Genesis:The Light Dies Down on Broadway

“The Light Dies Down on Broadway”
Artist:	Genesis
Albums:	The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974)
Lyricists:	Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford

He follows a small path running along the top, and watches the tube bobbing up and down in the water as the fast current carries it away. However, as he walks around a corner Rael sees a sky-light above him, apparently built into the bank. Through it he can see the green grass of home, well not exactly; he can see Broadway. His heart, now a little bristly, is shaken by a surge of joy and he starts to run, arms wide open, to the way out. At this precise point in time his ears pick up a voice screaming for help. Someone is struggling in the rapids below. It's John. He pauses for a moment remembering how his brother had abandoned him. Then the window begins to fade -- it's time for action.

As he walks along the gorge's edge
He meets a sense of yesteryear
A window in the bank above his head
Reveals his home amidst the streets

Subway sounds
The sounds of complaint
The smell of acid
On his gun of paint
As it carves out anger
In a blood-red hand
Destroyed tomorrow
By an unknown hand
My home

Is this the way out from the endless scene?
Or just an entrance to another dream?
And the light (the light the light the light light)
Dies down (down down down down)
On Broadway

But as the skylight beckons him to leave
He hears a scream from far below
Within the raging water writhes the form
Of brother John
He cries for help

The gate is fading now
But open wide
But John is drowning
I must decide
Between the freedom I had in the rat-race
Or to stay forever in this forsaken place
Hey John

He makes for the river
And the gate is gone
Back to the void
Where it came from
And the light (light light light light)
Dies down (down down down down)
On Broadway