Steve Hackett - Watcher Of The Skies Lyrics






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 end
Has life again destroyed life?
Do they play elsewhere, do they know
More than their childhood games?
Maybe the lizard's shed its tail
This is the end of man's 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 lizard's shed it's tail
This is the end of man's long union with Earth

From life alone to life as one
Think not now your journey's 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





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Steve Hackett Watcher Of The Skies Comments
  1. E.... ....

    What a band! Nad is magnificent as are all the players in this stellar band. Mellotron samples are amazing. Kudos to Maestro Hackett for masterminding this superb tribute to Genesis.

  2. j.... ....

    One of THE greatest intros in all of Rock and Roger King nails it. I always thought Tony Banks rushed it a bit performing it live, but this was performed just...sublimely.

  3. M.... G....

    From Madeira island Thank You Steve!!!!! To remember the best years of my live!!!!!!!

  4. h.... ....

    Just magical. The whole band are amazing but Nad nails the vocals.

  5. U.... ....

    Never mind the singer , I mean he's good but , I think Roger King's recreation of the backbone keyboard palette is superb...

    U.... ....

    As Banks was to Genesis, Roger King is to the Steve Hackett Band. Sublime.

  6. H.... S....

    Simply sublime.

  7. J.... T....

    I can't believe the foot-traffic back and forth during this. Utterly shameful. I've seen Piccadilly Circus quieter. Some dolt and his ugly bint would have had my pint hoyed over them, if they'd have done this incessantly in front of me - and I'm *really* not one to let a pint go south. Greetings to all from a beautiful, autumnal Aylesbury - I added this comment over a pint at The White Swan - which was Fish's favourite haunt, when he lived here in Marillion's formative years. Their first single was 'Market Square Heroes'; the Market Square in question is twenty steps from where I'm sitting. I'm going to real ale myself into oblivion this afternoon 😆✅.

  8. M.... M....

    Fantastic rock that will never die well done guys ❤️

  9. l.... ....

    Absolutely thumbs up for nad! Great vocals. Rare to find such quality when covering gabriel s voice. For the piece, don t you thing it is slower than the original?????? Did not liked this performance like the other in the series.

  10. B.... T....

    Fantastic performance of one of the greatest songs ever. Beautiful light show. It's wonderful that this music is still being played so well.

  11. B.... B....

    Watcher of the skies, watcher of all
    Watcher des cieux, observateur de tout
    His is a world alone no world is his own
    Son est un monde en solitaire sans monde est son propre
    He whom life can no longer surprise
    Celui que la vie ne peut plus surprendre
    Raising his eyes beholds a planet unknown
    Levant les yeux voit un inconnu planète

    Creatures shaped this planet's soil
    Créatures forme le sol de cette planète
    Now their reign has come to end
    Maintenant leur règne est venu de mettre fin à
    Has life again destroyed life?
    A détruit la vie de la vie à nouveau?
    Do they play elsewhere, do they know
    Jouent-ils d'ailleurs, savent-ils
    More than their childhood games?
    Plus que leurs jeux d'enfance?
    Maybe the lizard's shed its tail
    Peut-être le lézard de se débarrasser de sa queue
    This is the end of man's long union with Earth
    C'est la fin de la longue union de l'homme avec la Terre

    Judge not this race by empty remains
    Ne jugez pas cette course par des restes vides
    Do you judge God by his creatures when they are dead?
    Jugez-vous Dieu par ses créatures quand ils sont morts?
    For now, the lizard's shed it's tail
    Pour l'instant, le lézard de jeter sa queue
    This is the end of man's long union with Earth
    C'est la fin de la longue union de l'homme avec la Terre

    From life alone to life as one
    De la vie seul à la vie comme l'un
    Think not now your journey's done
    Ne pensez pas dès maintenant votre voyage est fait
    For though your ship be sturdy
    Pour que votre bateau soit robuste
    No mercy has the sea.
    Pas de pitié a la mer.
    Will you survive on the ocean of being?
    Allez-vous survivre sur l'océan de l'être?
    Come ancient children hear what I say
    Venez entendre les enfants anciens ce que je dis
    This is my parting council for you on your way
    C'est mon conseil de séparation pour vous sur votre chemin

    Sadly now your thoughts turn to the stars
    Malheureusement maintenant vos pensées se tournent vers les étoiles
    Where we have gone you know you never can go
    Lorsque nous sommes allés vous savez que vous ne pouvez aller
    Watcher of the skies watcher of all
    Watcher of the watcher ciel de tous les
    This is your fate alone, this fate is your own
    C'est votre destin seul, ce sort est le vôtre

  12. A.... o....

    Have to admire the drummer who can play and sing at the same.

  13. p.... l....

    At 64, I dare to say that Steve Hackett is a being of light who has come to this world with his wonderful music to illuminate and deliver beauty to the earth ... I do not have the technical knowledge of music, I just know that from the beginning of the 70s, where my musical taste was sealed mainly by progressive rock and Genesis mainly.

    Here in Chile I have had the opportunity to witness their live shows and what can I say about this experience. Only thanks to life for having had this opportunity.

    Thank you Steve for always demonstrating that great simplicity as a person.

  14. E.... ....

    If you can't have the original band, this is a damn good boss performance. Well done!

  15. J.... P....

    BRAVO Gentlemen!!! Love, love, love.

  16. Y.... ....

    ...nie wiem który raz oglądam, słucham. Ogromny szacun 👍👏👏👏👏👌🙋😘❤️👂🎼🎵🎸🎤🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹😄🎶🎵...bo przecież oryginał z 1972 roku znam prawie jak własną kieszeń ...a tu trudno znaleźć właściwe dla zachwytu słowa👋✌

  17. A.... C....

    Hackett and his band transporting the great Genesis time and sound very well from the 70s in the concert-halls today. I'm thanks god and Steve Hackett for every gig that i can see actually and in the next time.

  18. M.... S....

    Phenomenal.

  19. M.... S....

    What a lucky bastard Lee Pomeroy is. He got to play with Steve Hackett in Genesis Revisited and the Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman version of Yes. That’s some resume dude.

  20. P.... R....

    See the thing is, Genesis, Yes, King Crimson ect.... are musos bands and on the most part can only be appreciated as such?
    Nad Sylvan also sang with King Crimson I think?

  21. A.... K....

    Steve and Peter should get together.

  22. E.... ....

    What a great band. Maybe even better than Genesis? Nad Sylvan's vocals are incredible.

  23. C.... G....

    Dude, this song is epic. I ran into this listening to Genesis Peter Gabriel.

  24. A.... S....

    A song Daryl Stuermer can't play

  25. J.... F....

    The vocals are on the money. Having seen Genesis numerous times live in concert I am comfortable saying that this rendition is extremely close to the original...which means that you didn't like it as well. Are you even a fan?

  26. T.... ....

    very tasty. steve hackett 1 A

  27. D.... Z....

    Bassist is Lee Pomeroy, who is now playing with Jon Anderson.

  28. P.... M....

    Sublime rendition. 2013 tour?

  29. S.... &....

    No criticism to the singer, but facts are facts: unfortunately to replace Gabriel is not easy. Even GENESIS did not manage to find a substitute and they "had to make do" with P. Collins.
    This performance is just sufficient.

  30. K.... R....

    This is good but you cant beat Gabriel Acting out to the original stage version.
    The costume and the face make up plus the facial gestures added tremendously to the performance.

  31. W.... T....

    I think the opening tempo is a bit too slow, but I just adore this version!

  32. C.... H....

    Such a great idea for Steve to initiate Genesis Revisited.

  33. g.... g....

    favorite Genesis song love hearing other versions this is one of the best

  34. j.... p....

    Steve Hackett une de ses premieres compos my God thanks Steve Hackett le MAITRE

  35. N.... B....

    On my top 10this song is#1

  36. v.... c....

    Right on the money

  37. R.... D....

    oh my...this is one heck of a classic. So frickin' excellent!!! Carry on !

  38. F.... ....

    one of the most epic intro in the history of rock

    F.... ....

    Foxtrot Got that right!

  39. L.... B....

    Morzart is listened to hundreds of years later so I love my youth once again.

  40. L.... K....

    Really captured the feel of early Genesis! Steve was and is, one of the guitar greats...

  41. L.... M....

    i dont estimate art for art .

  42. J.... K....

    So very good. Utterly fantastic! This goes into my soul. Steve is a wizard.

  43. w.... g....

    my first genesis concert 1975 with the original -this is total excellent the same !

  44. J.... G....

    Steve is the only member of Genesis that retains the original spirit of the group...

  45. M.... Y....

    Ma in un concerto LIVE che vi frega della qualità ? E' l'ANIMA che si deve sentire...

  46. C.... M....

    Steve H score with the new singer,,,,

  47. m.... o....

    Único, insuperable Steve Hackett

  48. D.... ....

    this rocks as hard as anything ever played!

  49. s.... ....

    Long time Steve Hackett fan. I was just surfing by and clicked because I always like the original and was just going to sample this but wound up watching the whole performance. I've got to say that was excellent!

  50. S.... B....

    Brilliant version nice to see it done live again

  51. S.... P....

    Superb performance , Steve Hackett is still a great guitar player and the singer is just great....love this

  52. I.... A....

    el genio de genesis

  53. G.... A....

    Uno dei miglori brani dei Genesis eseguiti magistralmente dal grandissimo Steve Hackett grandissimo!!!!!

  54. F.... Z....

    Sounds awesome, love it

  55. i.... ....

    Master class....great musicianship

  56. r.... p....

    Nad is superb!

  57. D.... R....

    Mr. Hackett, and his Band, just knock it out of the park! What a Masterpiece! Even P.C. and P.G. must listen to this version and go, "Wow...We did that?" :)

  58. A.... _....

    only one man can sing that song. his name is Peter Gabriel.

  59. R.... G....

    Saw Genesis with Hackett twice in the early 70s. The Genesis Revisited version here is damn good and kudos to Nad Sylvan out front.

  60. �.... �....

    I've remembered Peter Gabriel to hear this vocal's voice.Amazing!Whole of sounds isn't different from one in those days.It got revived!

  61. j.... p....

    Hackett the group le maitre.. pour les autres ok demande leur de jouer La Chaconne de Jean- Sebastian Bach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrlVS9aSVXU

  62. M.... B....

    Great version, but unlike Genesis, they don't have a great dynamic range. Its always on the edge, tense and volume wise, and that subtracts from the final result. But I would love to hear it live nonetheless, there are great little details in there by Hackett that weren't on the original.

  63. H.... H....

    I've been at the concert and I must admit that the weak point for me was the singer, but after all is not PG who wants

  64. D.... K....

    I had a chance to interview Steve last time he came through this part of the US - humble and low-key guy, sly sense of humor.

    As an old-school Genesis fan, I've been conflicted about his now years-long recitation of the canon. Hackett is a good composer and I think his solo stuff doesn't get the appreciation it deserves.

    They didn't do this one on the show I saw, but overall, I think I've become a believer. His absolutely belief in the quality of the Charisma and early Atlantic material I think is well-founded, and I think in the hands of an overall better band than Genesis was in 1972-75, the material really shows off its complexity, depth and maturity. Hackett himself said that alot of this stuff was actually still demanding to play live. 'Can-Utility and the Coastliners' one of the best examples - a minor album cut, but a fiercely complex composition.

    I think Nad and the stone-faced Roger King really make this band.

  65. V.... S....

    Very, very good mister Hackett -thanks

  66. L.... C....

    Sounds great! If you scroll down and read the comments you can just listen...without seeing this Robert Plant/Highlander/Jack Sparrow dude.

  67. T.... H....

    GAY METAL....

    T.... H....

    That Heavy Creep Sound...You certainly are gay metal...excuse my ignorance, I gave metal a bad name...you're just gay period.

  68. J.... M....

    Any feedback from Peter, Phil, Mike, or Tony on this tour that Steve Hackett has put together?

    J.... M....

    James Murray great question.

  69. A.... P....

    Excepcional guitarrista!

  70. m.... ....

    They make a Great cover band, after all if hacket wasn't in Genisis he'd be a middle of the road musician, as a guitarist he's mediocre at best

    m.... ....

    You're crazy! Hackett is one of the most underrated guitarist of the classic rock era. The special effects and ideas he did with the guitar are groundbreaking.

    m.... ....

    mvfdiver You talk complete garbage . You can't spell and I very much doubt if you can play guitar .

    m.... ....

    Hilarious observation

    m.... ....

    What in the hell are you talking about?

  71. S.... ....

    Hey! Where is the talented guy who rubs two turntables back and forth?!

  72. T.... ....

    Superb!

  73. f.... ....

    Excelete versão, o vocalista tem o tom de voz muito parecido com o Peter Gabriel.

  74. S.... J....

    as the intro progresses, and the first descending/counterpoint chords are played..I choke up, and tears come to my eyes...and my life until now flashes before me...and I think about what could have been...I smile and take a breath..and thank a group of musicians ...their ability to draw such emotions is indeed a rare talent....music/sweet rock "n roll....thanks ...

  75. P.... V....

    Great to see Steve standing up and singing back vocals.

  76. J.... N....

    Peter get on that stage...put on the costume and sing your fucking heart out!!!

  77. P.... D....

    these guys are working hard

  78. A.... D....

    Pe-r-r-r-fect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  79. J.... M....

    no one can cover Steves contributions to Genesis IMO ****

  80. A.... D....

    Mr Hackett one o' the best. Gary O'Toole ace drummer.

  81. G.... B....

    Progressive best exemple of music.

  82. T.... H....

    Playing this live is a piece of art..

  83. L.... B....

    As I write this all the great joys of my youth come flooding back with tears of joy. Thank you .

  84. a.... ....

    Amazing. Speechless...

  85. M.... F....

    Is beautiful

  86. M.... D....

    Brilliant. But you have to admit that the star of the show is Tony Banks.

  87. L.... V....

    You are amazing! They are exactly the living copy of Genesis, perfect! Congratulations!

  88. d.... r....

    simply amazing

  89. F.... M....

    Estos weyes no tienen madre me cae!!!!!

  90. L.... S....

    Where did Steve find this singer? WOW

    L.... S....

    @adolfo rodolfo Yes - my main issue with him isn't his voice; while I don't think he has a great voice, I can admit that he can carry a tune and sounds a little like P.G., which helps when listening to this astonishing group of musicians play technically difficult stuff that I've loved since I was a teenager. You are basically correct: my main issue with him is his stage presence...if you're a fan I'm sorry but the guy just rubs me the wrong way. Even when Gabriel's theatrics were getting on my nerves, he still had great stage presence - hell, he demanded your attention. I've seen P.G. on 5 different tours and he still has a commanding presence, even after having mellowed with age. Nad just feels pretentious.

    L.... S....

    @David Cameron At least we're disagreeing amicably. I saw the band live last month and Nad was terrific, both vocally and the stage presence was spot on. Maybe part of the issue here is that a stage performance which has to project enough to hold the audience's attention while the singer is singing looks overblown when filmed in close up? I was/am a huge Jethro Tull fan. When I look at old videos of Ian filmed in close up it all looks way over the top, preposterous sometimes - but to an eighteen year old me sitting tens of rows back in a 3,000 seater auditorium it was rivetting. I think Nad has a tricky job; he has to pay some kind of dues to the PG legacy, which is one of sometimes outrageous theatricality, hold the audience while he is singing and at the same time not outshine the other band members, especially Steve. I think he gets it just right. Like I say, I think you would really enjoy Steve's band live - you might even change your mind about Nad.

    L.... S....

    @adolfo rodolfo Good point about projecting... Yes, I'm SURE I'd enjoy seeing them. They were recently in Chicago (I'm in Illinois) doing Selling England and I didn't realize it until after. Your Jethro Tull reference made me chuckle remembering Ian playing the flute while standing on one leg...

    L.... S....

    @David Cameron I'm glad we found some middle ground - I think we had some to start with. I saw the SEBTP tour here in the UK five weeks ago, in my home town, and it was truly memorable, it's part of the reason why I'm drawn to defend Nad when people criticise him here on you Tube, not that all that many do, especially if they've seen the band live. For some people his big crime is simply not actually being Peter Gabriel, or Phil Collins, or both at once. The tour is coming back to the States through March next year, but not near you I think. It's worth keeping a lookout for the next tour (the US dates/venues haven't been announced yet, although the UK ones next November are already on sale - got my ticket). The set list is basically every song that's on the "Seconds Out" live LP, which is kind of a best of Genesis 1971 to 1977, plus some of Steve's solo stuff, which is really good too. Don't miss out this time 😊 Cheers.

    L.... S....

    @adolfo rodolfo Agreed - the music is our connection! I will definitely follow his tour schedule more closely. I saw Genesis once, two years after Steve left the band...it was the And Then There Were Three tour. I stopped following them after ABACAB - they became a little too pop for my taste. I have Steve's first three solo albums (CD's) but haven't followed him too closely since - I'd love to see him play all of Please Don't Touch (as long as Nad isn't doing the vocals 😎). Cheers!

  91. J.... T....

    Guitar God.

  92. u.... ....

    legendary intro with mellotron sound. It makes everyone imagine his own sky.

    u.... ....

    I saw the show in Vienna in 2013. The moment Roger King hit the keyboards, and we heard the mellotron intro, I told myself: OK, everything is all right, this is it, this is what I have been waiting for. I am already happy, happy and satisfied with the gig, after the initial 20 seconds :) Of course, there continued a 2+ hour show, so it was an awesome night!!!

  93. P.... R....

    And my respect to the singer: he is able to recreate the atmosphere and the feeling of the song, without copying PG...good job dude!

    P.... R....

    Yep. Saw them live and it was fantastic through and through !!!

  94. P.... R....

    Just wonderful tune. Even if P.G. is not on the voice...this timeless tune still rocks...Keep up the momentum Steve! You still kick asses!!

  95. J.... C....

    Watcher of the skies: the birth of heavy metal. Anyone agree?

    J.... C....

    Well, if this is Heavy Metal, then Beethoven's 9th was the birth of Grunge.
    I would still call it Prog Rock.

    J.... C....

    Foxy Lady. And don't forget Steppenwolf's "Born to be wild with the immortalized line...........wait for it........HEAVY METAL THUNDER!

    J.... C....

    Heavy metal started around 1968 with black Sabbath it also got its start with other band like blue cheer and Rolling stones Beatles (helter skelter), Steppenwolf when he mentioned heavy metal thunder in the song born to be wild rush and Led Zeppelin.

    J.... C....

    A lot of people would say that the birth of heavy metal was the Kinks' 'You Really Got Me'. Who cares? But this song definitely isn't the birth of heavy metal, firstly because metal was already around and secondly because it isn't even metal.

  96. s.... ....

    this singer is great! Takes no shine off Steve and does the music proud. Whats his name?

    s.... ....

    Nad Sylan

  97. l.... m....

    is that the flower kings bass player?