As the kids say these days, it’s been about a minute since I’ve done any blogging. I could give you a bunch of excuses about how I’m so busy, how I’ve got too much going on, yada, yada, yada. And believe me… they’d all be true. But as I get older I realize that complaining about how busy I am is just sort of silly. Everyone’s busy. And no one wants to hear about it.
In any case, I was inspired to write this post when I got a notification of a new video upload from acoustic artist Mike Masse. Mike is a super talented artist who I originally ran across doing an absolutely ridiculous version of Africa’s Toto. (you can check out that performance here. You’ll be glad you did).
The notification was for Mike’s most recent video, a cover of the Genesis hit Land of Confusion.
This has long been one of my favorite Genesis hits from the time when the original music video dropped in the 80’s. The video features caricature puppets of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Ron goes to bed and has a nightmare which plays out in the song.
The song got the Disturbed treatment when the band covered it in 2006. Still a tremendous song if ‘revved up’ a bit.
For as well as I know this song I realized I never really sat down and read the lyrics. If you’ve been reading my stuff here on the blog for a while you know I’m a lyrics guy. I’ve got a ton going on in my life right now. Some good, some not so good. Hell, I spose that’s life. But sitting down and digesting these words really hit me.
Land of Confusion – Genesis
I must’ve dreamed a thousand dreams
Been haunted by a million screams
But I can hear the marching feet
They’re moving into the street
Now did you read the news today
They say the danger’s gone away
But I can see the fire’s still alight
There burning into the night
There’s too many men, too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can’t you see this is a land of confusion?
Well this is the world we live in
And these are the hands we’re given
Use them and let’s start trying
To make it a place worth living in
Ooh, Superman where are you now
When everything’s gone wrong somehow?
The men of steel, the men of power
Are losing control by the hour
This is the time, this is the place
So we look for the future
But there’s not much love to go round
Tell me why, this is a land of confusion
This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we’re given
Use them and let’s start trying
To make it a place worth living in
I remember long ago when the sun was shining
Yes, and the stars were bright all through the night
And the sound of your laughter as I held you tight, so long ago
I won’t be coming home tonight
My generation will put it right
We’re not just making promises
That we know, we’ll never keep
Too many men, there’s too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can’t you see, this is a land of confusion?
Now this is the world we live in
And these are the hands we’re given
Use them and let’s start trying
To make it a place worth fighting for
This is the world we live in
This is the world we live in
And these are the names we’re given
Stand up and let’s start showing
Just where our lives are going to
This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about Genesis. Their Invisible Touch album that this song came from made it on my list of 15 Albums That Changed My Life.
If there’s one line that spoke to me it was this one:
Too many men, there’s too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
I think it’s time that we all take note of this… if we did, maybe this would be a world worth fighting for.
