His career as a composer has involved the following games:
• Donkey Kong Land 2 (1996)
• GoldenEye 007 (with Graeme Norgate and Robin Beanland, 1997)
• Banjo-Kazooie (1998)
• Donkey Kong 64 (1999)
• Banjo-Tooie (2000)
• Perfect Dark (with David Clynick, 2000)
• Grabbed by the Ghoulies (2003)
• Viva Piñata (with Steve Burke) (2006)
• Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise (2008)
• Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (with Robin Beanland and David Clynick, 2008)
• Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (2012)
For samples of past works, more information and further updates, see the official website at www.grantkirkhope.com
Gobi's Valley
Grant Kirkhope Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down in Gobi's Valley I'm gonna take trip around the other side of,
Every single pyramid peakin' up into the sky, 'n
Sitting on the ground a guy caught my eye, he said...
Down in Gobi's Valley I never would'a thought I'd see, but
Down in Gobi's Valley that solitary stare, it's gazing right back at me,
I know that the camel he'd, not even know what to do,
All he was say ing was...
No matter what I just couldn't make out,
What he was say ing, just...
After the glancing, I just started dancing 'n
Maybe that's, better than...
Down in Gobi's Valley there's still a whole lot to see, 'n
Down in Gobi's Valley I've realized the sands are very, very lonely.
Even though the denizens only wanna kill me dead,
I know in Gobi's Valley I've found a friend.
...
That's what I was trying to say but, I just couldn't communicate back the proper way.
Down in Gobi's Valley I learned a lesson that I won't...
Forget in Gobi's Valley it's very, very simple, lend me all yer ears 'n
Just remember what I say, just as he had told to me,
From all the normal speaking we must be free.
That's what he meant, he said...
If you don't think about it, it's simple.
Clear out your mind and say...
Take any stance and you'll soon start to dance and you'll
Understand, like that man...
The lyrics to Grant Kirkhope's song Gobi's Valley are a mix of whimsical storytelling and thought-provoking musings, with a touch of surrealism thrown in. The singer is exploring the valley and marveling at the sights, particularly the towering pyramids and the enigmatic figure he encounters. This person catches his eye with a "solitary stare" that seems to be gazing straight into his soul, but he can't quite grasp the meaning behind the words the figure is saying. Nonetheless, he starts dancing in response, as if the rhythm of the valley and the otherworldly presence of his newfound friend are irresistible.
As the song goes on, the singer muses on the lesson he learned from this encounter - that "from all the normal speaking we must be free." He sees a simple wisdom in the cryptic advice of the figure in the valley, and is inspired to encourage others to let go of their mental blocks and open themselves up to the world. The singer feels that by doing so, we can tap into a more primal form of consciousness, one that allows for greater spontaneity and connection.
Overall, Gobi's Valley is a celebration of the strange and unexpected, challenging us to see beyond the surface of things and embrace the mystery of life. It's a playful and introspective tune that draws on elements of folk and world music to create a unique atmosphere of wonder and whimsy.
Line by Line Meaning
Down in Gobi's Valley there's gonna be a lot to see, 'n
There are many interesting things to explore in Gobi's Valley
Down in Gobi's Valley I'm gonna take trip around the other side of,
I plan to explore the other side of Gobi's Valley
Every single pyramid peakin' up into the sky, 'n
There are multiple pyramids of different heights in Gobi's Valley
Sitting on the ground a guy caught my eye, he said...
I saw a man sitting on the ground and he spoke to me
Down in Gobi's Valley I never would'a thought I'd see, but
I was surprised to see something in Gobi's Valley
Down in Gobi's Valley that solitary stare, it's gazing right back at me,
I made eye contact with a solitary creature in Gobi's Valley
I know that the camel he'd, not even know what to do,
Even a camel wouldn't know how to react
That's why I'm havin' trouble explainin' to you.
It's difficult for me to explain what happened
All he was say ing was...
The creature was trying to communicate something
No matter what I just couldn't make out,
Despite my efforts, I couldn't understand what he was saying
What he was say ing, just...
I couldn't comprehend his message
After the glancing, I just started dancing 'n
After the brief interaction, I felt like dancing
Maybe that's, better than...
Dancing might be a better alternative than trying to understand
Down in Gobi's Valley there's still a whole lot to see, 'n
There are still many things to explore in Gobi's Valley
Down in Gobi's Valley I've realized the sands are very, very lonely.
I've come to the realization that the sands of Gobi's Valley are desolate
Even though the denizens only wanna kill me dead,
Despite being in danger, I've found a sense of camaraderie in Gobi's Valley
I know in Gobi's Valley I've found a friend.
I've made a unique connection in Gobi's Valley
...That's what I was trying to say but, I just couldn't communicate back the proper way.
That creature was trying to communicate the same message to me, but I couldn't fully comprehend it
Down in Gobi's Valley I learned a lesson that I won't...
I learned a valuable lesson in Gobi's Valley
Forget in Gobi's Valley it's very, very simple, lend me all yer ears 'n
The lesson is simple and requires your full attention
Just remember what I say, just as he had told to me,
The creature's words still resonate with me
From all the normal speaking we must be free.
Sometimes, we have to abandon our preconceived notions of communication
That's what he meant, he said...
The creature's message was simple
If you don't think about it, it's simple.
If you stop overthinking, the solution becomes clear
Clear out your mind and say...
Empty your head and focus
Take any stance and you'll soon start to dance and you'll
If you're receptive, you'll understand
Understand, like that man...
I understood what the creature was trying to say
Contributed by Ryan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.