Green started off as a bass player in such bands as The Muskrats. Joining The Peter B's, led by Peter Bardens, later the frontman of Camel, (including drummer Mick Fleetwood) he switched to lead guitar and made his first recordings. He took over the lead guitar spot in John Mayall and the Blues Breakers in 1966 after the departure of Eric Clapton.
After recording on one Mayall album Peter left in 1967 to form Fleetwood Mac.
Green was the guiding force of Fleetwood Mac from 1967 to 1970 when he left for musical and personal reasons. Under Green's guidance, the Mac played a very gritty and authentic version of the electric blues popularized in bars on Chicago's south side. (They even did some fine recordings there--"Blues Jam in Chicago"--which saw release only after his tenure in the band had ended). A prolific song writer also, he penned such hits as Man of the World; Oh Well; Green Manalishi; Albatross and Black Magic Woman. Albatross reached number 1 in the UK charts, Black Magic Woman was also recorded by Santana on their Abraxas album.
From 1970 to 1974, Green played some sessions, and worked with several small bands, as well as releasing two solo singles and an album of extended jams, The End of the Game for Reprise. By the end of 1974, he had withdrawn from the music scene.
By 1979 Green was recording again for PVK records as a solo artist with the debut album In the Skies; 1980 Little Dreamer; 1981 Blue Guitar; 1981 Whatcha Gonna Do; 1981 White Sky; 1984 Kolors; 1987 Katmandu; 1988 Legend; 1992 One Woman Love;
Green again left the music world in 1984, and there followed a very difficult period in his life, which came to an end in the mid 90's, and coincided with renewed interest, partly generated by a biography written by Martin Celmins, and a tribute album recorded by Gary Moore.
Green formed a new group in 1995 with Nigel Watson called the Peter Green Splinter Group. Returning to form the group produced some of Peter’s best playing since leaving Fleetwood Mac. Albums include 1997 Splinter Group; 1998 Robert Johnson Songbook; 2002 Reaching For The Cold 100.
Green left The Splinter Group in 2003. Since then, he has played sporadically, appearing at a Lord's Taverner's benefit at The Royal Albert Hall, and doing some gigs with The British Blues All-Stars.
In February 2009, Green began playing and touring again, this time as Peter Green and Friends. In May 2009 he was the subject of the BBC Four documentary "Peter Green: Man of the World", produced by Henry Hadaway. Green and the band subsequently played a tour of Ireland, Germany and England. They went on to play several dates in Australia during March 2010, including the Byron Bay Bluesfest.
In the Skies
Peter Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, there's a way to keep the dark from the light
And there's a way to take the cold out of the night
And when I see it's glow
The sun and moon are shadowed
By the everlasting day
When I reach up my hand
To the loving son of man
The bread of life will keep my soul alive
There's a place where rivers flow in the street
Where fruit and healing leaves are seen on a tree
Where emerald walls shine clear
And golden streets run far and near
Behind the gates where his angels names appear
Solo
When I reach up my hand
To the loving son of man
The bread of life will keep my soul alive
And he will wipe away the tears from our eyes
As we watch this old world fade when it dies
And a new one shall come
And it will be heaven
And it's waiting for us there in the skies
In the skies
In the skies
In the skies
In the skies
The lyrics of Peter Green's song "In the Skies" propose that there is a way to dispel darkness and cold, to be replaced by a glow of a light that will shadow the sun and moon. This, Green suggests, can be achieved by reaching out to the loving Son of Man and consuming the bread of life, which will keep the soul alive. The song imagines a place where rivers flow in the streets, fruit and healing leaves are seen on trees, and emerald walls shine clear as golden streets run far and near behind gates bearing the names of angels. The solo suggests that this is a journey that is to be taken alone. The chorus reminds there is a new world that will come where tears will be wiped away as the old world fades away -- and in the skies, it's waiting for us.
The themes of Green's lyrics reflect his deep interest in spirituality and Christianity, an interest in common with the many blues artists who came before him. However, Green's approach was distinct: while many earlier blues artists were drawn to Christianity, they found themselves in a conflicted relationship with the church, due in part to the segregationist attitudes of early American Christianity. For Green, Christianity was a way to resolve the grief and torment that he had experienced, both through his success with Fleetwood Mac and through his struggles with mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, there's a way to keep the dark from the light
There is a solution to keep negativity from overpowering positivity
And there's a way to take the cold out of the night
There is a solution to bring warmth and comfort to the difficult times
And when I see it's glow
And when I witness the beauty and majesty of this solution
The sun and moon are shadowed
Even the brightest and most powerful aspects of life pale in comparison
By the everlasting day
To this eternal light that brings hope and peace
When I reach up my hand
When I turn to a higher power for guidance and support
To the loving son of man
To the compassionate and empathetic savior
The bread of life will keep my soul alive
The nourishment and sustenance offered by this spiritual source will provide a fulfilling and meaningful life
There's a place where rivers flow in the street
There exists a heavenly location where everything good is abundant and readily available
Where fruit and healing leaves are seen on a tree
Where nourishing and rejuvenating items are plentiful and easy to access
Where emerald walls shine clear
Where protective and awe-inspiring surroundings radiate positivity
And golden streets run far and near
And the path to take is paved with riches and beauty
Behind the gates where his angels names appear
The entrance to this wonderful place is guarded by heavenly beings
When I reach up my hand
When I make contact with the divine force that exists beyond our world
To the loving son of man
To the understanding and merciful savior
The bread of life will keep my soul alive
The spiritual essence of life provides a deep and fulfilling existence
And he will wipe away the tears from our eyes
The compassionate presence of the savior will offer us comfort and solace
As we watch this old world fade when it dies
As we observe the passing of the current version of life
And a new one shall come
And a fresh and exciting existence will inevitably follow
And it will be heaven
And it will be a blessed and harmonious way to live
And it's waiting for us there in the skies
And this beautiful and fulfilling world is waiting for us beyond what we can physically see
In the skies
In the limitless and boundless universe beyond Earth
In the skies
In the endless expanse of the heavens where anything is possible
In the skies
In a higher realm where our true destiny lies
In the skies
In a spiritual plane that transcends our current existence
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, CAMPBELL CONNELLY FRANCE, BMG Rights Management, SpacedOut Studios Entertainment Worldwide
Written by: Barbara George
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Μητσος λε Γκρικ
Oh, there’s a way to keep the dark from the light
And there’s a way to take the cold out of the night
And when I see it’s glow
The sun and moon are shadowed
By the everlasting day
When I reach up my hand
To the loving son of man
The bread of life will keep my soul alive
There’s a place where rivers flow in the street
Where fruit and healing leaves are seen on a tree
Where emerald walls shine clear
And golden streets run far and near
Behind the gates where his angels names appear
Solo
When I reach up my hand
To the loving son of man
The bread of life will keep my soul alive
And he will wipe away the tears from our eyes
As we watch this old world fade when it dies
And a new one shall come
And it will be heaven
And it’s waiting for us there in the skies
In the skies
In the skies
In the skies
In the skies
Akis Perdikis
Bass – Kuma Harada (tracks: A1 to B4)
Congas – Lennox Langton (2) (tracks: A1, A4, B3, B4)
Drums – Godfrey MacLean* (tracks: B4), Reg Isidore (tracks: A1 to B3)
Electric Piano – Peter Bardens (tracks: A4, B2)
Lead Guitar – Snowy White (tracks: A1, A2)
Lyrics By – J. S. Green (tracks: A1, B1, B3), P. A. Green (tracks: A3)
Music By – P. A. Green
Organ [Hammond] – Peter Bardens (tracks: A1, A2)
Producer – Peter Vernon-Kell
Rhythm Guitar – Snowy White (tracks: A3, A4, B2, B3, B5)
Vocals, Guitar – Peter Green (2)
Boingusboingus
This is brilliant! Anyone who thought Peter Green's career effectively began and ended with Fleetwood Mac, as I did, was clearly mistaken.
Mslynette7875
peter green sends chills up my spine
Klaus-Dieter Hinrichs
Sweet Lady. Respect.
jellyjukebox
For me Peter's greatest post Mac song. He's describing his interpretation of Heaven that awaits believers. God bless you Peter.
333jethro
From the Book of Revelation.
Motti Peretz
I love this song and I love this album, one of the best ever made. RIP Peter Green, you in the skies.
Μητσος λε Γκρικ
Oh, there’s a way to keep the dark from the light
And there’s a way to take the cold out of the night
And when I see it’s glow
The sun and moon are shadowed
By the everlasting day
When I reach up my hand
To the loving son of man
The bread of life will keep my soul alive
There’s a place where rivers flow in the street
Where fruit and healing leaves are seen on a tree
Where emerald walls shine clear
And golden streets run far and near
Behind the gates where his angels names appear
Solo
When I reach up my hand
To the loving son of man
The bread of life will keep my soul alive
And he will wipe away the tears from our eyes
As we watch this old world fade when it dies
And a new one shall come
And it will be heaven
And it’s waiting for us there in the skies
In the skies
In the skies
In the skies
In the skies
333jethro
...and the bread of life. The New Jerusalem in Revelation, is where the river flows and other descriptions are referring to. Look up to the skies, hold on, Jesus is coming soon☺️🙏🏼
lassie JR
Jesus always recognized himself as the Son of Man !
333jethro
May he rest in Jesus arms now!💔🙏🏼🕊