This is one of the great Genesis songs, but the title is obviously a (weak) pun on the Firth of Forth.
The music is largely Tony Banks' work, and the lyrics were him and Mike Rutherford, although apparently he later said they were some of the worst lyrics he had ever been involved with!
The imagery is all watery. "He" in the second verse is a river, who flows past men's homes, but they don't even notice his beauty or power. A waterfall is the river's "madrigal" - a short song for 2-3 vocals - while an inland sea is "his" greatest achievement - a symphony.
Undines were water nymphs, while the Sirens were bird-women who lured sailors to their death. They seem to be inserted somewhat randomly to keep up the watery feel.
When the river enters the sea, Neptune (the God of the Sea) has claimed his "soul".
The stuff about gods, men and sheep? No idea. Perhaps the suggestion is that, unlike the river which carves its own majestic path to its destiny, men are like sheep - standing uselessly by until someone shows them the way to go? Oh dear, I've gone all pretentious. Sorry...
Anyway, Steve Hackett's solo is absolutely brilliant - his best work ever?
This is one of the great Genesis songs, but the title is obviously a (weak) pun on the Firth of Forth.
The music is largely Tony Banks' work, and the lyrics were him and Mike Rutherford, although apparently he later said they were some of the worst lyrics he had ever been involved with!
The imagery is all watery. "He" in the second verse is a river, who flows past men's homes, but they don't even notice his beauty or power. A waterfall is the river's "madrigal" - a short song for 2-3 vocals - while an inland sea is "his" greatest achievement - a symphony.
Undines were water nymphs, while the Sirens were bird-women who lured sailors to their death. They seem to be inserted somewhat randomly to keep up the watery feel.
When the river enters the sea, Neptune (the God of the Sea) has claimed his "soul".
The stuff about gods, men and sheep? No idea. Perhaps the suggestion is that, unlike the river which carves its own majestic path to its destiny, men are like sheep - standing uselessly by until someone shows them the way to go? Oh dear, I've gone all pretentious. Sorry...
Anyway, Steve Hackett's solo is absolutely brilliant - his best work ever?
@darlomunday I can't help but have feelings during that guitar solo. It's something else.
@darlomunday I can't help but have feelings during that guitar solo. It's something else.