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“Watcher of the Skies” is the lead track on the 1972 Genesis' album Foxtrot. Perhaps the signature song from the earliest stages of Genesis’ career, “Watcher of the Skies” often opened their live performances with its haunting extended opening keyboard segment.

Watch Watcher of the Skies on YouTube Genesis, “Watcher of the Skies” – 4/20/74, Montréal QC, Canada

With all the original members of Genesis in attendance except the band’s early driving artistic force, Peter Gabriel – a conspicuous absence that made the whole affair more than a tad uncomfortable for long-time Genesis fans – Phish performed “Watcher of the Skies” to open the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the Waldorf Astoria in New York on 3/15/10. 

Watch Watcher of the Skies on YouTube Phish, “Watcher of the Skies” – 3/15/10, New York, NY

Who else but Phish would be asked to step up and nail such a difficult, complex piece in front of (most of) the original artists? They performed the song flawlessly, after which Trey gave the induction speech bringing Genesis into their rightful place in the R&R Hall, which was then followed by Phish covering the (much) later Genesis hit “No Reply at All.”

Watch Watcher of the Skies on YouTube Trey Anastasio’s induction speech for Genesis into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – 3/15/10, New York, NY

Given Trey’s well-documented love for Genesis it’s a wonder that they haven’t performed a Genesis cover in any official live performance to date, though careful observers will note the “Watcher of the Skies” tease by Mike toward the very end of the 6/26/10 “Tweezer.” The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was one of the finalists for the album to be performed at Festival 8 in 2009 that eventually yielded the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main St. so clearly anything is possible.

(Banks, Rutherford)
© Bienstock Publishing Company (ASCAP)

Watcher of the skies watcher of all
His is a world alone no world is his own
He whom life can no longer surprise
Raising his eyes beholds a planet unknown

Creatures shaped this planet's soil
Now their reign has come to an end
Has life again destroyed life
Do they play elsewhere?
Do they know more than their childhood games?
Maybe the lizards shed its tail
This is the end of mans long union with earth

Judge not this race by empty remains
Do you judge God by his creatures when they are dead?
For now, the lizards shed its tail
This is the end of mans long union with earth

From life alone to life as one
Think not now your journeys done
For though your ship be sturdy
no mercy has the sea
Will you survive on the ocean of being?
Come ancient children hear what I say
This is my parting council for you on your way

Sadly now your thoughts turn to the stars
Where we have gone you know you never can go
Watcher of the skies watcher of all
This is your fate alone, this fate is your own