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
@jtartt
Anybody who knows Peter Gabriel knows that he is never quite literal with anything which means many of his songs have a personal meaning to him just like they may have a completely different personal meaning to you.
So Solsbury Hill could essentially be about anything you want it to be about. But to Peter Gabriel it is about his decision to leave Genesis. He has made this quite clear. You could go line by line and it all makes perfect sense considering the situation he was in at the time.
He was fed up with the industry and life as a rock star in general. He was being thrust out as the star of a group whose works had actually been evenly divided between the 5 members. Because he and his costumes were the focal point of live shows, everyone assumed Peter wrote all the music, all the lyrics, set up the stage, and that the rest of the band were just his backing band. This was far from the truth and Gabriel hated the attention.
But as much as he hated the attention at first, he was beginning to enjoy it, which was taking him away from his audience. He no longer got the butterflies before shows. The music didn't touch him the way it used to. He felt as though he was just going through the motions. He didn't like what he was becoming. "To keep in silence, I resigned."
Besides all these internal things, Genesis was getting on his nerves as well. He refers to Genesis as "the machinery." It was a constant cycle of write, record, tour, write, record, tour. etc... They would schedule gigs non-stop with hardly any breaks. There was no room for freedom. Gabriel hated knowing exactly where he was going to be in 18 months, as he did with Genesis. He said Genesis was like the army. You had to turn up to the studio every morning at 9am and you were either 100% committed or you weren't at all. "I walked right out of the machinery."
On top of that, the band had decided to write a concept album - The Lamb. Gabriel wanted to give this album a little bit of "balls", as he puts it, and no one else in the band was going to deliver that. He also felt that a concept album, AKA a story, should be written by one person. It needs one clear and coherent direction, which their democratic system of writing could not accomplish. This pissed off the other band members. Gabriel was beginning to realize that he could not last for long being "tied down to the old hierarchy." His creative ambitions were exceeding those of the rest of the band.
The tipping point came during the writing for "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway." Gabriel's wife was going through a horrible pregnancy and they didn't think his daughter was going to survive. So Peter was making these long trips back and forth between London and where the band were writing and recording out in the middle of nowhere England. This meant that he was absent during much of the writing. The band were writing music in one room while Peter was writing lyrics to what was already there in another room or wasn't there at all to attend to his wife. No one else in the band had been married or had kids at this point (besides Phil Collins) and so they didn't understand. They were mad because Peter was gone all the time. Peter was mad because to him there was no question what his priorities were. It was a matter of life and death for him. His family was far more important than writing an album. The band could not understand this and that really pissed Peter off. "So I went from day to day, though my life was in a rut. Til' I thought of what I'd say, which connection I should cut." "No one taught them etiquette."
After leaving Genesis, Gabriel felt a sense of jealousy. He wasn't sure what he was going to do with his life at the time (he didn't begin his solo career right away, not until 1977). He wanted out of the music industry as a whole. His pride got the best of him when he saw Genesis having greater success without him and decided to get back in, but this time on his own terms, doing his own thing.
And the rest is history.....
@leachristine5264
As a teenager every friday my dad and I would sit on youtube and hed show me music he liked. I remember when he showed me Peter Gabriel music. This and Red Rain. I became such a huge fan. A few years ago Peter toured with Sting and my Dad (who had been to so many concerts that he saw Zepplin as an OPENING act) was begging begging begging me to go with him. He never saw Peter live and "needed too" with me :) it was the best concert ever. My dad died suddenly a few weeks ago and I'm very depressed but all our music doesnt make me sad. It makes me happy. I know my dad is in heaven listening to all these songs with me.
@StevenBur
Sad... Sorry for your loss!
@theelijah299
(HUGS)
@katsmith4423
So sorry about you loss. Thanks for sharing. Music is magical!
@1diamondK
That's such a beautiful note thank you for sharing it! You're blessed that your dad gave you these treasured memories that you will have forever. And know that your dad is looking at you down from heaven ❤️
@christineburk1813
Sorry for your loss - "Enjoy the little things in life because one day they will be the BIG thing" (anon)
@shootist23
The line "Son," he said, "grab your things, I've come to take you home," reminds me of being 12 years old and my grandfather coming to take me to live with him. He saved me from a really bad situation. That was 33 years ago.
@aristotleasparaguspodcast1129
I know this comment was made 6 years ago but your grandpa seems/seemed like a great guy
@blizzardofozz99
I sure wish my grampa woulda,your grampa was a great man
@dimitritsat1
Yes that line is powerful. Home that beautiful word, home which should mean love, family, unity and being safe. For those who had it, have it, cherish it because many had little of it or none at all in the sense of the word ‘home’.