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From: 2667266g
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  • It seems strange to me that people think this song has a "vauge" meaning. To me it's clearly about someone having a revalatory experiance about who they are and where their life is (spiritual or not), then struggling, and finally succeeding, to integrate it into their life.

    PS Check out the Erasure version. I think it's amazing.

  • So simple and yet so powerful...

  • Classic. I love this song.

  • If you consider this is written by a man who was in a asylum (Psychiatric hospital) and eventually gets out it all makes sense...

  • if this song is about him leaving genesis i wonder what the turning water in to wine has to do with that anyone know?

  • I think this song is simply about facing your own hill climb, no matter how tough, it's all relevent to YOUR own ability at the time you take it on. But then again, who gives a fug. Music was always meant to be a personal experience between the performer and you, so everyone's opinion is absolutely right, equal and your genuine opinion. Keep listening!

  • I heard the song was about his father coming to pick him up from a boarding school when he was a boy.

  • It is meaningless to ask the question "what was the author trying to say?" The meaningful question is what does this piece of art say to me - how, with my experiences, insights and emotions, does it touch me. The only time it is important to ask "what is the author trying to say?" is when you're dealing with polemics - The point is to say one thing. Meaning in art isn't a prize the author gives to the winner of his or her scavenger hunt.

  • The song is actually about Peter's decision to leave Genesis.

  • This song touches me. Don't care if it was popular or not. It evokes emotions and memories. I think we call that art?

  • wtf is this time signature?

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  • anD OUT OF NO WHERE OUT POPS BOB MARLEY ???????

  • It is always prudent to not dignify rude comments or quarellsome propositions with... It's best to choose the high ground. SongFacts present a short but good article about some history behind this song, including its chart success (or lack of it)...hope it helps.

  • Copared to some of his later songs, it was a 'minor hit'. But it was a very important hit as it got him on the chart solo and is, I believe, a classic song of his. i certainly like it; I liked it from my first listening.

  • A minor hit??? are you mental or just a moron??

  • I like old music like this :3

  • Catchy song. (to the poster, in your intro, you mean "its" not....."it's." no apostrophe.....oh never mind, the thing is rife with misspellings and what do daredevil motorcyclist idiots have to do with...

  • It does not need to take more than simple music to move someone to tears, if you experience the emotion and feeling that was put into the words, and the strength of the words itself. If you are unable to feel that, then infact you are one of the sheep.. living superfacially and digitally, unable to really feel. That's like the millions living like sheep in a herd, only like what the masses like and reject all outside-the-box people and things. We feel sorry for you.

  • sheep?? i didnt relize that farm animals listened to music.

  • AWESOME song. I could listen to this song all day non-stop.

  • winseck.....you are very wise!! my philosophy on music EXACTLY

  • Gabriel at his best!! It has stood the test of time!!

  • this song is talking about an eagle whom gave him information he found hard to believe, but trusted anyways. No doubt shocked when the eagle says he is going to take him home.

  • If this is a minor hit for Peter Gabriel than the U.S beating the USSR in The GOLD medal game in the Olympics was just another hockey game

  • It's about Gabriel leaving Genesis you insufferable fools.

  • A rather rude comment that has the unfortunate quality of being absolutely correct.

  • This is good ... actually.

  • this song inspires me and gives me hope. Tiff

  • I've always kinda liked this song. But I never gave the lyrics much thought. Then I actually HEARD it for the first time just the other day. It's funny, I'm going through some great changes in my life right now (new job, gf breakup) and when it came up on random play on my ipod the other day, that's when I got it. Now I've been listening to it endlessly. It realy speaks to me. -I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant!

  • Such a Cat Stevens influence to this song.

  • yes!!! CAT STEVENS!!!

  • Talented song writers tend to write in general terms so the song can mean different things to different people. I'm not a religous person at all, but if you think this song is about religion, that's great. If you think it's about something totally different that means a lot to you, that great as well. If this song means something completely personal to you, then Mr. Gabriel must have done a very good job writing his lyrics. Go with that and let the song touch you the way it is supposed to.

  • @winseck Peter Gabriel Wrote This Song About His Departure From Genesis. Everybody Would Tell Him The Band Was At The Top And That He Was Crazy To Leave. The Other Members Wanted To Change Genesis' Sound. Peter Gabriel Didn't Want A More POP Sound. So He Left And Phil Collins Replaced Him. "Today I Don't Need A Replacement, I Tell Them What The Smile On My Face Meant. My Heart Going: BOUM, BOUM, BOUM. Hey' I Said: You can Keep My Things They've Come To Take Me Home"

  • @winseck You have just described how every piece of art functions. It means what it means to the person experiencing it. "What the artist intended" is irrelevant. Published, it takes on a life of its own. To focus on what the author intended is the same as gauging a person's life in terms of what his or her parents intended for him or her.

  • Yeah this song was definitely not written about Jesus, but about his split with genesis. Denaliln, what need is there to bash religion? Just because it doesn't suit you doesn't mean it's wrong. Yes, some may have been mislead in why things were written, but that doesn't mean you need to try and hurt them. If Osama Bin Laden wasn't like you, then there would still be a few thousand more people still on this Earth.

  • via con dios....mon amies

  • This song is about he's split from Genesis

  • yeah but he makes it sound like his is Jesus :P

  • wtf is with the video?

  • Wow, this songs just lifts ya' up and has that giddyness to it....*hugs*

  • This song reminds me of my childhood, my father made the best solsbury steak in the world

  • ...you mean Salisbury steak?

  • You spelled it wrong too hahahah.

  • Me? How?

  • solsbury steak?? What's that than??? :S:S

    This song brings me back to my childhood as well :D

    Really LOOOOOVVVVVEEE this one =D

  • Just because it says 'Turns Water to Wine' doesn't mean it has a religious corellation

  • this song is about jesus and easter

  • haha no it's not.

  • GO WITH CHRIST, BITCH!

  • oooooooooooolololololol

  • This song is about eating Salisbury steak.

  • Evel Knievel Loved General Lee and the Confederate Flag... he later joined the Ku Klux Klan as a result of his obsession with the Southern way of Rebellion

  • I think its about leaving war and wanting peace. dont insult me just an opinion. I heard it on the radio a lot this week great writing.

  • solsbury*

    lol

  • i went with my mother to england and we saw sosbury hill and they never said anything about peter gabriel or the song. i think the solsbury hill he's talkin about is a insane asylum called solsbury hill............but maybe him talkin about accomplishing stuff in life....IDK

  • Peter Gabriel, poet extraordinaire!! probably the best part of Genesis. What a great tribute to Evel Knievel or anybody reaching for a particular goal...the long-jump skier eclipses the mark-to-beat...he knew it when he landed..."you can keep my things they've come to take me home"...not about Jesus, but faith and believing in a destination,...excellent job 2667266g. Thanks for posting.

  • see the confederate flag ? Evel was later revealed to be a member of the Ku Klux Klan

  • none better the best if ever heard its been my fav. from the start thanxs for posting jim

  • This song is the most beutiful song ever written. His voice is so soulful.

  • why sports ?

  • the video has nothing to do with the song, just listen to the song, it is getting close to perfection. the time signiture give an edgy feel to the song, this gives a real feel for his feelings having just left genesis.

  • No one will EVER find a song with more meaning and depth written so simply and beautiful....

  • Gosh, that guy is always ahead of time...

  • classic-the only guy doing stuff like this now is jon nickoll, check out "green man" on youtube, and tell me if you agree!

  • I always thought it was about Jesus! Finding out about who he really was. The eagle representing an angel. But I know it is about Peter leaving Genesis and his family life. But no matter what the song is about, it is a great song.

  • I thought it was about Jesus too for a long time.

  • it's definitely about Jesus, deliberately about the task he was given by his father

  • why do we have evel here?

  • funny enough xD alien abduction...

  • here's one positive comment:

    "+!"

  • oi british guy. you´re sure it´s about spiritual experience? I thought it was to do with the family. anyway emotional to the end...

  • such a great song-great vid too. Well done

  • a 'minor hit' for PG ? are you a retard? A HUGE HIT. wake up.

  • oh brother! in all due respect, your quite misinformed or assuming that becuase it is a great song, it topped the charts....it's one thing to be wrong, another thing to throw the "retard" comment out there. (look it up please) then ask your self who is the "retard" now...

  • Wow.

    Worst comment ever.

  • @2667266g - This one of my Peter Gabriel favorites and one is most well known to me

  • @blum1982 In 1977, it was not a huge hit, so you are wrong.

    Name calling makes you look like a jackass.

  • @blum1982

    You're a jerk. ;-)

  • OMG I got goosebumps!!!

  • such*

  • suck a friggen good song

  • this song is a rip-off from dream theater's Solitary Shell!

    (just kidding)

  • drecks geiles lied....so geil

  • That is just awesome! 5*

  • Boar, was für ein Meisterwerk...

  • Such a powerful song - never got the recogniton it deserved!

  • salisbury not solsbury u american wanker...!!!!

  • The plain in southern England and the city is Salisbury. The hill is Solsbury. It was a iron age hill fort dating to just prior to the common era. Salisbury plain (also southern England) is the home of Stone Henge and a major military training area with excellent tank ranges that I had the good fortune to visit some years ago.

    -juat another Stupid American Waker

  • You left out "pwned"

  • its not iron age its neolithic

  • @BoroDevil isnt it 'wanker'?

  • lol it appears as Solsbury hill on the album. idiot. proving that europeans are just as stupid as the rest of the world.

  • "Solsbury Hill" is a song by British musician Peter Gabriel, about a spiritual experience atop Solsbury Hill in Somerset, England. Gabriel wrote the song after his departure from the progressive rock band Genesis. So yes SOLSBURY HILL is the correct spelling. Oh and I'm British..! BoroDevil you are correct mate.

  • @ RogueTrooper79

    I'd have to agree.

    Solsbury hill was recorded in 1976.

    Evil Knievels most famous "canyon" jump took place in 1974.

    And bob marley was most famous mid-70's

    Thats the only explaination i have.

    The images have nothing to do with the video, sure. But the song is nice :)

  • this is most defenitly the most underrated song of all time

  • @ zigga

    Agreed!

  • Thats nice to know. Thank you for pointing that out. I will remember how much of a wanker i am,though you don't know me.

  • GRANDIOS !!

    Ob P.Gabriel, P.Collins, Genesis,

    ich liebe diese Musik.

    Voller Power !!!

  • what was the purpose of the video. its a great song but wat does the song have to do with the Berlin Wall Bob Marley and Evil Knievel?

  • You all think that skier was 'in the moment'?! ;-)

  • The song is about a religious experience. If you listen to Peter Gabriel's music, a lot of it has very Catholic overtones (In Your Eyes, all the music from Last Temptation of Christ). This song is simply about his doubting God, then having an experience that makes him believe (first verse), consequently struggling to integrate that acceptance into his life (listen to the second verse), and then finally fully accepting God (the third verse).

  • actually, according to Gabriel, he wrote this song about his departure from Genesis in 1977

  • Actually, anthropus, bphutchins is correct.

    This song is about Gabriel's feelings concerning his leaving Genesis.

  • I don't understand the point of that video. Evil Knievel, Bob marley, Berlin Wall??? WTF?

    I love Peter Gabriel and his art. You should be ashamed of that meaningless "collage".

  • I didn't know pete gabriel sang this :O

  • Peter Gabriel was and will always be a thousand times better than Phil Collins.

  • this is the beauty of song and art, we all find a chord that sings to us. yet I think Peter was playing and singing to a wide range of feelings and beliefs. I'm an atheist yet I love the spirit in his music.

  • I thought it was about him being a kid going to solsbury hill?

  • Instead of guessing, why not ask Peter what he wanted to convey with this song? I try not to "interpret" if it has some abstract. Ask the originator. I know the melody is up beat and inviting, communicating joy and discovery. I love the acoustic guitar, not sure about all the lyrics.

  • makes me think of what God could of said

    to Jesus that last moment on the cross

    "son-grab your things ive come to take you home"

    the greatest sacrifice the greatest love

    if we all could only feel the truth

  • what i don t get it evil knevel

  • this song is about him leaving genesis. thats all. he also ties in the experience of sitting on solsbury hill in the song, as well as singing about the departure from genesis

  • "this song is about him leaving genesis. thats all." definately not true...its about so much more, so many different ways you can think of this song.

  • well if you read the rest of my comment, i said the song is more than him leaving genesis. but that is the main focus of the song. i'm a huge peter gabriel fan, and i've heard many different meanings, but that one is most common. what do you the song means then?

  • what do you mean about leaving "genesis."

  • Peter Gabriel was an original member of the rock group Genesis. When he left, Phil Collins became the lead singer-added to his drumming duties.

  • Genesis was the band he was in going solo. Come on now, lol.

  • well it has a different meaning for everyone i think, thats what makes this song so great. I can think of it in different ways, just as i feel in the moment, its up to you, i bet that peter had many things in his head when he wrote this epic music.

  • Unfortunally.....Peter Gabriel was " abused" in Public School and his Dad said " Grab your things, I've come to take you home" Wacth "Groing Up : Live"....it does actually explain a lot.

  • I thought this song was about some one coming out of the closet "he said grab your things im gonna take you home"

    but now i think its about him leaving genesis

  • what a voice !

  • awesome!

  • This is quite possibly the only song I know of that is really an abstract piece of music. Each person hears it and applies their own interpretation, I saw a more Christian one, a friend saw it as someone declaring their independence from others, another saw it as someone dealing with inner conflict. Music like that is truly rare and shows the talents of the singer and the writer.

  • i agree

  • Very insightful! Such an evocative, powerful song.

  • *In reply to Darkstar1484's comment...

  • I think this is a very biographical song,about leaving genesis and the problem he had with his daughter..It-s a kind of"suspended situation"that come to a solution,and it-s a moment that everyone has in his own life and for that i think that every personal interpretation is more important than the "correct" interpretation following peter-s life..

  • this is seriously the only metaphorical song you know of?

  • Metaphorical, no, abstract yes. Metaphorical on its basic level is alluding to one idea or concept. Abstract is based more on the person hearing or seeing it (in the case of artwork and I do consider music to be a form of art).

  • Um. 80s

  • um. 70s

  • the best song... i love it..

  • super

    charlotte

  • the best use of this song was in that fake trailer someone made for The Shining.

  • This song is better than strawberry cheesecake!  Peter Gabriel rocks!

  • Minor!?!

    This is the greatest Peter Gabriel song!

    By the way, the correct spelling is POWERFUL.

    But I love the video. It's very inspirational.

  • For reference, Jimi Hendrix only had one "hit" song (All Along the Watchtower, which itself was a cover). Quality does not equal sales which is what makes a song a hit.

  • purple haze was a hit from jimi hendrix..

  • jimi hendrix had a hit with `hey joe`

  • nah dude i think he's right. all along the watchtower was the only one on the pop charts

  • Yeah, he is right. All Along the Watchtower was Jimi Hendrix's only Top 10 hit.

  • It doesnt matter because quantity is not quality.

  • I don't think they have bald eagles in the UK

  • i dont think half of the things in this song are possible. Just go with the flow

  • hahahahahahaha

  • I love home made video's!!!!Good job.

  • when I was young.

  • wicked song!.....see the dude getn massive launch on the ski`s. lolz.i have a funny feeling he just smashed all of his apponents into the ground

  • always loved this song

  • Leaving Genisis; that is what this song is about!

    cheers

    Harry

  • I will pray for you to find Christ. I really hope you do.

  • I love this song :)

    Majella x x x x x x

  • I do not think you should be so harsh on people you don't even know.

  • I sometimes think the founding fathers may have been wrong with this first amendendment/free speech thing.

    I give you "post comments" as proof.

  • yea srry bout that

  • ♥ it

    but it's no minor :)

  • Guys...

    Beautiful song!

  • this song gives me goose bumps

  • are you all american! Your posts seem to point in this direction. Maybe even very young yanks with anger. Not wanting to Dis the US but you twats with your lack of respect and childish posts are so low in the intelligence stakes ha ha.

  • I think i missed the journey but it's a great song

  • Oh god, why can't we just enjoy the song without the pathetic attempt to take us on a "Journey"? I mean, wow, man..the song is called solsbury hill..and you had a picture of solsbury hill. Then, to make sure we got it, you even told us it was solsbury hill. And the song talks about an eagle, and there was a picture of an eagle. Moving.

  • Nothing like putting on this video and opening a new tab so I only get the song.

  • boom boom boom