The Waiting Room (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Waiting Room" is an instrumental piece by Genesis
. It is the second track on the second half of their concept double-album, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
.
An avant-garde, spooky-sounding instrumental, "The Waiting Room" represents the moment when the album's protagonist, Rael, has just been left alone in a deep, dark cavern by his female guide, Lilywhite Lilith. Rael sees a mysterious light coming up the tunnel to the left of him, accompanied by a whirring sound. The light becomes so intensely bright that Rael is blinded. In desperation, he reaches for the nearest stone and hurls it in front of him. He hears the sound of breaking glass, and, with the light fading just enough so that he can see again, Rael catches sight of two golden globes hovering down the tunnel away from him. The moment they disappear from his view, there is the sound of a loud crack, and the cavern collapses, trapping Rael underneath the rubble.
Genesis wrote "The Waiting Room" through an improvisational jam. In fact, the working title
for the piece was "The Evil Jam." Drummer Phil Collins
has said that the band's only guidelines for "The Waiting Room" was that it had to begin nasty and finish nice. Says keyboardist Tony Banks
, "We switched off all the lights and just made noises. And the first time it really was frightening." During the recording, a thunderstorm suddenly began outside. Inspired by the thunder and the pouring rain, the band switched gears and performed the melodic, uptempo section that concludes the piece.
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...
. It is the second track on the second half of their concept double-album, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
The Lamb Lies down on Broadway
The 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:...
.
An avant-garde, spooky-sounding instrumental, "The Waiting Room" represents the moment when the album's protagonist, Rael, has just been left alone in a deep, dark cavern by his female guide, Lilywhite Lilith. Rael sees a mysterious light coming up the tunnel to the left of him, accompanied by a whirring sound. The light becomes so intensely bright that Rael is blinded. In desperation, he reaches for the nearest stone and hurls it in front of him. He hears the sound of breaking glass, and, with the light fading just enough so that he can see again, Rael catches sight of two golden globes hovering down the tunnel away from him. The moment they disappear from his view, there is the sound of a loud crack, and the cavern collapses, trapping Rael underneath the rubble.
Genesis wrote "The Waiting Room" through an improvisational jam. In fact, the working title
Working title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
for the piece was "The Evil Jam." Drummer 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....
has said that the band's only guidelines for "The Waiting Room" was that it had to begin nasty and finish nice. Says keyboardist 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...
, "We switched off all the lights and just made noises. And the first time it really was frightening." During the recording, a thunderstorm suddenly began outside. Inspired by the thunder and the pouring rain, the band switched gears and performed the melodic, uptempo section that concludes the piece.
Personnel
- Peter GabrielPeter GabrielPeter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
- fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening... - Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip 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....
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Tony BanksTony 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...
: keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Mike RutherfordMike RutherfordMichael 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...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
: guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
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