Squonk by Genesis - Songfacts

Album: A Trick Of The Tail (1976)

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Written by Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, the title of this song refers to an imaginary creature. According to the legend, the Squonk dissolves into a pool of tears to escape from being captured. The Squonk was mentioned by Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges in his book El Libro de los Seres Imaginarios (Book of Imaginary Beings) edited on 1969. This was an expanded edition from his original book from 1957: Manual de Zoologia Fantastica (Handbook of Fantastic Zoology). The first book where the creature was ever mentioned is Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods, With a Few Desert and Mountain Beasts (1910) written by William Thomas Cox. >>>
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Orlando - Caracas, Venezuela
This was the song that convinced the band that their new lead singer was right under their nose. When Peter Gabriel left, they auditioned new singers. One guy made it through auditions, but when they tried him on "Squonk," it was clear he sang in the wrong key for Genesis. The band's drummer, Phil Collins, gave it a shot and nailed it. He became their new vocalist. A Trick Of The Tail was their first album without Gabriel.
One of the heavier Genesis songs, this is one of Phil Collins' favorites. "'Squonk' was a musical standout," he said on the A Trick Of The Tail DVD. "That was always our Zeppelin kind of song, kind of a bit of 'Kashmir,' a bit of 'When The Levee Breaks.' When you listen to it, it doesn't sound like that, but that's what it was meant to be, with the heavy guitar chords and my John Bonham hat on."

Comments: 5

David Harvey from AustraliaPhil's first lead vocal was actually "For Absent Friends" on "Nursery Cryme" and he frequently harmonized with Peter Gabriel, even performing vocal duets together. Their voices were so similar that they blended very well together, much like Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Rick Wright.
Pretorius Marcus from Chicago, IlPhil Collins first sang with Genesis on the LP "Selling England By The Pound." The tune was "More Fool Me." This is how the band discovered his vocal prowess aligned with Mr. Gabriel. Also for all you cunning linguists: Squonk is the Ye Olde English spelling of Skunk. Interesting, oui?
Bob from Raleigh, Nchttp://www.fearsomecreaturesofthelumberwoods.com/pg31.htm
Rob from Pittsburgh, PaI used to drop acid and listen to the live _Seconds Out_ version of this song over and over all night long. I'd sit in the dark while listening to it on a hi-fi stereo, and I'd see an amazing show of visual hallucinations while enjoying the amazing sound. To tell you the truth, I must have listened to it hundred of times without being able to fully make out the lyrics. Phil Collins' voice sounded so neat nonetheless. I finally found the lyrics printed in the studio LP _A Trick of the Tail_. It's funny 'cause they were a bit different than what I might have guessed.
Joshua from La Crosse, WiThis was actually not the first song to mention the Squonk in its lyrics. The first was Steely Dan's "Any Major Dude Will Tell You": "Have you ever seen a Squonk's tears? Well, look at mine..."

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