Lyrics To I Know What I Like By Genesis

Ever heard a song that just…clicks? A song where the lyrics are so bizarre, so utterly you, that you feel like the band somehow peeked into your brain? For me, that song is "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" by Genesis.

Don't let the title fool you. It's not some creepy fashion critique. It's a whimsical, slightly bonkers exploration of…well, who knows? But it’s brilliant!

Gardening and Gazing: Decoding the Opening

The song kicks off with a simple premise: "It's one o'clock and time for lunch. When the sun beats down and I lie right back." Okay, relatable. Who hasn't dreamed of ditching their responsibilities for a midday nap in the sun?

Then comes the kicker: "And strangers passing in the street. Compliment me on my lawn." Hold on. What lawn? Is our protagonist a dedicated gardener basking in the glory of his perfectly manicured green space?

Maybe! Or maybe it's a metaphor! For, uh…something. Probably something deep and philosophical. Or maybe Peter Gabriel just thought it sounded cool. Either way, it works!

He continues: "I said 'thanks very much' and then I look right back." Stare back! It's important to the plot, as you will soon see!

The Mower Man: More Than Meets the Eye

The chorus is the heart of the song, and it's gloriously repetitive: "Me, I'm just a lawnmower – you can tell me by the way I walk." He identifies as a lawnmower! Not operating a lawnmower, but being one. This is either profound or completely insane. I'm leaning towards profound…ly insane.

The next line is even better: "I'm mowing the lawn." Obvious, really. He’s a lawnmower, doing lawnmower things. "Been mowing the lawn," he confirms! Just to be sure we got the memo.

“You can tell me by the way I walk.” The line is so iconic and so perfectly captures the image of someone slightly off-kilter, proud of their mundane occupation, and determined to repeat it over and over again.

The Wardrobe Wanderer: A Slightly Suspicious Inquiry

Now for the juicy bit, the bit that makes everyone raise an eyebrow: "I know what I like, and I like what I know. Looking out the window, watching the show." Observational, sure, but what show are we talking about?

And then...bam! "I know what I like, what I like's in your wardrobe." Okay, lawnmower man, that's a little forward, don't you think? Is this a friendly compliment on someone's clothing choices, or is our protagonist planning a heist? Possibly both.

Maybe he just admires their organizational skills? Perhaps he's got a thing for perfectly hung shirts? The possibilities are endless. And slightly unsettling.

He continues with "Hanging in your wardrobe, watching the show". Is the wardrobe the show? The mysteries are multiplying.

The Village Idiot: A Masterclass in Subversion

The second verse introduces a new character: "And walking through the village green. I saw him mowing in the sun." Another mower! A rival! Or maybe just a colleague. The tension is palpable!

"I said 'alright!' he said 'any day'. And spinning round he faced the sun." Dramatic! The spinning! The sun! It's like a scene from a bizarre Western, but with lawnmowers instead of cowboys.

Then the chorus hits again, reaffirming his identity as a lawnmower and his strange fascination with your wardrobe. He is serious about his identity.

"Get 'Em Out, Get 'Em Out!": The Climax (Maybe?)

The bridge is where things get really…interesting. "Get 'em out, get 'em out, get 'em out, they cry. I don't care if I die." Who is "they"? What are they being urged to "get out"? And why is our lawnmower man so nonchalant about potential death?

Perhaps it’s a metaphor for societal pressure. The “they” represent the conformists, urging him to abandon his lawnmower identity and join the rat race. He refuses! He’s a lawnmower, darn it, and he’ll mow until he drops! It is his freedom.

Or maybe he's just really stubborn. Either way, it's an empowering message. Stand your ground, even if you're a lawnmower with a wardrobe obsession.

Musical Madness: It's All About the Groove

Let's not forget the music! Genesis weren't just lyrical geniuses; they were musical wizards. The song's infectious groove, the quirky instrumentation, the way it builds and builds – it's pure magic!

The flute solo by Peter Gabriel adds a touch of whimsical elegance. It's like a fairy tale unfolding in a suburban backyard. It's simply perfect!

And Phil Collins's drumming is, as always, impeccable. He lays down the foundation for all the lunacy happening above.

The Enduring Appeal: Why We Still Love It

So why does "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" still resonate with listeners decades later? Because it's weird! It's quirky! It's unapologetically itself!

It's a reminder that it's okay to be a little different, to embrace your eccentricities, to be a lawnmower with a penchant for wardrobe exploration. This is a lesson for us all.

And who knows, maybe your wardrobe really is a show worth watching. Maybe you're the star, and our lawnmower man is just an appreciative audience member. Or maybe, just maybe, we all have a little lawnmower man inside us. Either way, crank up the volume and embrace the weirdness!

Ultimately, the beauty of "I Know What I Like" lies in its ambiguity. It invites us to create our own interpretations, to project our own experiences onto its surreal landscape. It is art.

It's a song that doesn't try to be anything other than itself, and that's why it's so utterly, wonderfully…Genesis.

So next time you are wondering what to play, choose "I Know What I Like".