, it describes the rider of a white horse that comes from the heavens...my version reads:
"He has a name written on his cloak and on his thigh, 'King of kings, and Lord of lords.' Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He cried out [in] a loud voice to all the birds flying high overhead, 'Come here. Gather for God's great feast."
Interesting huh? Part six of Supper, "Apocalypse in 9/8" has some references to Magog, seven trumpets, and the dragon, also found elsewhere in Revelation. I've still not drawn a complete interpretation of Supper's Ready but I gather that it deals with revelations, the END of the world, the END of death, the return of Jesus, conversion, fulfillment. With that in mind, let's continue...
Supper was the "centerpiece" of early Genesis work as Peter describes in the history video. The band would usually not encore after it because they felt they couldn't top it. The song was very important, as was Gabriel, probably to its production. Peter leaves after Genesis gains lots of popularity from his stage performances and the Lamb. The band continues on (now as a quartet) and Trick comes out and becomes very popular. Now in writing this album, fresh off a concept album and their leader's departure, many things were running through their heads I'm sure about the band's state then, their future, their past with Gabriel--I believe some of these anxieties came forth in the music, perhaps. The album itself (Trick) is a splendid one to listen to and is probably my favorite. Now something strange happens, the words of Supper appear in the pseudo-instrumental, LOS ENDOS. Why? Let's get the song in our heads.
In the first half, Los Endos has it's own sound and melody. Until some notes from DANCE ON A VOLCANO are heard and eventually brought forward when the song goes down the scale and fades out (the opening guitar riff is then heard). But then something weird happens, that sort-of chorus of voice fades up (ahhhhh- -also heard on ENTANGLED), and the drum methodically beats, and with that familiar bar from Volcano played, the song builds up to a climax, a loud, blasting version of SQUONK. What this sounds like is Genesis's first medly. But I feel it is much more than just a "best of..." off of A Trick of the Tail-- Particularly when the words from Supper are heard.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN????? I believe it shows connections with Supper AND the songs on Trick (Dance, Entangled[?], and Squonk). Dance speaks of crosses and "doing it right"; Entangled is sort of a death-a look at a life-an entrance into something holy; Squonk is about an ugly, furry, animal that is hunted in the woods and dissolves into tears. A connection? What about Supper? A connection? Well, I'm not sure about specifics but, when put all together, loose ends are met, A CIRCLE IS COMPLETED, everything is jumbled together in chaos, but seems in order in Los Endos in some way. A farewell to Peter?...perhaps, but something more.
Anyone in Spanish knows that "los" is a word for "the" in English, but connects to something plural. "Endos" is not a real word in Spanish or in any language. The root of it is END. Many people have the believe that Spanish is easy because all one has to do to change a word from English to Spanish is to put an "o" (for masculine words) or an "a" (for feminine ones) on the end of it (ex. plato=plate, carro=car, blusa=blouse). So, if literal, Los Endos, would mean "The Ends." Usually we see the words, "The End," and not in a plural context. But with this song, it makes sense--it has pieces (ENDINGS) from different songs put together in a sort of climactic finale--it also appears at the END of ATotT. Is it the end of all songs? Maybe. Why Spanish? English would be too blatant and more quickly deciphered.
How can it be the end? There are many more Genesis albums. Where there's an end, there is a beginning--there's is never one without the other. Peter left, an end to something; a new album, a beginning to something. There was a definite "start over" or "reshuffling" of songwriting as Mike put it in the history video. Beginning/end at the same time--like a circle or the shape of a ring, they are symbols of continuity and eternity--the perfect shape. There is the end and the beginning, the alpha and the omega, the genesis and the endo.
Interpretation is an interesting feat, and Genesis calls for it all the time. Here's my attempt at "code-breaking" an aspect of the group and some songs. See what conclusions, interpretations, and connections you can draw.