Best Songs Ever

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“Driving the Last Spike” is the third track on the Genesis album We Can’t Dance, released in 1991. The song’s lyrics were written by Phil Collins. They are about the railroad workers of the 19th century, many of whom died constructing Britain’s railways. The song narrates the thoughts and feelings of an unnamed railroad worker in the form of a soliloquy or internal monologue. The title is a phrase meaning the completion of a major railway project—placing the ‘last spike’ is often a momentous occasion. The original idea came from a book that actor Dennis Waterman gave to Collins. The song is the second longest on the album, clocking at 10:08. Its length is somewhat reminiscent to the band’s past work, which was focused on progressive rock suites. Read on...