as I understand, Peter builds up a great flowing 'tension' that keeps me motivated and on the egde that continues throughout the middle section of the song, and when he says " I hold the line" and on, he releases that tension to the end. so powerful...
among the very few composers that take advantage of 'diptych' and does it like no other.
@billsutherland1 Bill, the comment about the essay is from user/bowiefan517. You should ask him. It really would be interesting to read his essay.
I tried to link his account here but YT won't let you place links in the comment area. Just click on his name in the comment area & you should be able to send him a reply....
This song really changed my life. I remember it really shining through my mind years ago as I got used to the album and was flotaing in an isolation tank a lot.
I bought this album (IV) the day it was released. At that time I was pretty much wasted 24/7 - naturally this song was the most profound, beautiful, secret-of-life kind of thing imaginable. I listened to it over and over again mesmerised.
30 years later I listen to it again and it sounds just as good - sends shivers up and down my spine, speaks to my very consciousness. Either I have achieved a state of perpetual stoned-ness or this music is so good that listening to it gets you high..
this song always depressed, was out in the most depressing time of my life and i opened the video and this is the most beautiful foto of the ocean. really sometimes, i know god is with me
i was taken by this song the first time i heard it (picked up #4 the week it was released) and it's been my 'calm down' song ever since. "i hold the line/ the line of strength that pulls me through the fear". been a lotta good music before and since, but this song (and album) has something almost zen going on. i sometimes wish Gabriel would go back to shoestring budget creativity, because none of the later works have had the same desperate genius that #3 and #4 possessed
@davidfsnyder - point taken, and yet the entirety of the project cost less than Daniel Lanois' time as a producer (PG himself commented that having him involved was not cheap- though useful). my point is that all the heavy layering and texturing takes away from impact, makes it more of a soundtrack and less of an internal effect. the minimalism of #3 and #4 are a strength, the over-texturing of Up and So are weaknesses, to my view. PG is capable of greater impact with less. I miss that
@hippomancy yes, the minimalism was good. plus, he really played with fresh sounds back then. he still gets good sounds and i love his voice. it's hard to stay fresh, what is he, 60+?
@davidfsnyder he's of the miles davis mold- change up your support cast to get the best contrast effect, to challenge one to change or at least alter the presentation if you feel the range of possibilities is limited... mind you PG has been doing lots of soundtrack work. doing Birdy really altered his studio focus. wish he'd lose that, but then it seems a natural extension of his Genesis days...
@suelou1313 Peter Gabriel is an amazing artist. I love the words you use yes this song touchs me in core of my soul. Its spiritaul. I play to shock the monkey on my channel checkit out
as I understand, Peter builds up a great flowing 'tension' that keeps me motivated and on the egde that continues throughout the middle section of the song, and when he says " I hold the line" and on, he releases that tension to the end. so powerful...
among the very few composers that take advantage of 'diptych' and does it like no other.
flllathiestllld 3 weeks ago
letting go of life
trugangsta4real 1 month ago
i think I'm losing it....
SnakemanisJeff 3 months ago
I too, hold the line. in fact, I'm holding it right now. wish me luck
jackhillty 4 months ago in playlist jackhillty's favorites
@jackhillty good luck :)
dkkauwe 1 month ago in playlist tomorrow
This is Peter's finest work.It is without doubt a masterpiece!
Incomplete6230 4 months ago
This song still gives me chills. Amazing.
Fionalah 6 months ago
I did a 5 page essay about the merits and metaphors of this song
bowiefan517 6 months ago 9
@bowiefan517
etherealunion 6 months ago
@etherealunion would you be willing to share the essay? I'd love to know more about the metaphors in the song, I find it deeply moving.
billsutherland1 2 months ago
@billsutherland1 Bill, the comment about the essay is from user/bowiefan517. You should ask him. It really would be interesting to read his essay.
I tried to link his account here but YT won't let you place links in the comment area. Just click on his name in the comment area & you should be able to send him a reply....
etherealunion 2 months ago
@bowiefan517 Wow, 5 pages... cool.
etherealunion 6 months ago
@etherealunion Yeah but he used 70pt font..
nimpo46 6 months ago
The line of strength that holds me thru the fear.
one of Mr. Gabriel's many masterpieces and one of my favorites from him
Hold the line. We will live. Hold the line.
3rdStoneFromTheSun 7 months ago 2
i hold the line !
kangurome 8 months ago
Song always gives me chills
chehnik 9 months ago 2
Wonderful, tragic, heartbreaking, mindblowing, religion- this whole album is a masterpiece
wolfstan64 10 months ago 4
@wolfstan64 All true, your words. Also, this song on the album Gabriel Live is sublime.
papaclanc 10 months ago
So glad that you all enjoy this song as much as I do.. thank you...
etherealunion 1 year ago 6
This song really changed my life. I remember it really shining through my mind years ago as I got used to the album and was flotaing in an isolation tank a lot.
alternit41 1 year ago
I bought this album (IV) the day it was released. At that time I was pretty much wasted 24/7 - naturally this song was the most profound, beautiful, secret-of-life kind of thing imaginable. I listened to it over and over again mesmerised.
30 years later I listen to it again and it sounds just as good - sends shivers up and down my spine, speaks to my very consciousness. Either I have achieved a state of perpetual stoned-ness or this music is so good that listening to it gets you high..
kapo10wong 1 year ago 5
@kapo10wong
I also bought it when it came out.
Years later on my honeymoon, we went to the top of Mt San Jancinto.
To this day, my wife does not know that I was on acid that day.
zenking08 9 months ago 2
This song makes me cry almost every time i listen to it. Just absolutely beautiful.
durpadoo 1 year ago 3
@durpadoo I too have pulled a Boehner on this. It evokes empathy very, very directly
myatt315 1 year ago
this song always depressed, was out in the most depressing time of my life and i opened the video and this is the most beautiful foto of the ocean. really sometimes, i know god is with me
latigranj 1 year ago
I am so impressed with this discussion. . . I HOLD THE LINE!!!
I can see the San Jacinto Mountains from here!
And the tears roll down my swollen cheeks. . .
Yellow eagle flies down from the sun. . .
etherealunion 1 year ago 7
i was taken by this song the first time i heard it (picked up #4 the week it was released) and it's been my 'calm down' song ever since. "i hold the line/ the line of strength that pulls me through the fear". been a lotta good music before and since, but this song (and album) has something almost zen going on. i sometimes wish Gabriel would go back to shoestring budget creativity, because none of the later works have had the same desperate genius that #3 and #4 possessed
hippomancy 1 year ago 2
@hippomancy a fairlight cmi was hardly shoestring at the time ...
davidfsnyder 1 year ago
@davidfsnyder - point taken, and yet the entirety of the project cost less than Daniel Lanois' time as a producer (PG himself commented that having him involved was not cheap- though useful). my point is that all the heavy layering and texturing takes away from impact, makes it more of a soundtrack and less of an internal effect. the minimalism of #3 and #4 are a strength, the over-texturing of Up and So are weaknesses, to my view. PG is capable of greater impact with less. I miss that
hippomancy 1 year ago
@hippomancy yes, the minimalism was good. plus, he really played with fresh sounds back then. he still gets good sounds and i love his voice. it's hard to stay fresh, what is he, 60+?
davidfsnyder 1 year ago
@davidfsnyder he's of the miles davis mold- change up your support cast to get the best contrast effect, to challenge one to change or at least alter the presentation if you feel the range of possibilities is limited... mind you PG has been doing lots of soundtrack work. doing Birdy really altered his studio focus. wish he'd lose that, but then it seems a natural extension of his Genesis days...
hippomancy 1 year ago
- i hold the line -
xanax76est 1 year ago
Genius indeed. Right along with Here Comes The Flood
equalhappiness 1 year ago
@equalhappiness Agreed, my two faves as well.
papaclanc 10 months ago
Gabriel's best solo effort IMO.
MrINeedSome 1 year ago
A true genius.
intioyarzun 1 year ago
a rattle in the old man's sack said LOOK AT MOUNTAIN TOP - KEEP CLIMBING UP
RedMapp1 1 year ago
This song is amazing. Not to mention so innovative from a production standpoint.
ThePoorBoy 1 year ago
I absolutely love how this song builds up and builds up to a magnificent peak, and then gently takes you down again. Pure genius.
denhulde 1 year ago
song was made fore a little boy sweeping though the desert for 7LONG DAYS...
and he surfived, Amazing
Ryhindor 1 year ago
This song keeps my soul from bleeding to death
suelou1313 1 year ago 6
@suelou1313 Peter Gabriel is an amazing artist. I love the words you use yes this song touchs me in core of my soul. Its spiritaul. I play to shock the monkey on my channel checkit out
druminanddriven 1 year ago
I think degree 7 said it best. But I'll add fucking genius .
doubleeasy 2 years ago 10
Fucking Amazing.
degree7 2 years ago
One of the most powerful songs I've ever heard. It helped to alter my songwriting forever.
61Turboman 2 years ago 18
@61Turboman My thoughts exactly man. Hands down one of the most powerful songs ever created. This is pure inspiration.
Rime247 1 month ago