When you're asleep they may show you
Aerial views of the ground
Freudian slumber empty of sound

Over the rooftops and houses
Lost as it tries to be seen
Fields of incentive covered with green

Mesmerised children are playing
Meant to be seen but not heard
Stop me from dreaming!
Don't be absurd!

Well if we can help you we will
You're looking tired and ill
As I count backwards your eyes become
Heavier still
Sleep, won't you allow yourself fall?
Nothing can hurt you at all
With your consent, I can experiment further still

Madrigal music is playing
Voices can faintly be heard
Please leave this patient undisturbed

Sentenced to drift far away now
Nothing is quite what it seems
Sometimes entangled in your own dreams

Well
If we can help you we will
Soon as you're tired and ill
With your consent we can experiment further still

Well
Thanks to our kindness and skill
You'll have no trouble until
You catch your breath and the nurse will present you the bill


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Entangled Lyrics as written by Steve Hackett Anthony Banks

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Entangled song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

11 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    The most captivating song on the album. Makes me feel dizzy, but in a stimulated way, if you know what i'm trying to say. The mental healthcare is a very prominent theme in the lyrics and i think the "reaching out for help" element of it is inspiring, both in the way Genesis have communicated it through the "conversation" aspect and the singing. One of my favourite of one of my favourite albums ever. Gotta love it

    Arialon March 16, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is a savage indictment of psychiatric mental heathcare, made more siniter by its soporific melody an arrangement. The first clue is in the reference to Freud in the 1st stanza but if you go through it the references are quite clear. I've long been surprised that their are no references to ECT as they seem to have covered the rest quite extensively!

    one eyed houndon January 27, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    A beautiful, haunting song. A great song for mellotron enthusiests

    PeskyJaseon April 23, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Personally, my favorite song from Genesis, the sound its beautiful, and the lyrics and rhymes are very well thought

    enriquedelayeurreaon November 26, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion

    This is such a haunting and beautiful tune and the lyrics are good. Despite calling myself a fan I stumbled across this only a couple of years ago when watching old concerts on YouTube. It's a favourite.

    Fan36Otron June 15, 2018   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    In the context of the 70s this could well have referred to the hallucinogenic referred to in Mike Rutherford’s autobiography. In the context of 2020 it takes on a whole new meaning with the mental health issues dominating society and the fuel of social media and peer pressure. It’s a prophetic track without the band realised it would be. Masterpiece of the Trick album

    MikeyJon February 27, 2020   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A trick of the tail and wind and wuthering are IMO theist two great genesis albums without hackett they just got too poppie for a band of their standards. Losing gabriel was bad but steve hackett????!! Anyway I think this song is about this person who is having persistent thoughts of being something more then they are... Being "entangled" with their dreams. The protagonist is telling them to just sleep and relax he/we'll help you.

    sgtfloyd101on January 22, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this is about a person who is ill, in a hospital and is being put into a medical induced coma.

    pmrd03on March 21, 2020   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I've always been under the impression that at least part of this song was describing hypnosis, "As I count backwards your eyes become heavier still."

    There was a time back in my college days when one of the guys in my dorm hypnotized a small group of us. He instructed us to listen to nothing but the sound of his voice and told us that when he counted down to 1 we would be unable to open our eyes. Lo and behold, when he reached 1 he asked us to try to open our eyes and I couldn't. I was both impressed and freaked out. I shook my head and told myself that it was all suggestion and that I could open my eyes. Thankfully they opened.

    denny11366on September 19, 2022   Link
  • -1
    My Interpretation

    The piece was written by Steve Hackett, and is meant create a dreamlike melody. The lyrics are about being taken care of in a hospital or some sort, and how they will try to make you better, although it is not done for free.

    AlanCRossion July 27, 2012   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!