He released his first solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte, in 1975 while still with Genesis, and has maintained a steady output since. He is a distinctive and versatile guitarist who also performs classical concerts and has released five classical albums in addition to many rock, progressive, and blues albums. He participated in the 1986 formation of GTR with Steve Howe.
Hackett's tours alternate between acoustic performances (often accompanied by his brother John Hackett (flute) and Roger King (keyboards) as the Steve Hackett Acoustic Trio) and more rock-oriented performances.
In 2013, Hackett teamed up with bass player Chris Squire, founding member of Yes, to form Squackett.
* Official website
Déjà Vu
Steve Hackett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The times I've been down
I've swept the ocean floor
Like a flower slow to open
I do believe I've been this way before
It's every man?s fantasy to win victory
The world at his feet with songs of glory
Now I know that what you sow you reap
And every day at last must die in sleep
You want to know the story of my life
The only sin is not loving enough
I do believe I've been this way before
You want to know the future, the last act in a play
A book that falls apart with a missing last page
All the past's a frozen wasteland
You can't take back the fruits you once enjoyed
But now I know I've been this way before
The song Déjà Vu by Steve Hackett is a reflective and introspective piece that speaks of growth, resilience, and the passing of time. The opening lines "I'm on my way, I'm stronger than before, the times I've been down, I've swept the ocean floor" evoke a sense of overcoming hardship and emerging stronger from adversity. The metaphor of sweeping the ocean floor implies that the singer has gone to great depths, faced challenges head-on, and reached a point of self-discovery and empowerment.
Hackett then takes us through the realization that life is a cycle and each person's ultimate fate is to die in their sleep. He contrasts this with the desire for victory and glory that many hold, suggesting that in the grand scheme of things, these desires appear insignificant. Ultimately, what matters is not how much one achieves but how much one loved. The repeated line "I do believe I've been this way before" is a nod to the cyclical nature of life, suggesting that every experience and hardship is just part of a bigger picture.
The final verse speaks of the uncertainty of the future and the inescapable fact that one cannot change what has been done. However, the singer seems to have learned from their experiences and accepted that moving forward means acknowledging the past but also focusing on the present. Hackett's Déjà Vu is a profound reflection on the transient nature of life and the importance of growth, resilience, and love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on my way, I'm stronger than before
Despite experiencing down times, I'm persevering and becoming stronger than ever
The times I've been down
I've experienced difficult, challenging times
I've swept the ocean floor
I've overcome obstacles that seemed insurmountable
Like a flower slow to open
Just like a flower that takes time to bloom, I too have taken my time to become the person I am today
I do believe I've been this way before
I have a sense of familiarity and déjà vu about my current path in life
It's every man's fantasy to win victory
Most men dream of achieving great success and winning at life
The world at his feet with songs of glory
With great success comes the adoration of others and the world seemingly at your beck and call
The man seems smaller the child stands taller
Perspective changes with success, what once seemed difficult now pales in comparison to the challenges faced during childhood
Now I know that what you sow you reap
I've learned that your actions have consequences, and what you put out into the world will eventually come back to you
And every day at last must die in sleep
The day must come to an end, and we must rest before starting anew
You want to know the story of my life
You're interested in my life and experiences
The only sin is not loving enough
I believe the most important thing in life is to love others
You want to know the future, the last act in a play
You're curious about what the future holds, the final chapter in my story
A book that falls apart with a missing last page
Life can be unpredictable and sometimes doesn't provide closure or resolution
All the past's a frozen wasteland
You can't change or go back to the past, it's a stagnant and unchanging place
You can't take back the fruits you once enjoyed
Once something is done, you can't undo it or go back to how things were before
But now I know I've been this way before
I have a sense of familiarity and déjà vu about my current path in life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDRES DUSSEL, ANDRES HORACIO FICICCHIA, OSCAR GABRIEL CARIOLA, RAUL EMILIO CARIOLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jacquelinelinfoot7501
Beautiful song - the band is amazing. Steve's guitar work is fantastic and Nad's vocals are superb.
@carvcom2
You took the words out of my mouth, so to speak. One of the most beautiful songs ever written. Bravo to Peter and Steve.
@TonyYouTubeChannel
Actually listening to this again makes me wish that Steve would do an album of unreleased Genesis tracks (I feel sure there must be enough unfinished fragments). I think this would be like a treasure chest to those of us who have loved their, and Steve's, music since the 1970s.
@stevenhaywood1195
Now wouldn't that be a great idea? There are plenty of further songs from 1969 to 1970 or so that remain unrecorded according to Tony Banks, on the sleeve notes to Genesis Archives 1967 to 1975.
Would Mr Hackett wish to record them I wonder....
cttgaegoaktd
😛😛😛😛😛😛😛
@robertfranklin8704
First time Ive heard it, and love it. Hackett as brilliant as ever! And, a great admirer of Phil Collins voice, Nads ia fast growing on me.
@julianhorner9339
Mr Sylvan nails Deja vu and truly makes it his own ! I was lucky enough to see this performed live at the Keswick theatre Pennsylvania, the song has been refined and tweaked to perfection since its first Genesis revisited recording.
Just wonderfull Thankyou Steve and your worthy troupe !🙂
@Jpeterson7
Hackett wailing on that lead. Wonderfully done by the whole band!
@tinostabile3256
Such an incredible song and artist. but then how bad can it be... written by Gabriel and completed by Steve.
I was so lucky to see this song performed live. He has not lost a beat and his dexterity is as incredible as his days in Genesis.
As Neil Young sang... Long May you Run.... Steve. Godwilling you will continue to dazzle us for so many more years.... if we can only tell COVID to leave once and for all.
@WarhawkBeyond2040
I was at this concert and it was absolutely fantastic, I have been to lots of Steve Hackett shows for the last 15 years and this was one of the best I have ever been to. 'Deja Vu' was the best track of the entire Genesis set list of the show and Steve Hackett's guitar playing made the hair on my arms stand up. Can't wait to buy this when it comes out so I can relieve the magic all over again.
@philipose66
weird--i am pretty well versed with Genesis--i had a mentor--never heard this song--btw, i happen to like the heavier guy who also sings on Hackett videos