Keep It Dark
Encyclopedia
"Keep It Dark" is a song by British band, Genesis
, released on October 23, 1981 as a single in Europe only. The track wasn't released as a single in the U.S.
song, it describes a man who is abducted by aliens and taken to a bright, happy world. Once he returns, however, he feels compelled to lie about the incident (i.e., to "keep it dark") and instead claim that he was kidnapped by thieves who wanted to take his money. The lyrics focus on the irony that a morbid lie would be more believable than a happy truth.
In the DVD interview accompanying the 2007 re-release of Abacab
, the album from which the song comes, composer Tony Banks
said that "the idea was that this character had to pretend that he'd just been robbed by people and that's why he'd disappeared for a few weeks, and in fact what had happened [was] he'd been taken up in a spaceship and gone to this fantastic world where everything was wonderful and beautiful and everything... but he couldn't tell anybody that, because no one would believe him."
The song's structure is unusual: the rhythm is in a 3/2 time signature
, with a distinctly syncopated rhythm guitar part. Lead singer Phil Collins
sings in falsetto
for certain lines of the song.
, Tony Banks, and Rutherford
in two different settings. In the first and second verses and the fade out, the band walks along bleak city streets (in Amsterdam
) wearing trenchcoats and fedoras. When the chorus comes in, it shifts to the band wearing all-white suits and sunglasses, and walking through a field, with the sun shining. In both settings, Banks mimes with a mini Casio keyboard and Rutherford with the neck from a guitar, while Collins keeps the beat of the song with drumsticks, mostly hitting air, or the walls of the Amsterdam houses.
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, released on October 23, 1981 as a single in Europe only. The track wasn't released as a single in the U.S.
Song information
A light rockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
song, it describes a man who is abducted by aliens and taken to a bright, happy world. Once he returns, however, he feels compelled to lie about the incident (i.e., to "keep it dark") and instead claim that he was kidnapped by thieves who wanted to take his money. The lyrics focus on the irony that a morbid lie would be more believable than a happy truth.
In the DVD interview accompanying the 2007 re-release of Abacab
Abacab
Abacab, released in 1981, is the 11th studio album by British band Genesis. It reached No.1 in the UK, where it remained in the charts for 27 weeks.-Background and recording:...
, the album from which the song comes, composer Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
said that "the idea was that this character had to pretend that he'd just been robbed by people and that's why he'd disappeared for a few weeks, and in fact what had happened [was] he'd been taken up in a spaceship and gone to this fantastic world where everything was wonderful and beautiful and everything... but he couldn't tell anybody that, because no one would believe him."
The song's structure is unusual: the rhythm is in a 3/2 time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
, with a distinctly syncopated rhythm guitar part. Lead singer Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
sings in falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
for certain lines of the song.
Music video
A music video supported the single release of the song, featuring CollinsPhil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, Tony Banks, and Rutherford
Mike Rutherford
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
in two different settings. In the first and second verses and the fade out, the band walks along bleak city streets (in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
) wearing trenchcoats and fedoras. When the chorus comes in, it shifts to the band wearing all-white suits and sunglasses, and walking through a field, with the sun shining. In both settings, Banks mimes with a mini Casio keyboard and Rutherford with the neck from a guitar, while Collins keeps the beat of the song with drumsticks, mostly hitting air, or the walls of the Amsterdam houses.
Other versions
- Prog rock band World TradeWorld Trade (band)World Trade was a U.S. progressive rock band that featured Billy Sherwood on bass and vocals and Bruce Gowdy on guitar. Yes's Chris Squire performed on their second album, Euphoria.-History:...
recorded a cover versionCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
for the Genesis tribute album Supper's Ready in 1996. - In 2007, Phil Collins' son, SimonSimon CollinsSimon Philip N. Collins is a British-Canadian musician. He is the son of English pop singer Phil Collins.-Early years:...
, recorded his own version of the song as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of Genesis' initial formation. This version of the song features a new intro, consisting of several guitar notes from the Genesis song "Silent Sorrow in Empty BoatsThe Lamb Lies down on BroadwayThe Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album recorded and released in 1974 by the British rock band Genesis. It was their sixth studio album and the last album by the group to feature the involvement of lead singer Peter Gabriel.-Premise:...
."