Darkness
Peter Gabriel Lyrics
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Dark shapes moving under me
Every fear I swallow makes me small
Inconsequential things occur
Alarms are triggered
Memories stir
It's not the way it has to be
I hate being undermined
I'm afraid I can be devil man
And I'm scared to be divine
Don't mess with me my fuse is short
Beneath this skin these fragments caught
When I allow it to be
There's no control over me
I have my fears
But they do not have me
Walking through the undergrowth, to the house in the woods
The deeper I go, the darker it gets
I peer through the window
Knock at the door
And the monster I was
So afraid of
Lies curled up on the floor
Is curled up on the floor just like a baby boy
I cry until I laugh
I'm afraid of being mothered
With my balls shut in the pen
I'm afraid of loving women
And I'm scared of loving men
Flashbacks coming in every night
Don't tell me everything's alright
When I allow it to be
It has no control over me
I own my fear
So it doesn't own me
Walking through the undergrowth, to the house in the woods
The deeper I go, the darker it gets
I peer through the window
Knock at the door
And the monster I was
So afraid of
Lies curled up on the floor
Is curled up on the floor just like a baby boy
I cry until I laugh
The song "Darkness" by Peter Gabriel is about fear and vulnerability. The opening lyrics about being scared of swimming in the sea with dark shapes moving underneath and every fear making the singer feel small implies that fear has the power to control and overpower us. The fear of the unknown, fear of being undermined, fear of being out of control, fear of love and fear of past trauma all combine to create feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness. The singer acknowledges their fears and how they control him, but they also realize that they have the power to control their fear, and not let it control them.
The singer expresses his fear of being vulnerable and subjected to mothering, being trapped in a pen, and loving someone. The song's title "Darkness" can be perceived as a representation of the fear and discomfort that the singer experiences when they are not in control. However, the closing lines about walking in the undergrowth to the house in the woods, peer through the window, and find the monster curled up on the floor like a baby boy, demonstrate that there is a hope for overcoming fears and embracing one's vulnerability. This is indicated by the image of the monster being reduced to a helpless, vulnerable state like a baby which in turn suggests that the singer can gain control of their fear by accepting and embracing vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm scared of swimming in the sea
I have a fear of the unknown
Dark shapes moving under me
I feel like there are threats lurking in the unknown
Every fear I swallow makes me small
Each fear I overcome makes me feel weaker and insignificant
Inconsequential things occur
Little things happen that trigger my fears
Alarms are triggered
I feel panicked by my fears
Memories stir
Experiences from my past come back to haunt me
It's not the way it has to be
I know that I can overcome my fears and change my situation
I'm afraid of what I do not know
I am scared of the unknown and what it may bring
I hate being undermined
I feel threatened and powerless when others try to bring me down
I'm afraid I can be devil man
I have the potential to be cruel or evil
And I'm scared to be divine
I am afraid of the responsibility that comes with being good or righteous
Don't mess with me my fuse is short
I am highly sensitive and will react negatively
Beneath this skin these fragments caught
I have unresolved issues and traumas
When I allow it to be
When I let myself face my fears
There's no control over me
My fears no longer have power over me
I have my fears
I acknowledge my fears and struggles
But they do not have me
I refuse to let my fears control me
Walking through the undergrowth, to the house in the woods
Braving my fears and facing the unknown
The deeper I go, the darker it gets
The more I confront my fears, the harder it becomes
I peer through the window
I look for a way in
Knock at the door
I am seeking answers and a way out
And the monster I was
The source of my fears and struggles
So afraid of
What used to scare me
Lies curled up on the floor
Is now powerless and defeated
Is curled up on the floor just like a baby boy
The source of my fears now seems innocent and helpless
I cry until I laugh
I express my emotions and find relief in humor and joy
I'm afraid of being mothered
I fear losing my independence or being treated like a child
With my balls shut in the pen
I feel constrained and powerless
I'm afraid of loving women
I fear vulnerability and intimacy with women
And I'm scared of loving men
I fear the judgments and expectations of others regarding my sexuality
Flashbacks coming in every night
Recurring memories of past traumas
Don't tell me everything's alright
I need acknowledgement and support in dealing with my struggles
I own my fear
I take responsibility for my emotions and fears
So it doesn't own me
I refuse to let fear control or define me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER GABRIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind