Burning Rope
Genesis · ...And Then There Were Three... [1978]
The snowflake drifting on the breath of the breeze,
The lightning bolt that frees the sky for you
Yet only eagles seem to pass on through.
The words of love, the cries of hate,
And the man in the moon who seduced you
Then finally loosed you.
You climbed upon a burning rope to escape the mob below,
But you had put the flaming out so that others could not follow,
To be out of the bounds and the barks of those who do not wish you well.
You must blaze a trail of your own, unknown, alone,
But keep in mind
Don't live to-day for tomorrow like you were immortal.
The only survivors on this world of ours are
The warming sun, the cooling rain,
The snowflake drifting on the breath of the breeze,
The lightning bolt that frees the sky for you
Yet only eagles seem to pass on through.
The words of love, the cries of hate,
And the man in the moon who seduced you
Then finally loosed you.
You're old and disillusioned now as you realize at last,
That all all you have accomplished here will have soon all turned to dust.
You dream of a future after life, well that's as maybe, I don't know.
But you can't take what you left behind, you're all alone.
So keep in mind
Don't live to-day for tomorrow like you were immortal.
The only survivors on this world of ours are
The warming sun, the cooling rain,
The snowflake drifting on the breath of the breeze,
The lightning bolt that frees the sky for you
Yet only eagles seem to pass on through.
The words of love, the cries of hate,
And the man in the moon...
Burning Rope
Burning Rope stands as a defining track from Genesis's 1978 album ...And Then There Were Three..., marking a pivotal moment in the band's transition toward a more accessible pop-rock sound. Following the departure of Peter Gabriel, the remaining trio of Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Phil Collins consolidated their creative control, resulting in a leaner, more direct musical approach. This recording showcases the group's evolving dynamic, blending Banks's intricate keyboard textures with Rutherford's driving bass lines and Collins's distinctive vocal delivery. The song reflects the band's willingness to experiment with shorter, more concise structures while maintaining the progressive rock sensibilities that characterized their earlier work. As part of a critically acclaimed era, the track highlights the group's ability to craft emotionally resonant music that balanced complexity with immediate appeal, solidifying their status as innovators within the rock genre.