Ένα ακόμα αριστούργημα των Genesis της πρώτης, Rock Theatre περιόδου, με κύριο δράστη τον “εναλλακτικό” συνθέτη του μήνα, Tony Banks. Από το τρίτο άλμπουμ τους, Nursery Cryme – ντεμπούτο για τους Hackett, Collins.
Οι στίχοι (των Gabriel, Banks) πηγάζουν από τον μύθο της Σαλμακίδας και του Ερμαφρόδιτου, στην εκδοχή του Οβίδιου. Ο πανδαισιακός ήχος του mellotron προβάλλει για πρώτη φορά σε lead ρόλο σε άλμπουμ των Genesis – το συγκεκριμένο όργανο αγοράστηκε από τους King Crimson.
Στο βίντεο, κάτω, πρωτόλειο του ‘Fountain Of Salmacis’ , με τίτλο ‘Provocation’ δυο χρόνια πριν την κυκλοφορία του Nursery Cryme. Το βασικό θέμα εξελίσσεται, μέσω κάποιων αμήχανων στιγμιοτύπων, στο φινάλε του …’Looking For Someone’ από το άλμπουμ του 1970 Τresspass.

Another Genesis masterpiece from the first, Rock Theatre period, with our ”alternative” composer of the month, Tony Banks, as main actor. It is on their third album Nursery Cryme – debut for Hackett, Collins. The lyrics (by Gabriel, Banks) stem from the myth of Salmacis and Hermaphroditus in Ovid’s version.
The magnificent mellotron sound appears for the first time in a leading role on a Genesis album – this instrument was bought by King Crimson.
In the video, below, a draft of ‘The Fountain Of Salmacis’, titled ‘Provocation’, two years before the release of Nursery Cryme. The main theme unfolds, through some awkward moments, to the finale of …’Looking For Someone’ from the 1970 album Τresspass.

From a dense forest of tall dark pinewood, Mount Ida rises like an island.
Within a hidden cave, nymphs had kept a child;
Hermaphroditus, son of gods, so afraid of their love.
As the dawn creeps up the sky
The hunter caught sight of a doe.
In desire for conquest,
He found himself within a glade he’d not beheld before.
Hermaphroditus:
“Where are you, my father?
Give wisdom to your son”
Narrator:
Now lost, the boy was guided by the sun”
“Then he could go no farther
And as his strength began to fail
He saw a shimmering lake.
A shadow in the dark green depths
Disturbed the strange tranquility.
Salmacis:
“The waters are disturbed
Some creature has been stirred”
Narrator:
“The waters are disturbed
Naiad queen Salmacis has been stirred”
As he rushed to quench his thirst,
A fountain spring appeared before him
And as his heated breath brushed through the cool mist,
A liquid voice called, “Son of gods, drink from my spring”.
The water tasted strangely sweet.
Behind him the voice called again.
He turned and saw her, in a cloak of mist alone
And as he gazed, her eyes were filled with the darkness of the lake.
Salmacis:
“We shall be one
We shall be joined as one”
Narrator:
“She wanted them as one
Yet he had no desire to be one”
Hermaphroditus:
“Away from me cold-blooded woman
Your thirst is not mine”
Salmacis:
“Nothing will cause us to part
Hear me, O Gods”
Unearthly calm descended from the sky
And then their flesh and bones were strangely merged
Forever to be joined as one.
The creature crawled into the lake.
A fading voice was heard:
“And I beg, yes I beg that all who touch this spring
May share my fate”
Salmacis:
“We are the one
We are the one”
Narrator:
“The two are now made one
Demi-god and nymph are now made one”
Both had given everything they had.
A lover’s dream had been fulfilled at last,
Forever still beneath the lake.