Title and lyrics
The song's title comes from a European game show, Jeux Sans Frontières, that featured teams competing for prizes while dressed in bizarre costumes. The British version of the show was called It's a Knockout, a phrase that also appears in the song. The teams represented towns and cities from each country, so the games had an inevitable element of nationalism. While some games were simple races, others allowed one team to obstruct another.
The lyrics are seen as a critique of nationalism and war, which the song portrays as essentially childish. The tag line of the song, "Games without frontiers, war without tears" is a comment on the sublimation of the rivalries within Europe, caused by centuries of war, in a meaningless game.
The name Lin Tai Yu, which appears in the song, belongs to a character from the classic Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber.
Chiang Ching, another name mentioned, refers either to the wife of Chairman Mao and a leader of the Cultural Revolution or to Chiang Ching-kuo, the son of Chiang Kai-shek, who was president of Taiwan at the time the song was written.
Additionally, the end of the first verse refers to Hitler and Enrico Fermi: "Suki plays with Leo, Sacha plays with Brit; Adolf builds a bonfire, Enrico plays with it." Hitler started World War II in Europe, while Fermi's nuclear reactor enabled the nuclear weapons which ended the war in Japan.
The album version of the song includes the line "Whistling tunes we piss on the goons in the jungle" before the second chorus. This was replaced for the single release with a more radio-friendly repeat of the line "Whistling tunes we're kissing baboons in the jungle" from the first chorus. The whistling is Gabriel along with producers Steve Lillywhite and Hugh Padgham.
Music
This song features the PAiA Electronics Programmable Drum Set, widely considered the first programmable drum machine (it is not the Roland CR-78, used by many of Gabriel's former Genesis bandmates on both Genesis and solo albums). It also features the Moog Model 15 small analog modular system for many of the synthesizer sounds. One thing to take note of: the synthetic drums at the end (close) of the song (particularly the notable "filter sweep noise blip" accompanying the snare) are not part of the PAiA drum machine.
Games Without Frontiers
Peter Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Hans plays with Lotte, Lotte plays with Jane
Jane plays with Willi, Willi is happy again
Suki plays with Leo, Sacha plays with Britt
Whistling tunes, we hide in the dunes by the seaside
Whistling tunes, we're kissing baboons in the jungle
It's a knockout
If looks could kill, they probably will
In games without frontiers, war without tears
If looks could kill, they probably will
In games without frontiers, war without tears
Games without frontiers, war without tears
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Andre has a red flag, Chiang Ching's is blue
They all have hills to fly them on except for Lin Tai Yu
Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games
Hiding out in treetops, shouting out rude names
Whistling tunes, we hide in the dunes by the seaside
Whistling tunes, we're kissing baboons in the jungle
It's a knockout
If looks could kill, they probably will
In games without frontiers, war without tears
If looks could kill, they probably will
In games without frontiers, war without tears
Games without frontiers, war without tears
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans
Peter Gabriel's song "Games Without Frontiers" is a commentary on the absurdity and danger of international relations, particularly during the Cold War. The chorus repeats the French phrase "Jeux sans frontières" (which translates to "games without frontiers") and emphasizes the idea that countries and their leaders are engaging in childish games with deadly consequences.
The verses describe various characters playing with each other in a nonsensical manner, making it clear that the players don't understand the gravity of their actions. They are whistling tunes and kissing baboons while war is brewing around them. The last verse introduces the idea of rival nations, represented by Andre's red flag and Chiang Ching's blue flag, who are engaged in a power struggle.
The use of various languages, including French, German, and Chinese, highlights the global nature of the conflicts and the absurdity of trying to divide the world into "sides". The overall message seems to be that humanity is playing a dangerous game without fully understanding the consequences, and that the only way to end the violence is to stop playing.
Line by Line Meaning
Jeux sans frontières
The song is about games without boundaries/limits.
Hans plays with Lotte, Lotte plays with Jane
Children from different backgrounds and nationalities playing together.
Jane plays with Willi, Willi is happy again
Children finding happiness through play and interaction with each other.
Suki plays with Leo, Sacha plays with Britt
More children from different nationalities playing and interacting with each other.
Adolf builds a bonfire, Enrico plays with it
Even children from different nationalities can share a common activity (building and playing around a bonfire).
Whistling tunes, we hide in the dunes by the seaside
Playful and carefree behavior by the children.
Whistling tunes, we're kissing baboons in the jungle
More playful behavior and adventurous exploration by the children.
It's a knockout
The playful behavior is a competition or game where participants try to knock each other out.
If looks could kill, they probably will
The competition is intense and could result in animosity and hostility between participants.
In games without frontiers, war without tears
The games or competitions resemble war, where there are no rules or boundaries, but without the consequences and agony of actual war.
Andre has a red flag, Chiang Ching's is blue
The children are now playing with flags, which could represent countries or teams in a competition.
They all have hills to fly them on except for Lin Tai Yu
Unequal distribution of resources and privileges, where one child is excluded from the opportunities the others have.
Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games
The play now involves more imagination and creativity, with the use of costumes and playing themed games.
Hiding out in treetops, shouting out rude names
More adventurous play, and the use of rude language could be a manifestation of the participants testing the boundaries of their freedom.
Jeux sans frontières
Games without boundaries.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Peter Gabriel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MichaelKneale
It's not a definitive list of my favourites, and I definitely have a bias towards metal and hip hop, but here you go:
Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer
Gojira - Flying Whales
System of a Down - Lost In Hollywood
Kanye West - Through The Wire
OutKast - B.O.B.
Travis Scot - 90210
The Streets - Blinded By The Lights
Björk - Venus As A Boy
Metallica - The Unforgiven
Nirvana - Something In The Way
The Cranberries - Ode To My Family
Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
Neurosis - Through Silver In Blood
Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas - Let Me Hear
EDIT: Oops, posted this on my other account.
@thinkbig3384
I am 54 years young. Mr Gabriel turned mainstream music on its head. He ensured that we stopped and listened, not just heard, but listened.
@giannidcenzo
Well put
@Atetrigrams
I heard this song on South Park & immediately put it in my notes to listen to. I’ve been listening to it for 2 days now, lmao
@CIONAODMcGRATH
I will never forget the moment I played this on vinyl when it first came out and my mind was BLOWN by the originality of the sound, the playfulness of the political satire, and the poignancy of the message.
Still holds true today. This song is TIMELESS.
@johnw6389
A lot of music is in there to programme you... for all those people who think the song was about the cold war... the cold war was the 50's and 60's.. and a bit 70's... but a lot of the music is planned out way before the song becomes relevant... the song isn't about the cold war.. it is now and been progamming you for 40 years. A few months ago Kate Bush got to number one after 40 years... running up that hill. A poor song from an average singer... so why did it get to number one?... you think the kids would buy that song today?.. of course not... so how did it get to number one?... it's been put in there for a reason. Another one been used is Freed from Desire... all over europe in football national games... 1997 and it was average then so why does it get so much attention.... repeating chant... with a tone and has a frequency to affect your mind. read the lyrics and what do you read into it?. Music, Films... books can be programme the public... 60's and 70's used very high level of programming... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu2X-hD4e2w
@aleksiayukyan3503
@@johnw6389man wtf I just read?
@johnw6389
I tried to send a responce... but youtube blocked it.... if youtube don't want you know...m they block and romove.... and it been removed... they can't have you knowing this.
@johnw6389
@@aleksiayukyan3503 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3WkiL0d_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1mTV8NKDvE&t=618s
@aleksiayukyan3503
@@johnw6389 you're strange
@jimmurphy834
This man did more before he was 25 than mosts musicians do their entire lives. He is on another level... as was Genesis. The early years were so cutting edge and shaped music moving forward for a generation. Just love revisiting his music. So much better than anything today.