Genesis:Broadway Melody of 1974

“Broadway Melody of 1974”
Artist:	Genesis
Albums:	The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974)

The moment of impact bursts through the silence and in a roar of sound, the final second is prolonged in a world of echoes as if the concrete and clay of Broadway itself was reliving its memories. The last great march past. Newsman stands limp as a whimper as audience and event are locked as one. Bing Crosby coos "You don't have to feel pain to sing the blues, you don't have to holla -- you don't feel a thing in your dollar collar." Martin Luther King cries "Everybody Sing!" and rings the grand old liberty bell. Leary, weary of his prison cell, walks on heaven, talks on hell. J.F.K. gives the O.K. to shoot us, sipping Orange Julius and Lemon Brutus. Bare breasted cowboy double decks the triple champion. Who needs Medicare and the 35c flat rate fare, when Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are dancing through the air? From Broadway Melody stereotypes the band returns to 'Stars and Stripes' bringing a tear to the moonshiner, who's been pouring out his spirit from the illegal still. The pawn broker clears the noisy till and clutches his lucky dollar bill.

Echoes of the Broadway Everglades
With her mythical madonnas still walking in their shades
Lenny Bruce declares a truce
And plays his other hand
Marshall McLuhan, casual viewin'
Head buried in the sand
Sirens on the rooftops wailing
But there's no ship sailing
Groucho with his movies trailing
Stands alone with his punchline failing

Klu Klux Klan serve hot soul food
And the band plays 'In the Mood'
The cheerleader waves her cyanide wand
There's a smell of peach blossom and bitter almond
Caryl Chessman sniffs the air and leads the parade
He knows in a scent you can bottle all you made
There's Howard Hughes in blue suede shoes
Smiling at the majorettes smoking Winston cigarettes
And as the song and dance begins
The children play at home
With needles
Needles and pins