The Musical Box (song)
| "The Musical Box" | |
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"The Musical Box" is a song by English progressive rock/hard rock band Genesis, which was originally released on their third studio album Nursery Cryme in 1971.[1]The song has been written in the key of F# major.
About
Though credited solely to Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford, "The Musical Box" began as an instrumental piece written by Anthony Phillips[citation needed] called "F#" (later released as "Manipulation" on the Box Set remaster). The lyrics are based on a Victorian fairy story written by Gabriel, about two children in a country house. The girl, Cynthia, kills the boy, Henry, by removing his head with a croquet mallet. She later discovers Henry's musical box. When she opens it, Henry returns as a spirit, and starts aging very quickly. This causes him to experience a lifetime's sexual desires in a few moments, and he tries to persuade Cynthia to have sexual intercourse with him. However, his nurse arrives and throws the musical box at him, destroying them both. The album cover shows Cynthia holding a croquet mallet, with a few heads lying on the ground.
In live performances, Peter Gabriel would wear an "old man" mask for the final verse and unzip the chest part of his black jumpsuit. Dramatic lighting would be used each time he shouted "NOW!" "The Musical Box" was featured in their live repertoire right up to Phil Collins' departure after the We Can't Dance tour in 1992, albeit with only the closing section being included as part of a medley.
A Genesis tribute band, The Musical Box, is named after the song.
Personnel
- Tony Banks – organ, electric piano, 12 string guitar
- Mike Rutherford – 12 string guitar, bass
- Peter Gabriel – lead vocals, flute, percussion
- Steve Hackett – electric guitar
- Phil Collins – drums