And through the wire I hear your voice
And through the wire I touch the power
And through the wire I see your face
It's through the wire

Friday night, you're staying at home I want you
I'm tickling and clicking a metronome I want you
Prowling the waterhole-I wait for the kill I want you
Pressure's building-overspill I want you

And through the wire You are secure
And through the wire We can talk
And through the wire We can walk
It's through the wire

Watchmaker steadies his delicate hand I want you
For barbecue parties on blood red sands I want you
Caught in the struggle tight on the rod I want you
Bring out the devil to bring out the god I want you

And through the wire I hear your voice
And through the wire I touch the power
And through the wire I see your face
It's through the wire

Driving 'round the city rings
Staring at the shape of things
I talk in pictures not in words
Overloaded with everything we said
be careful where you tread
Watch the wire

And through the wire You are secure
And through the wire We can talk
And through the wire We can walk
And through the wire We're clinging like leeches
And through the wire We push out tailor-made speeches
And through the wire We get so strange across the border
We get so strange across the border

Overall Meaning

In Peter Gabriel's song "And Through the Wire," the singer addresses an object of his desire, speaking to them through the wire (presumably a phone or communication line). The listener is so connected to him through the medium that he can touch the power of their connection, feel like he is walking with them, and see their face. This suggests a deep intimacy between the two people that transcends the physical separation between them.

The lyrics are filled with images of desire and longing. The singer wants the listener to know that he wants them, waiting for them like an animal to strike its prey, caught in a struggle for their affection, and willing to bring out both the devil and the god in them. The lines "We're clinging like leeches/And through the wire we push out tailor-made speeches" suggest that the wire is both a lifeline and a trap, that their connection is both intimate and artificial, allowing them to communicate but also masking their true selves.

The song also contains references to the dangers of communication and connection. The line "Watch the wire" is a warning to be careful when approaching the line, as it can be dangerous to cross. The verse "Driving 'round the city rings/Staring at the shape of things/I talk in pictures not in words/Overloaded with everything we said/Be careful where you tread" suggests that communication can be overwhelming and that one must be careful not to lose oneself or get lost in the connection.

Line by Line Meaning

And through the wire I hear your voice
Despite the barrier that separates us, I can still hear you speak, and the sound brings me comfort.

And through the wire I touch the power
Although I cannot physically touch you, the energy that flows through the wire when we connect is just as powerful and fulfilling.

And through the wire I see your face
Through the wire, I'm able to visualize your face and feel closer to you, despite the distance between us.

It's through the wire
The wire is the only thing connecting us at the moment, but it's enough for us to feel a sense of closeness and intimacy.

Friday night, you're staying at home I want you
I long for you, even when you're not physically with me, and I imagine spending time with you on a Friday night.

I'm tickling and clicking a metronome I want you
My desire for you is like a constant beat that I can't shake, always present but never fully satisfied.

Prowling the waterhole-I wait for the kill I want you
I'm searching for the opportunity to be with you, chasing after you like a predator hunting its prey.

Pressure's building-overspill I want you
My desire for you is building up to the point of overflowing, and I can't contain it any longer.

Watchmaker steadies his delicate hand I want you
I'm waiting patiently for the right moment to express my desire for you, like a watchmaker carefully crafting his masterpiece.

For barbecue parties on blood red sands I want you
I imagine us together in exotic, dreamlike locations, making memories and sharing experiences as a couple.

Caught in the struggle tight on the rod I want you
My longing for you is like being caught in a fishing line, struggling to break free yet still drawn towards you.

Bring out the devil to bring out the god I want you
My desire for you is all-consuming, and I'm willing to explore the darker, more dangerous parts of myself to reach you.

Driving 'round the city rings
I'm aimlessly driving through the streets, lost in thought and consumed by my feelings for you.

Staring at the shape of things
I'm looking at the world around me, but my attention is focused on the ways in which it reminds me of you.

I talk in pictures not in words
My feelings for you are so intense that I struggle to put them into words, instead relying on vivid mental images to convey my emotions.

Overloaded with everything we said
My mind is constantly replaying our conversations, reliving every moment and analyzing every word.

be careful where you tread
I'm worried that my feelings for you are overwhelming and could become dangerous or destructive if I'm not careful.

Watch the wire
Despite the connection between us, there is still a potential for things to go wrong, and it's important to be cautious and aware.

And through the wire We're clinging like leeches
Our connection is intense, and we're both holding on tightly to each other through the wire.

And through the wire We push out tailor-made speeches
We are both trying to express ourselves in the most precise, effective way possible, crafting our words to deliver our emotions most clearly.

And through the wire We get so strange across the border
Our distance from each other makes things feel strange and surreal, as if we're living in two separate worlds.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it