Gabriel has been a champion of world music for much of his career. He co-founded the WOMAD festival in 1982. He has continued to focus on producing and promoting world music through his Real World Records label. He has also pioneered digital distribution methods for music, co-founding OD2, one of the first online music download services. Gabriel has also been involved in numerous humanitarian efforts. In 1980, he released the anti-apartheid single "Biko". He has participated in several human-rights benefit concerts, including Amnesty International's Human Rights Now! tour in 1988, and co-founded the Witness human rights organisation in 1992. Gabriel developed The Elders with Richard Branson, which was launched by Nelson Mandela in 2007.
Gabriel has won three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1987, six Grammy Awards, thirteen MTV Video Music Awards, the first Pioneer Award at the BT Digital Music Awards, the Q magazine Lifetime Achievement, the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the Polar Music Prize. He was made a BMI Icon at the 57th annual BMI London Awards for his "influence on generations of music makers". In recognition of his many years of human rights activism, he received the Man of Peace award from the Nobel Peace Prize laureates in 2006, and Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2008. AllMusic has described Gabriel as "one of rock's most ambitious, innovative musicians, as well as one of its most political". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010, followed by his induction as a solo artist in 2014. In March 2015, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia in recognition of his achievements in music.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gabriel
Studio albums
Peter Gabriel (1977; known as Peter Gabriel 1 and Car)
Peter Gabriel (1978; known as Peter Gabriel 2 and Scratch)
Peter Gabriel (1980; known as Peter Gabriel 3 and Melt)
Peter Gabriel (1982; known as Peter Gabriel 4 and Security)
So (1986)
Us (1992)
Up (2002)
Scratch My Back (2010)
New Blood (2011)
Solsbury Hill
Peter Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing, stretching every nerve
Had to listen, had no choice
I did not believe the information
Just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom, boom, boom
"Son", he said, "grab your things, I've come to take you home"
To keep in silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
Though my life was in a rut
'Til I thought of what I'll say
Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom, boom, boom
"Hey", he said, "grab your things, I've come to take you home"
(Hey, back home)
When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going boom, boom, boom
"Hey", I said, "you can keep my things, they've come to take me home"
The song "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel is a personal and spiritual song about a moment in the artist’s life when he left the rock band Genesis and went solo. The song describes a pivotal moment when Gabriel received a calling to leave his comfort zone and take a risk on something new. The first verse describes Gabriel’s ascent up Solsbury Hill, where he feels free and connected to nature. The eagle, which Gabriel sees flying out of the night, represents a symbol of power and freedom.
In the second verse, Gabriel speaks of his fear of people thinking that he is crazy or leaving his band that was gaining fame and success. The lyric "turning water into wine, open doors would soon be shut" indicates his fear of losing his touch as a musician and his fear of closing out opportunities. In the bridge, he talks about the significance of the moment, feeling like an actor in a play until he thought of the right words to say. The chorus suggests Gabriel's heart is trying to tell him something important and meaningful.
The final verse is an affirmation of his departure, that though he had felt like one of many in the scenery, he is now confident in his decision to leave. The final line "Hey, I said, you can keep my things, they've come to take me home" symbolizes Gabriel's acceptance of his inner voice's calling. Overall, the song is about following your intuition and taking a risk to pursue things that are meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
Starting a spiritual journey towards enlightenment
I could see the city light
Spiritual clarity and awareness of the city's illusions
Wind was blowing, time stood still
A moment of pause before the journey unfolds
Eagle flew out of the night
Symbolizing the divine messenger and guide
He was something to observe
A powerful and mysterious presence
Came in close, I heard a voice
The divine voice speaking to the seeker
Standing, stretching every nerve
Being fully present and open to the divine message
Had to listen, had no choice
Being compelled by the power of the divine message
I did not believe the information
Initial disbelief and doubt about the spiritual path
Just had to trust imagination
Overcoming doubts and trusting in the power of the imagination
My heart going boom, boom, boom
Intense emotional and spiritual experience
"Son", he said, "grab your things, I've come to take you home"
The divine guide offering to take the seeker on a journey towards enlightenment
To keep in silence I resigned
Hiding the spiritual journey from others
My friends would think I was a nut
Fear of being judged or misunderstood by others
Turning water into wine
Transformation of mundane experiences into spiritual ones
Open doors would soon be shut
The window of opportunity for spiritual growth is limited
So I went from day to day
Going through the motions of everyday life
Though my life was in a rut
Feeling stuck and unfulfilled
'Til I thought of what I'll say
Planning for the next step in the spiritual journey
Which connection I should cut
Deciding what relationships or habits to leave behind
I was feeling part of the scenery
Feeling disconnected from the spiritual journey
I walked right out of the machinery
Breaking away from the cycle of mundane routines
"Hey", he said, "grab your things, I've come to take you home"
The divine guide offering a second chance to embark on the spiritual journey
When illusion spin her net
The traps and illusions of worldly life
I'm never where I want to be
Feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled with the material world
And liberty she pirouette
The fleeting nature of freedom and liberation
When I think that I am free
The realization of being trapped by illusion
Watched by empty silhouettes
The judgment and scrutiny of the spiritually blind
Who close their eyes but still can see
The hypocrisy of those who claim to be blind but can see the truth
No one taught them etiquette
The lack of spiritual guidance and direction
I will show another me
Transforming into a new, enlightened version of oneself
Today I don't need a replacement
Being content with oneself and the journey
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
Sharing the joys and revelations of the spiritual journey
My heart going boom, boom, boom
Intense gratitude and spiritual fulfillment
"Hey", I said, "you can keep my things, they've come to take me home"
Renouncing material possessions and surrendering to the divine will
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Peter Gabriel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind