Back in N.Y.C.
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| “Back in N.Y.C.” | |||||
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| Song by Genesis | |||||
| Album | The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway | ||||
| Released | 29 November 1974 | ||||
| Recorded | August-October 1974 | ||||
| Genre | Progressive Rock | ||||
| Length | 5:43 | ||||
| Label | Charisma/Virgin (UK) Atco (original US) Atlantic (remastered CD)(U.S.) |
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| Writer | Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Phil Collins. | ||||
| Producer | John Burns and Genesis | ||||
| The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway track listing | |||||
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Back in N.Y.C. is a song written by Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Phil Collins, and first recorded and performed by their progressive rock band Genesis, appearing on from their 1974 concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and subsequent live tour.
It is one of the band's more popular works from their progressive era and was the concert opener for their reunion as Six of the Best. The song was performed rarely by Genesis after Gabriel's departure. It was originally used to open 1980's Duke tour, but was quickly replaced by "Deep in the Motherlode" after only a few shows. It was also used as an encore at the final show of the Duke tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Musically, the song is notable for being almost entirely in the unusual asymmetric time signature of 7/8. The main verse sections are largely based around a 7/8 arpeggio/riff played on ARP synthesizer and Steve Hackett's electronically processed guitar. Other instrumentation includes chord parts on piano and Hammond organ, bass pedals and 'fuzz bass' (distorted bass guitar. Gabriel's vocal is in the main part hoarse and aggressive, and in places is processed using a synthesizer to add an unusual modulation effort. Brian Eno assisted the band with many of these electronic 'treatments'.
The song's intro features a pulsing bass riff similar to that of "In the Cage,"
The song's lyrics give a flashback of the main character of The Lamb, Rael, and his life before the events that occur as part of the album. According to Rael, "They call me the trail blazer; Rael electric razor. I'm the pitcher in the chain gang...." The song also describes Rael lighting gas fires and his distaste for "progressive hypocrites," illuminating his previously violent nature.
A notable cover version of the song was performed on Jeff Buckley's 1998 album Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk.
Another cover version was done in 2005 by the band …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. They re-titled it without the abbreviations as "Back in New York City".
