Sledgehammer
harmony.fm: Peter Gabriel Lyrics


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If you could take my pulse right now
It would feel just like a sledgehammer
If you could feel my heart beat now
It would hit you like a sledgehammer

I don't admit it
I play it cool
But every minute
That I'm with you

I feel the fever and I won't lie
I break a sweat
My body's telling
All the secrets I ain't told you yet

(Oh oh) I struggle to contain
(Whoa oh) The love that's in my veins
(Oh oh) And how it circulates (oh oh)

If you could take my pulse right now
It would feel just like a sledgehammer (oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh)
If you could feel my heart beat now
It would hit you like a sledgehammer (oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh)

You're taken over the beat of my body
You just don't let up, don't let up
You're taken over the beat of my body
But you lift me up, lift me up
If you take my pulse right now
It would feel just like a sledgehammer

So close together
So far apart
You're turning me on
And my fire's waitin' for your spark

(Oh oh) I struggle to contain
(Whoa oh) The love that's in my veins
(Oh oh) And how it circulates (oh oh)

If you could take my pulse right now
It would feel just like a sledgehammer (oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh)
If you could feel my heart beat now
It would hit you like a sledgehammer (oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh)

You're taken over the beat of my body
You just don't let up, don't let up
You're taken over the beat of my body
But you lift me up, lift me up
If you take my pulse right now
It would feel just like a sledgehammer

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh

The truth is out
No stopping now
I'm getting closer
I've had enough
Undress my love
I'm coming over

If you take my pulse right now
It would feel just like a sledgehammer, oh
And if you take my pulse right now
It would feel just like a sledgehammer, hammer, oh

If you take my pulse

If you could take my pulse right now
It would feel just like a sledgehammer (oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh)
If you could feel my heart beat now
It would hit you like a sledgehammer (oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh)

You're taken over the beat of my body
You just don't let up, don't let up
You're taken over the beat of my body
But you lift me up, lift me up
If you take my pulse right now
It would feel just like a sledgehammer





Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Overall Meaning

Peter Gabriel's hit song "Sledgehammer" is a love song that compares the feeling of falling in love to a sledgehammer hitting the heart. The lyrics convey the physical and emotional impact of being around the person he loves, and the intense feelings and secrets that are revealed. Gabriel's powerful voice and the upbeat, funky sound of the music make the song a catchy and memorable classic.


The chorus is the most memorable part of the song, with the repetition of "If you could take my pulse right now, it would feel just like a sledgehammer, oh." The bridge is also notable for the repeated lines, "You're taken over the beat of my body, you just don't let up, don't let up." These lyrics convey how the person he loves is so entwined with him that they have become a part of his body and sense of self.


The music video for "Sledgehammer" is equally iconic, featuring stop-motion animation and puppetry that was groundbreaking for its time. It won multiple awards, including nine MTV Video Music Awards, and is still regarded as one of the best music videos ever made.


Line by Line Meaning

If you could take my pulse right now
If you were to determine how I'm feeling at this moment


It would feel just like a sledgehammer
It would be as if my emotions are hitting you with great force


If you could feel my heart beat now
If you were able to sense the rhythm of my heart


It would hit you like a sledgehammer
It would be overwhelming for you to experience the intensity of my feelings


I don't admit it
I don't confess or reveal my true emotions


I play it cool
I pretend to be calm and collected


But every minute
Regardless, all the time spent


That I'm with you
That we spend together


I feel the fever and I won't lie
I feel an intense level of passion and I am being truthful about it


I break a sweat
I have a physical reaction to my emotions


My body's telling
My physical reactions are communicating


All the secrets I ain't told you yet
Things that I haven't yet revealed to you


(Oh oh) I struggle to contain
I have difficulty keeping everything under control


(Whoa oh) The love that's in my veins
The strong feelings of love that I have inside of me


(Oh oh) And how it circulates (oh oh)
How those feelings of love affect me and how they spread through my body


You're taken over the beat of my body
You are having a powerful influence over my physical reactions


You just don't let up, don't let up
You continue to exert your influence, without any signs of stopping


But you lift me up, lift me up
You also bring me up to a higher level, providing an uplifting feeling


So close together
We are physically near each other


So far apart
Emotionally, we feel very different from each other


You're turning me on
You are making me feel sexually aroused


And my fire's waitin' for your spark
My passion is just waiting for you to ignite it


The truth is out
The reality is clear and no longer hidden


No stopping now
We can't avoid the consequences of what's been revealed


I'm getting closer
I am moving towards you, both physically and emotionally


I've had enough
I can't continue to hide my feelings any longer


Undress my love
Expose the depth of my affection


I'm coming over
I'm taking action to express my feelings directly to you




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Elizabeth Trainor, Jonas Jeberg, Sean Douglas

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@memowilliam9889

...

The beginning of the video begins with the beginning of life:


Egg, sperm, pregnancy, development, birth, eyes open awake, emoting, hearing, thinking, consciousness.

Welcome to the world sentient being.

Peter is not the subject of the lyrics. Someone else is. Who is able to fulfill all the qualities of the sledgehammer?

God.

“All you do is call me. I will be anything you need.”

Romans 10:13

”whoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Peter includes many lyrical allusions to the Christian faith. Whether he is a full blown Christian or of some other blended type, he hints at Christian spiritual experiences in many of his songs.



All comments from YouTube:

@MermaidMelissaPage

Bring the hammer!

@darrochturner20

Haha

@beastmerc84

Bring the hammer of the Gods!

@PaquetasCar2147

What about the Sledge? No worries Percy will bring that.

@toddseals2792

I like the way you said that. , ...

@healingheartsinspiration6253

Yes!!!!!

2 More Replies...

@jschlatt

actually the crowbar snaps in two

@chuchu2928

hey jschlatt good taste

@OzzieJeza02

Nice to know that some YouTubers have great taste.

@xolborLOL

i wasnt expecting to see you here

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