"Land of Confusion" is probably the most popular Genesis song.1 It's got a weird, intense video.2 It's been covered by countless bands.3
You've heard it. It's clearly about the political and social chaos of Reagan's Cold War America, with a side order of the baby boomer generation failing to live up to the 1960's revolutionary promise, yes?
Well...no.
It's about loneliness.
Phil Collins totally buries the lead, hiding the song's key lyrics in the bridge section:
"I remember long ago when the sun was shining and the stars were bright
And the sound of your laughter as I held you tight
So long ago..."
That's the part nobody pays attention to.4 It's not as catchy as the chorus or any of the verses but please note- it's immediately followed by the song's most memorable and haunting bit of music as the keyboards rise to a crescendo. That's a dead giveaway that this is the real heart of the song.
"Land of Confusion" is a bunch of ranting to conceal the pain of losing a loved one.5 By death, by breakup, by losing touch- this song is about how hopeless and random the world looks when you're facing life on your own after losing someone. Collins wouldn't be complaining about all the confusion if he was still hearing his lover's laughter.
The world has always been and always will be a mess; it's a perpetual land of confusion.6 It's on us to "make it a place worth living in," as he says. It's not politics or social activism that's gonna save us or ease our pain, though. It's love.
* * *
3. Covered by Nelly Furtado, In Flames, Disturbed, Fourth Dimension, etc.
4. It's worth noting that both In Flames and Disturbed eliminated or changed the lyrics on this section- they probably thought these lines were the wussy non-metal part.
5. "It's not about what it's about," as they say.
6. Things aren't unusually bad now, nor during the time this song was released. It's always easier to point out how messed-up everyone and everything else is than to deal directly with difficult things in your life. Phil Collins is calling all of us out here. Dude is hardcore.
-Phony McFakename
1. "I Can't Dance" and "Mama" have more views on YouTube, but this song's better.
2. Lady Gaga WISHES she could make a video this weird:
2. Lady Gaga WISHES she could make a video this weird:
4. It's worth noting that both In Flames and Disturbed eliminated or changed the lyrics on this section- they probably thought these lines were the wussy non-metal part.
5. "It's not about what it's about," as they say.
6. Things aren't unusually bad now, nor during the time this song was released. It's always easier to point out how messed-up everyone and everything else is than to deal directly with difficult things in your life. Phil Collins is calling all of us out here. Dude is hardcore.
-Phony McFakename
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