Pop Song 344 of 500 'Solsbury Hill' Peter Gabriel 1976

Pop Song 344 of 500 'Solsbury Hill' Peter Gabriel 1976

Gabriel has said of the song's meaning, "It's about being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get ... It's about letting go

Peter Gabriel took a walk up Solsbury Hill, a small hill in Somerset, England, where he had a self-described ‘spiritual awakening’. This awakening was characterized by themes of personal growth and self-discovery and served as the catalyst of “Solsbury Hill”

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing, stretching every nerve
I had to listen, had no choice
I did not believe the information
Just had to trust imagination
My heart going "Boom-boom-boom"
"Son", he said
"Grab your things, I've come to take you home"
To keep in silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
Though my life was in a rut
'Til I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going "Boom-boom-boom"
"Hey", he said
"Grab your things, I've come to take you home"
Hey, back home
When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I wanna be
And liberty, she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going "Boom-boom-boom"
"Hey", I said
"You can keep my things, they've come to take me home"