He was an accomplished instrumentalist and composer, who played keyboards, guitars, drums, bass and cellos, as well as singing vocals. His talents also extended to producer. He toured with Eddie Money before winning the Yamaha songwriting competition with his progressive rock group Giraffe. Producer Patrick Leonard was impressed with Gilbert's performance at the competition and invited him to join him in forming a new band which became Toy Matinee. During this time, Gilbert worked on the projects of several established pop musicians, including Madonna, Michael Jackson and produced Keith Emerson's album Changing States.
The lone Toy Matinee album was released in 1990 but effectively shelved by the record company, so Gilbert assembled a new backing band to promote the album, eventually getting two successful singles released: "The Ballad of Jenny Ledge" and "Last Plane Out".
Later, Gilbert was part of a songwriting collective (called "The Tuesday Music Club") that met at producer Bill Bottrell's studio in Pasadena, California. After he began bringing his then girlfriend Sheryl Crow to the sessions, the result was Crow's debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club. Gilbert co-wrote many of the songs on that album, including 1995 Grammy Record of the Year "All I Wanna Do." Crow later acrimoniously split with most of the musicians in the collective and only Bottrell was involved in her follow-up album. Meanwhile the remainder of the collective worked with singer-songwriters Susanna Hoffs and Linda Perry on two more albums.
Gilbert continued to work in television and movie soundtrack work as well as studio work and producing and eventually released his first solo album Thud(1995) as well as partially reforming Giraffe to perform the Genesis masterpiece "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" at Progfest 94. Gilbert's manager sent a copy of the recording to Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford who were searching for a new Genesis front man to replace Phil Collins. His manager was coming to Gilbert's home to tell him that he had managed to get him an audition when he discovered him dead.
Gilbert's second solo album, The Shaming of the True was released posthumously. The album was largely incomplete, but Gilbert's estate asked Spock's Beard drummer Nick D'Virgilio to complete it based on the extant tapes and Gilbert's notes. A live album (composed mostly of songs from Thud), and a compilation of Giraffe material that Gilbert had been working on and an "industrial" album with Gilbert's latest group, Kaviar have also been released in the years since his death. His estate has promised two more posthumous studio albums and a live performance from Gilbert's promotional group for Toy Matinee.
Discography:
N.R.G. - No Reasons Given (1984)
Giraffe - The Power Of Suggestion (1987)
Giraffe - The View From Here (1989)
Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee (1990; remastered & rereleased 2001)
Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)
Kevin Gilbert - Thud (1995)
Giraffe - Giraffe (1999)
Kevin Gilbert & Thud - Live at the Troubadour (1999)
Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True (2000)
Kaviar - The Kaviar Sessions (2002)
Kevin Gilbert - Nuts (2009)
Kevin Gilbert - Bolts (2009)
Kevin Gilbert - Performs Toy Matinee Live (2010)
Kevin Gilbert - Toy Matinee Acoustic Rehearsal (2014)
The Way Back Home
Kevin Gilbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who said he was Jesus as he held out his hand
I tossed him a quarter and said, "I'm your biggest fan"
"Do you know the way back home?"
And the planet sits waiting for This Man to appear
Who will solve all our problems and make everything clear
Cause we are all prisoners of apathy and fear
We lost the way back home
Find the way back home
Find a way back home
Find the way back home
But there is no one coming with great things to say
There's no simple solutions, there's no last judgment day
There's only the trying to find a better way
To look for the way back home
To look for the way back home
Find the way back home
Find a way back home
Find the way back home
Find a way back home
Find the way back home
I'm walking on pavement where old illusions fall
I'm struck by a sadness
Lonely here inside these walls
Find a way back home
Find a way back home
Find a way back home
Find a way back home
Find a way back home
Find a way back home
And the man who was Jesus lit his last cigarette
And he spoke in a whisper with a voice of regret
"You've all heard the answer, but you're not listening yet
Love is the way back home. . ."
The lyrics to Kevin Gilbert's "The Way Back Home" explore the human condition of being lost and searching for a way back to a place of belonging and understanding. The song draws inspiration from the idea of the second coming of Jesus, with the singer encountering a man who claims to be Jesus himself. He asks the man if he knows the way back home, and the song expands on this metaphor by suggesting that humanity as a whole is searching for a way back to a sense of purpose and clarity in a world filled with apathy and fear.
As the song progresses, the idea of a "savior" figure who will bring all the answers and solutions to our problems is challenged. The lyrics suggest that there is no easy way out, no one who will come to fix things for us. Instead, the only solution is to keep trying, keep searching for a better way, and to understand that love is the key to finding our way back home. The lyrics are poignant and thought-provoking, capturing the human experience of feeling lost and alone in a world that can often feel overwhelming.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to not give up in their search for meaning and purpose, and to not put their faith in external saviors or solutions. Instead, we must all take responsibility for our own lives and work to find our own way back home.
Line by Line Meaning
I was lost in the city when I chanced on a man
I was wandering aimlessly in the city when I met a man
Who said he was Jesus as he held out his hand
He claimed to be Jesus and offered his hand to me
I tossed him a quarter and said, "I'm your biggest fan"
I gave him a coin and told him that I admire him
"Do you know the way back home?"
I asked him if he knew how to get back home
And the planet sits waiting for This Man to appear
The world is eagerly anticipating the arrival of a certain person
Who will solve all our problems and make everything clear
This person is expected to solve all our issues and provide clarity
Cause we are all prisoners of apathy and fear
We are all trapped by our lack of interest and anxieties
And we lost the way back home
We have lost the path that leads us back home
Find the way back home
We must find our way back home
But there is no one coming with great things to say
However, there will not be anyone coming with a magic solution
There's no simple solutions, there's no last judgment day
There is no easy answer, and there is no reckoning day
There's only the trying to find a better way
All we can do is to attempt to discover a better path
To look for the way back home
We should search for our way back home
I'm walking on pavement where old illusions fall
I am walking on concrete where my previous delusions crumble
I'm struck by a sadness, lonely here inside these walls
I am seized with melancholy and feel lonely inside these walls
And the man who was Jesus lit his last cigarette
The man who said he was Jesus lit his final cigarette
And he spoke in a whisper with a voice of regret
He spoke in a hushed tone, full of remorse
"You've all heard the answer, but you're not listening yet
You have all heard the answer, but you are not paying attention
Love is the way back home. . ."
Love is the path that leads us back home
Contributed by Annabelle Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ScarecrowStudio
What a long journey - for those who could not be there this was indeed a gift. Thank you so much Virgilites for carrying the torch!
Jeff Wolinski
This is just amazing. One of the greatest albums ever, being done to near perfection. Very very moving, gentlemen.
Sven Tessmann
Having tears in my eyes listening to this masterpiece of music! You could´t did it better. Thank you so much for this tribute to a fantastic musician.
Video Guy 74
This strikes such a chord with me. I listen to a few times in a row, like twice a week. I can't explain it but it's just perfect. Kevin would be so impressed and proud.
flm2112
Absolutely brilliant! The guitar lead on Way back home was really special. Kevin would have loved it.
Eduardo
Thank you , guys! Brilliant!🙏 I love this álbum! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇧🇷
EnginEars
high compliments. a worthy rendition of a wonderful song by an invaluable artist
TheBlackycat
My favorite tune off Shaming. So relevant in today's times. Great rendition of it.
Steve Hart
Great to hear Kevin's music lives on! You guys capture the mood of each song very well indeed. Great job and kudos to you for spreading Kevin's work.
mmahota
Nice tribute guys - Kevin Gilbert was such a good singer and musician!