Gabriel has been a champion of world music for much of his career. He co-founded the WOMAD festival in 1982. He has continued to focus on producing and promoting world music through his Real World Records label. He has also pioneered digital distribution methods for music, co-founding OD2, one of the first online music download services. Gabriel has also been involved in numerous humanitarian efforts. In 1980, he released the anti-apartheid single "Biko". He has participated in several human-rights benefit concerts, including Amnesty International's Human Rights Now! tour in 1988, and co-founded the Witness human rights organisation in 1992. Gabriel developed The Elders with Richard Branson, which was launched by Nelson Mandela in 2007.
Gabriel has won three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1987, six Grammy Awards, thirteen MTV Video Music Awards, the first Pioneer Award at the BT Digital Music Awards, the Q magazine Lifetime Achievement, the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the Polar Music Prize. He was made a BMI Icon at the 57th annual BMI London Awards for his "influence on generations of music makers". In recognition of his many years of human rights activism, he received the Man of Peace award from the Nobel Peace Prize laureates in 2006, and Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2008. AllMusic has described Gabriel as "one of rock's most ambitious, innovative musicians, as well as one of its most political". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010, followed by his induction as a solo artist in 2014. In March 2015, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia in recognition of his achievements in music.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gabriel
Studio albums
Peter Gabriel (1977; known as Peter Gabriel 1 and Car)
Peter Gabriel (1978; known as Peter Gabriel 2 and Scratch)
Peter Gabriel (1980; known as Peter Gabriel 3 and Melt)
Peter Gabriel (1982; known as Peter Gabriel 4 and Security)
So (1986)
Us (1992)
Up (2002)
Scratch My Back (2010)
New Blood (2011)
Only Us
Peter Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It wasn't in the words that kept sticking in their throats
It wasn't with the angels in their quilted coats
These battered wings still kick up dust
Seduced by the noise and the bright things that glisten
I knew all the time I should shut up and listen
And I'm finding my way home from the great escape
[Chorus:]
The further on I go, oh the less I know
I can find only us breathing
Only us sleeping
Only us dreaming
Only us
I hear you calling me
Yes I hear you calling me
Home from the great escape
Yes I can read you loud and clear
The further on I go, oh the less I know
Friend or foe, there's only us
I'm coming home again, home again
And I hear you calling me home again
I am coming home again
Only us
In the song Only Us by Peter Gabriel, the lyrics tell a story of searching for a place to call home, escaping from something dark, and realizing that in the end, there is only us. The first verse sets the scene of the search, where the singer acknowledges that it wasn't in the words that were spoken or even in the angels that were present. The next lines illustrate that there is still room for hope with these "battered wings that still kick up dust," meaning there is still fight and resilience in spite of the struggle. The following phrase "seduced by the noise and the bright things that glisten," implies that the search for a place to call home is often met with the allure of something that looks good, but may not be the answer.
The chorus repeats the line "the further on I go, oh the less I know," meaning that as the search continues, it becomes less clear where the path leads. However, the singer finds comfort in the idea that there is only us, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is still humanity to rely on. The bridge brings it all home, expressing the desire for a calling to lead back to a place where there is safety and comfort. The final line, "Only us," reiterates the idea that, in the end, it is the sense of belonging that truly matters.
Overall, Peter Gabriel's Only Us taps into the universal need for safety and belonging. The lyrics speak to the idea that often, we feel lost and alone, but that in the end, it is the connections we create with others that bring us home. The song is a reminder that even when things seem impossible, there is always hope in people coming together.
Line by Line Meaning
It wasn't in the words that kept sticking in their throats
The true meaning couldn't be expressed through words alone; something was hidden and felt in their throats.
It wasn't with the angels in their quilted coats
The answer couldn't be found in traditional symbols of purity or what society thinks is virtuous.
These battered wings still kick up dust
Despite being hurt, they keep fighting and striving, making their presence known.
Seduced by the noise and the bright things that glisten
They were mesmerized by the artificial and the superficial, the things that were merely for show.
I knew all the time I should shut up and listen
They realized that true understanding required them to stop talking and start paying attention.
And I'm finding my way home from the great escape
They're making their way back from a long journey, possibly from trying to escape something.
The further on I go, oh, the less I know
Despite their journey, they've come to the realization that they know less now than they did before.
I can find only us breathing
Amidst all the confusion, they know that they can only trust those who are still breathing, those who are still alive.
Only us sleeping
The only ones they can trust are those who are resting and recharging, those who are able to be vulnerable and trust.
Only us dreaming
The only ones who truly understand them are those who share the same dreams and aspirations.
Only us
The only people they can trust and rely on is that small group of people who share the same experiences.
I hear you calling me
They can hear someone reaching out, possibly the people they trust.
Yes, I hear you calling me
They acknowledge that they're being called and they are willing to listen.
Home from the great escape
There is someone they trust that is helping them find their way back from an attempt to escape pain or suffering.
Yes, I can read you loud and clear
They not only hear but understand the motivation of the person calling them home.
Friend or foe, there's only us
They've realized that there's no one they can fully trust other than their small, tight circle.
I'm coming home again, home again
They're returning home, back to the place where they feel safe.
And I hear you calling me home again
They can hear their trusted friend calling them back to safety.
I am coming home again
They affirm their decision to return home.
Only us
As they return home, they are content to have found this small group that they can always rely on.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER GABRIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind