Album: Genesis (1983)

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• Creeping up the blind side, shinning up the wall
  Stealing through the dark of night
  Climbing through a window, stepping to the floor
  Checking to the left and the right
  Picking up the pieces, putting them away
  Something doesn't feel quite right
  
  Help me someone, let me out of here
  Then out of the dark was suddenly heard
  Welcome to the Home by the Sea
  
  Coming out the woodwork, through the open door
  Pushing from above and below
  Shadows without substance, in the shape of men
  Round and down and sideways they go
  Adrift without direction, eyes that hold despair
  Then as one they sign and they moan
  
  Help us someone, let us out of here
  Living here so long undisturbed
  Dreaming of the time we were free
  So many years ago
  Before the time when we first heard
  Welcome to the Home by the Sea
  
  Sit down, sit down
  As we relive our lives in what we tell you
  
  Images of sorrow, pictures of delight
  Things that go to make up a life
  Endless days of summer longer nights of gloom
  Waiting for the morning light
  Scenes of unimportance like photos in a frame
  Things that go to make up a life
  
  Help us someone, let us out of here
  Living here so long undisturbed
  Dreaming of the time we were free
  So many years ago
  Before the time when we first heard
  Welcome to the Home by the Sea
  
  Sit down, sit down
  As we relive our lives in what we tell you
  Let us relive our lives in what we tell you
  
  Sit down sit down
  Cause you won't get away
  So with us you will stay
  For the rest of your days. so sit down
  As we relive our lives in what we tell you
  Let us relive our lives in what we tell you Writer/s: Michael Rutherford, Phil Collins, Tony Banks
  Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 30

• Davec from IdThe animated video you're remembering was indeed played on the big screens during Genesis live performances of "Home by the Sea" (and the segue into "Second Home by the Sea") on certain tours.
  
  This was a custom animated sequence illustrating the song's storyline: a burglar breaks into an old, eerie seaside house, gets trapped inside by supernatural/ghostly forces (the "spirits" of the lyrics), and is doomed to remain there forever, listening to their stories—until the visuals resolve with the dawn/sunrise breaking the spell or shifting the scene (tying into the "disappeared at sunrise" element you mentioned). The style has a distinctive, exaggerated, fluid, and somewhat grotesque character design with bold lines, dynamic poses, and surreal horror vibes, which fans often compare to Peter Chung's iconic work (like Æon Flux with its angular, stylized figures and dark, adult-oriented animation).
  
  It wasn't an official Peter Chung production (no direct credits link him to Genesis projects), but the aesthetic is strikingly similar—sharp, distorted anatomy, intense expressions, and a nightmarish yet stylish feel that fits the song's haunted burglar narrative perfectly.
  
  This animation debuted prominently on tours starting around the Invisible Touch Tour (1986-1987) and was reused/updated in later ones like The Way We Walk (1992), where it appeared in official live releases (e.g., the The Way We Walk video documentary mentions thematic visuals for the song). It was part of the era's growing use of large video screens for storytelling enhancements during epic tracks. By the more recent The Last Domino? Tour (2021-2022), visuals were refreshed with new high-res elements, but the core haunted house/burglar theme persisted in atmospheric form.
  
  Unfortunately, full isolated clips of this exact animation are rare online (fan recordings from concerts often focus on the band, not the screens), but here are some representative live performances where you can glimpse the big-screen visuals in action (look for the projections during the moody intro and ghostly sections):
  
  - Invisible Touch Tour - Wembley 1987 (classic era with the animation style you're describing): (https://youtu.be/dr5Umrp5jRg) — the screens show eerie, stylized haunted house imagery syncing with the lyrics.
  - The Way We Walk Tour footage often references these narrative visuals in fan discussions.
  - The Last Domino? Tour examples (updated but thematic): [2021 Raleigh] (https://youtu.be/mU4n37TN78o) or [2022 London O2] (https://youtu.be/-ucHDXN5meY) — atmospheric projections enhance the "trapped" feel.
• Teejay from New York CitySomeone did a video of this song in the art style of Peter Chung (AeonFlux) with the premise many have stated earlier.. A lone house on a hill facing the Sea.. a solitary figure climbing thru a window and sneaking around. He spots a precious object in a room, and when he reaches out to grab it, his wrist is grabbed by an almost skeletal hand. Suddenly he his surrounded by spectral forms circling him… a female figure approaches him and with a sweet but NOT innocent smile “welcome to the home by the Sea..” (also interesting: when the video ends it shows the house surrounded by empty vehicles (aka From Dusk to Dawn) and the whole shebang disappears from the hilltop when the sun fully rises (dang I’ve got to find this video)
• John from VirginiaThe Mama album is great. My castle in the sand, Govt all around attacking, taking your freedoms, let us out of here.
• Muad'aion'dibActually the song starts with robbers sneaking in an climbing through a window in the dark of night, not people moving into a new home.
• Pattyo From Arizona, Usa from ArizonaI just heard this song after years of not hearing it, I think he is talking about the kids at Epstein Island..
• Swine from Ohio, UsaYes, Jumper! This is absolutely dead-on about the giants from Stephan R Donaldson’s The Wounded Land.
• Archie from Bristol, Ri I have to agree with John from Orlando. What makes a well written song is how we can interpret it in so many different ways and all be right. This is rock n roll ladies and gentleman.
• Fer from Buenos AiresSo much imagination from you folks :
  
  The lyrics belong to Tony Banks, and that's a fact...
  
  So listen to what this talented guy says : It's about a thief breaking into a haunted house ... Ciao!!
• Mark H from UkIt's about the elderly living in a retirement home by the sea. In the UK many old folk move to the seaside because of the slightly milder climate to live out the rest of their years. It's a sad look at a life's end - Dreaming of the time we are free. Until then, reliving lives with photographs and memories.
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenJack Trout, your interpretation sounds pretty fishy to me.
• Gorn from Santa BarbaraSound's more like a thief in the night, got caught in the vortex. "Creeping up the blind side
  Shinning up the wall
  Stealing through the dark of night
  Climbing through a window
  Stepping to the floor
  Checking to the left and the right
  Picking up the pieces
  Putting them away
  Something doesn't feel quite right"
  
  See? Doesn't sound like new tenants.
• Jay Wilson from New Hampshire, UsaJust noticed the melody in parts is borrowed from "Heathaze" from their 1980 album Duke.
• Jack Trout from Mount ShastaThis song is about the cruelty to whales and dolphins explained metaphors only Phi Collins knows o to do. thank you, jack trout.
• Chris Merchant from New EnglandNo. I totally disagree with almost all attempts to interpret this song. This is not about ghosts, and has nothing to do with the occult. Trust me, and hear me out for a moment, because I'm nearly certain that if you keep these thoughts in mind while either reading the lyrics or listening to the song itself, that you will agree with me.
  
  The first verse is not about someone "moving in." I mean just listen to it! It's about some kids seeking in to the place. That seems pretty obvious to me. The second verse is about a bunch of very lonely old people glad to see these kids, and wanting to share their life stories with them because they never get any visitors. Get it yet? It's a retirement home!
  
  Later in the song, the same kids are not kids anymore, but aged themselves and placed there by their on children.
  
  Keep these thoughts in mind and read or listen to it again, then let me know what you think. The first time this occurred to me, which was tonight, it was a head smacking moment, because I've been listening to this song since the day it was released, and until now, I believe I've had the wrong impression of its meaning all along.
• Andy from AustraliaI love this song, my first car had a tape player and the 1 tape I had was this album, with Roger Waters live in Stockholm on the other side.
  I have always thought it was about an old persons home - scenes of unimportance, photos in a frame : all some have left of their possessions is a few photos of family or deceased wives or husbands etc. Also - sit down, sit down, no you won't get away, no with us you will stay, for the rest of your days, sit down : picture all the residents of the old persons home sat in chairs in a circle in the "day room" waiting to die.
• John from Orlando, FloridaI have to laugh at all the commenters calling others wrong about their interpretation of a song. The fact that a million people can listen to the same song and interpret it a million different ways is one of the most awesome things about music!
• Kyle from Sydney, AustraliaTwo points. Firstly, all the comments here about Phil Collins are irrelevant - Tony Banks wrote this lyric. Secondly, Tony has explicitly stated that 'Home By The Sea' is about a thief breaking into a haunted house - it's no more complicated than that.
• Jumper from Ottawa, OnSo sorry, folks, but the answer is this - the song comes directly from Steven R. Donaldson's book, "The Wounded Land", printed in 1980, describing the curse of Lord Foul laid upon the Giants of Seareach. They were known as the Unhomed, and lived in the Coecri, or, Home by the Sea. Read it and you'll see it's an exact match.
• Maggie from Small Town Outside Bobcaygeon, Oncon't: sorting thru their memory, putting them away; something doesn't fit; my mother had alzheimer;s and that's a very apt way of describing the confusion and disorientation she experienced; there are all kinds of possibilities; a lot of different ways to interpret it, use your imagination; as a creative person, i don't feel i have to have a literal simplistic explanation to enjoy the song
• Maggie from Small Town Outside Bobcaygeon, Onthe comments posted remind me of a conversation with a friend i once had; who took the lyrics of a song way too literally and i tried to explain, they're basically all metaphors; heaven's gate wont' open, prison gates won't open, four walls closing in; etc. and the singer is asking the one he loves to save him; but she just didn't get that; I am a writer and metaphor is a great method for describing how one feels, when your character is dealing with something very painful; yes, the first two verses creeping up the blind side and shinnying up the wall implies a thief or intrusion of some kind, but that can represent a lot of things; madness, as some have said, recollections of youth or a happier time, death, maybe; we portray death as an actual being: the grim reaper and most of us don't exactly welcome it with open arms...picking up the pieces...that could refer to someone sorting through their memory
• Lisa from Melrose, WiMark-you are right-Redstar-It is about something as stupid as robbers in a haunted house- how deep do you think Phil Collins is now? Great song, but check wikkipedia for the meaning.
• Melissa from Spokane, WaI always associated this song with Alcatraz and it starts with the person breaking into someone's house through a window and checking to see if anyone is there. Soon it becomes a story about him in Alcatraz (the "Home by the Sea") and he is being told "Welcome to the Home by the Sea" especially when he says "No you won't get away. No with us you will stay for the rest of your days" and so on. It is in reference to how nobody could ever escape from Alcatraz.
• Redstar from Redding, CtI think it is a confused old person coming to realize he has been put in a retirement home and will never get out. "Welcome to the home by the Sea" is what they said to him when he checked in and he is marking his freedom to the time "before we first heard welcome to 'The Home By The Sea'" (It is capitalized like that in the lyric sheet, clearly showing it is a proper name.) I think the images of haunted people and shadowy figures is the elderly people inside wasting away to their deaths, mere shadow figures of their former self. The first two verses are indeed tough to reconcile, but may be really obtuse references to being secretly put in the home and the sort of dreamy confusion of senility. Collins is not the "deepest" of songwriters, but I can't imagine it is about something as stupid as robbers trapped in a haunted house.
• John from Goleta, CaI thought it could be a rest home / retirement home. That would explain them hearing "welcome", the lack of freedom, and need to talk. But the first verse doesn't fit.
• Becky from Box Springs, GaChristian, I agree with you.....ever since hearing this song, I have always believed it to be about Alcatraz.....it fits with the song perfectly
• Christian from Kansas City, MoMy partner at work REALLY digs this song...and his theory seems the best. It's a caught burglar doin time in Alcatraz... As rockman said: "Creeping up the blind side, shinning up the wall Stealing thru the dark of night Climbing thru a window, stepping to the floor Checking to the left and the right Picking up the pieces, putting them away..."
  
  Get me outta here!
  Welcome to the Home By The Sea...Alcatraz.
• Matt from New Castle, NhWhen I listen to this song, I don't imagine ghosts as much as I do a bunch of crazy people in an institution. "Adrift without direction, eyes that hold despair. Then as one they sigh and moan." Even the term 'home by the sea,' although ad-libbed during a jam sess, as Collins claims, sounds to me like a polite way of saying totally nuts. Far away from the rest of civilization. Someone let us out of here!
• Tony from Toledo, OhWhen I was very miserable in grad school in 1985 and I felt trapped there by circumstances, I would listen to HOME BY THE SEA, and sing along with my stereo, especially the lyric SOMEONE LET ME OUT OF HERE!
• Mark from Austin, TxI think what I had heard was that it was a thief in a haunted house. He encounters the ghosts who then hold him prisoner there. Seems like I heard that in an interview with Phil at some point. Don't remember where or when.
• Rockman from Atlanta, Gayour first fact is wrong the first lines of the song speak of "Creeping up the blind side, shinning up the wall
  Stealing thru the dark of night
  Climbing thru a window, stepping to the floor
  Checking to the left and the right
  Picking up the pieces, putting them away" this is a thief DUDE.
  It is sugestive at least to me of someone flirting with addictive behavior and then becoming addicted.

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