Genesis
Lyric guide

Harold The Barrel

Read Harold The Barrel lyrics by Genesis on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

Genesis visibility1 visits
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: Genesis Canonical path: /genesis/harold-the-barrel Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

Harold The Barrel

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

News:

A well-known Bognor restaurant-owner

Disappeared early this morning

Last seen in a mouse-brown overcoat

Suitably camouflaged

They saw him catch a train

Man-in-the-street:

"Father of three its disgusting"

"Such a horrible thing to do"

Harold the Barrel cut off his toes

And he served them all for tea

"Can't go far", "He can't go far"

"Hasn't got a leg to stand on"

"He can't go far"

Man-on-the-spot:

I'm standing in a doorway on the main square

Tension is mounting

There's a restless crowd of angry people

Man-on-the-council:

"More than we've ever seen

Had to tighten up security"

Over to the scene at the town hall

The Lord Mayor's ready to speak

LORD MAYOR:

"Man of suspicion, you can't last long

The British Public is on our side"

BRITISH PUBLIC:

"Can't last long"

"You can't last long"

"Said you couldn't trust him

His brother was just the same"

"You can't last long"

HAROLD:

If I was many miles from here

I'd be sailing in an open boat on the sea

Instead I'm on this window ledge

With the whole world below

Up at the window

Look at the window...

Mr. Plod: "We can help you"

Plod's Chorus: "We can help you"

Mr. Plod: "We're all your friends,

If you come on down and talk to us son"

HAROLD: You must be joking

Take a running jump

The crowd was getting stronger

And our Harold getting weaker

Forwards, backwards, swaying side to side

Fearing the very worst

They called his mother to the sight

Upon the ledge beside him

His mother made a last request

67-Yr-old-Mrs Barrel:

"Come off the ledge if your father were alive

He'd be very, very, very upset "

"Just can't jump, you just can't jump"

"Your shirt's all dirty, there's a man from the BBC."

"You just can't jump"

Mr. Plod: "We can help you"

Plod's Chorus: "We can help you"

Mr. Plod: "We're all your friends,

If you come on down and talk to us Harry"

HAROLD: You must be joking

Take a running jump...

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "Harold The Barrel"?

Genesis performs "Harold The Barrel", and this lyric page sits inside the Genesis catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Harold The Barrel"?

Yes. The related section below points to Mad Man Moon and Mama with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Genesis?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Genesis's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on Harold The Barrel yet.