My Favorite Song Forever —”Solsbury Hill” by Peter Gabriel

By mlavoraperry

I started digging this song while I was living in downtown Brooklyn, New York, 1986, and have never stopped. It will remain my favorite song for the rest of this lifetime.  My personal anthem.

In 1986, two of my roommates were a married couple—Israelis who grew up in a kibbutz, Chiam and Ayella (sp?). Chiam said of my Peter Gabriel cassette, “This is really great music! Who is this?” He and Ayella were music engineers, I think. 

Recording

Live


The Lyrics
Solsbury Hill
Peter Gabriel

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 keeping 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
till 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.
Yeah back home

When illusion spin her net
I’m never where I want to 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 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.

Facts
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=393

Writer M. LaVora Perry’s Blog

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3 Responses to “My Favorite Song Forever —”Solsbury Hill” by Peter Gabriel”

  1. My Favorite Song Forever —Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel Says:

    [...] yoeltitan wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI started digging this song while I was living in New York City, 1986, and have never stopped. It will remain my favorite song for the rest of this lifetime.  My personal anthem. In 1986, two of my roommates were a married couple–Israelis who grew up on a kibbutz, Chiam and Ayella (sp?). Chiam said of my Peter Gabriel cassette, “This is really great music! Who is this?” He and Ayella were music engineers, I think.  The Recording [...]

  2. Tom Says:

    If you like Peter’s music, you’ve probably already chased these down, but just in case:

    Peter with Paula Cole back in 1994 before most people knew her name, doing “Shaking the tree” live during the Secret World tour: http://youtube.com/watch?v=20wnX307YKA

    …and you must see her haunting contributions to “In your eyes,” too: http://youtube.com/watch?v=iXRPm7faABo

    Peter is more than a gifted musician, he’s an excellent poet and a consummate entertainer. The energy he brings to both composition and performance is positively uplifting.

    For other uplifting stories, see: actualizers.blogspot.com

  3. mlavoraperry Says:

    Thanks, Tom. Will check it the links.

    -L

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