Album: Selling England By The Pound (1973)

Charted: 21

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• It's one o'clock and time for lunch (hum de dum, de dum)
  When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench
  I can always hear them talk
  
  There's always been Ethel
  "Jacob, wake up, you've got to tidy your room now"
  And then Mister Lewis
  "Isn't it time that he was out on his own?"
  Over the garden wall, two little lovebirds
  Cuckoo to you
  Keep them mowing, blades sharp
  
  I know what I like
  And I like what I know
  Getting better in your wardrobe
  Stepping one beyond your show (your show)
  Your show
  
  Sunday night, Mr. Farmer called, said
  "Listen son, you're wasting time"
  "There's a future for you in the fire escape trade"
  "Come up to town"
  
  But I remembered a voice from the past
  "Gambling only pays when you're winning"
  Had to thank old Miss Mort for schooling a failure
  Keep them mowing blades sharp
  
  I know what I like
  And I like what I know
  Getting better in your wardrobe
  Stepping one beyond your show
  
  I know what I like
  And I like what I know
  Getting better in your wardrobe
  Stepping one beyond your show
  
  When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench
  I can always hear them talk
  Me, I'm just a lawnmower
  You can tell me by the way I walk Writer/s: Anthony George Banks, Michael Rutherford, Peter Brian Gabriel, Phillip David Charles Collins, Stephen Richard Hackett
  Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

• Phil from UkI agree with Clemence - what is going on with the wardrobe / "your show" lyrics?
• Clemence from New YorkI think I understand everything in the song except "Getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show." Does anyone know what this refers to?
• Joe from PhiladelphiaThe painting that was used for the cover of SEBTP did not originally incorporate the Lawnmower. The band asked if it could be added in order to him at this song.
• Hypatia from Washington, DcThe body of water is the Firth of Forth, and it's on the east coast of Scotland, not west. Firth--the English cognate of the Norse word fjord--means an estuary, bay, or inlet. The Forth is a river that flows into the firth. So the title "Firth of Fifth" is wordplay on the real name.
• Wyatt from Anywhere, United StatesI like this song but I like Firth of fifth better. It like a lot of early Genesis songs is fullof metephors. I know the firth of fifth is a body of water onthe west side of Scotland but I'n not sure what the song is about, sound to me like the foolishness of men who think they are wise but I've always wondered about it. I was too long to be a hit. The only thing bad about it was "More Fool Me" followed it in which Phil Collins sang in a whiny voice which is my least favorite of the album
• Andrew from Buffalo, NyIt was the biggest hit of the Peter Gabriel era in the UK in ranked #17 in 1973
• Alex from Fort Mill, ScThis is a great album, quintessential British prog. Love the title very relevant for today's society. Has a great medieval theme to it.
• Keewa from Fairbanks, AlIn the insert to the vinyl album, there is a comment next to the title saying "Inspired by the cover painting"

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