The Carpet Crawlers
Genesis
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There is lambswool under my naked feet The wool is soft and warm Gives off some kind of heat A salamander scurries into flame to be destroyed Imaginary creatures are trapped in birth on celluloid The fleas cling to the golden fleece Hoping they'll find peace Each thought and gesture are caught in celluloid There's no hiding in memory There's no room to avoid The crawlers cover the floor in the red ochre corridor For my second sight of people, they've more lifeblood than before They're moving in time to a heavy wooden door Where the needle's eye is winking, closing on the poor The carpet crawlers heed their callers: "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out" There's only one direction in the faces that I see It's upward to the ceiling, where the chamber's said to be Like the forest fight for sunlight, that takes root in every tree They are pulled up by the magnet, believing they're free The carpet crawlers heed their callers: "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out" Mild-mannered supermen are held in kryptonite And the wise and foolish virgins giggle with their bodies glowing bright Through the door a harvest feast is lit by candlelight It's the bottom of a staircase that spirals out of sight The carpet crawlers heed their callers: "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out" The porcelain mannequin with shattered skin fears attack And the eager pack lift up their pitchers, they carry all they lack The liquid has congealed, which has seeped out through the crack And the tickler takes his stickleback The carpet crawlers heed their callers, "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out" "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out" "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out" "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out" The carpet crawlers heed their callers, "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out"
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Written by: Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steven Hackett, Michael Rutherford
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Band History"The Carpet Crawlers" was originally performed by Genesis, a British rock band formed in 1967.
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Song CreationThe song was written by all five members of the band, including Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, and Phil Collins.
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Album Appearance"The Carpet Crawlers" is included in their sixth studio album, "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", released in 1974.
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Background StoryThe lyrical content of the song, like the rest of the album it comes from, was largely conceived by Peter Gabriel.
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Conceptual ImageryThe song's complex imagery, inspired by a dream Gabriel had, draws on Biblical and mythological themes to explore a surreal world of mutations, humanoid creatures, and carpet crawlers.
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Multiple Versions"The Carpet Crawlers" has two official versions released by the band, the original from 1974, and a re-recorded version called "Carpet Crawlers 1999" which was released... well, in 1999.
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Re-recorded VersionThe '99 version of the song brings together both of Genesis' lead singers, Peter Gabriel & Phil Collins. It's one of the few times they collaborated after Gabriel left the band in 1975.
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Live PerformancesDespite its popularity, "The Carpet Crawlers" was dropped from their live set in the late '70s and was not performed live by the band again until the '90s.
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Chart PerformanceWhile "The Carpet Crawlers" didn't chart high when first released, its re-recorded version in 1999 made it to No. 2 on the Canadian Singles Chart.
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Cultural ImpactAs a testament to its enduring popularity, the song is still played regularly on progressive rock radio stations around the world.
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Band PerspectiveMembers of Genesis have cited "The Carpet Crawlers" as one of their favorite songs. Phil Collins has often praised Peter Gabriel's lyrics, stating that the song showcases Gabriel's songwriting brilliance.
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Citation
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"The Carpet Crawlers Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1538424/Genesis/The+Carpet+Crawlers>.
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