Peter Gabriel – Solsbury Hill

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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
Had to listen had no choice
I did not believe the information
[I] 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 keepin' 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
Tho' 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."

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'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."

Send "Solsbury Hill" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by bambi3k

Track duration: 04:23

"Solsbury Hill" as written by Peter / Gabriel

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Solsbury Hill song meanings
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90 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:When interviewed, Peter Gabriel has stated that the song "Solsbury Hill" is about his decision to leave Genesis and go his own way. He has stated that he had a "spiritual experience" atop Solsbury Hill.
    Flag zxcv4231on June 12, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I interpreted the lyrics to Peter Gabriel’s Solsbury Hill, using the talent God gave me to understand dreams. Here is the limk to my blog:
    eclectic-research3.blogspot.com/
    Flagged Shainathanon May 05, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I interpreted the lyrics to Peter Gabriel’s Solsbury Hill, using the talent God gave me to understand dreams. Here is the limk to my blog:
    eclectic-research3.blogspot.com/
    Flagged Shainathanon May 05, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:The "Come to take you/me home" closing of each part is about the end of periods in life, including that of death. Life's too short not to change when you need to, and home is nowhere you've already been, is where you're going now.
    Flag apalalaon February 16, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:It's about a man breaking free of his own past and rediscovering himself. I think it may well be about his leaving Genesis.
    At first standing on top of the world looking down, then he was told, or he realized, things would have to change (the eagle). He went through the day-to-day contemplating this decision to move on, but keeping it to himself. Giving up everything he had would surely close doors and he needed a strategy(which connections to cut).
    Flagged BlkWarrioron November 09, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song was code for the off-shore drillers I was responsible for if they got in trouble in Angola. If `Peter is still on Solsbury Hill` we come come ashore in force and bribe or fight our people free.
    Flag thecrossboneon June 23, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:WHY do they call this website "Song Meanings" when very rarely is there a description from the actual artist? It's just a discussion forum full of people guessing. Which is all well and good but I think this website should change it's name since a lot of the times we are not actually getting the definition or meaning of the songs posted.
    Flagged DavidWolfon June 17, 2012   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • -2
    My Opinion:I think you all got the song meaning twisted, the song is about him being tempted by the devil. On a hill, above a city is similar to the story of satan tempting jesus with all the kingdoms of the world. He doesn't believe the information just trust his imagination, that doesn't sound like divine knowledge to me. The second verse shows him keeping this secret, making calculations on who to cut, leaving the backgound and stepping out of the machinery. The devil plays on our feelings of insecurity by saying we are exceptional and how we wasting our lives on the mundane. Note how the second verse has a feeling of reluctance to it, if he really was following christ who he have such feelings. The third verse proves it for me, it's all about being decieved, and being confined. Now if it is really about becoming a christian, who decieved him, he says he doesn't need a replacement and you can keep my things, satan uses things to turn one away from god. just my opinion.
    Flagged Maxian7on May 31, 2012   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    My Opinion:In my opinion, the version of Solsbury Hill from the Peter Gabriel Plays Live double album (early 80's) is way better than the Secret World Live album version.
    Flag JoeBCon May 26, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This bothers me considerably. I recognize that this is a very interpretive song, albeit with classical Cristian symbolism.
    I didn't consider this until well after I had declared myself atheistic, citing Pete's wonderful songwriting as a source of inspiration/fallback when arguing my point. How is it that this song, still without a doubt my favorite of all time, could have helped me in any way?
    It seems that good songwriting overcomes religious fanaticism.
    Flagged SignalToNoiseon March 25, 2012   Link

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