Peter Gabriel Lyrics

Peter Gabriel Lyrics
1. Album / 'car' (1977)___________________________________ 4

MORIBUND, THE BURGERMEISTER_______________________________________________ 5
SOLSBURY HILL _______________________________________________________________ 6
MODERN LOVE ________________________________________________________________ 7
EXCUSE ME __________________________________________________________________ 8
HUMDRUM____________________________________________________________________ 9
SLOWBURN__________________________________________________________________ 10
WAITING FOR THE BIG ONE ____________________________________________________ 11
DOWN THE DOLCE VITA _______________________________________________________ 12
HERE COMES THE FLOOD _____________________________________________________ 13
2. Album / 'scratch' (1978) ____________________________ 14

ON THE AIR __________________________________________________________________ 15
D.I.Y.________________________________________________________________________ 16
MOTHER OF VIOLENCE ________________________________________________________ 17
A WONDERFUL DAY IN A ONE DAY WORLD _______________________________________ 18
WHITE SHADOW______________________________________________________________ 19
INDIGO______________________________________________________________________ 20
ANIMAL MAGIC _______________________________________________________________ 21
EXPOSURE __________________________________________________________________ 22
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM ________________________________________________________ 23
PERSPECTIVE _______________________________________________________________ 24
HOME SWEET HOME __________________________________________________________ 25
3. Album - 'melt' (1980)__________________________________ 26

INTRUDER ___________________________________________________________________ 27
START ______________________________________________________________________ 29
I DON'T REMEMBER ___________________________________________________________ 30
FAMILY SNAPSHOT ___________________________________________________________ 31
...AND THROUGH THE WIRE ____________________________________________________ 33
GAMES WITHOUT FRONTIERS __________________________________________________ 34
NOT ONE OF US ______________________________________________________________ 35
BIKO ________________________________________________________________________ 36
4. Album / 'security' (1982) ___________________________ 37

THE RHYTHM OF THE HEAT ____________________________________________________ 38
SAN JACINTO ________________________________________________________________ 39
I HAVE THE TOUCH ___________________________________________________________ 40

THE FAMILY AND THE FISHING NET _____________________________________________ 41
SHOCK THE MONKEY _________________________________________________________ 42
LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME ______________________________________________________ 43
WALLFLOWER _______________________________________________________________ 44
KISS OF LIFE_________________________________________________________________ 45
So (1986) ___________________________________________________________ 46
RED RAIN ___________________________________________________________________ 47
SLEDGEHAMMER _____________________________________________________________ 49
DON'T GIVE UP _______________________________________________________________ 51
THAT VOICE AGAIN ___________________________________________________________ 53
IN YOUR EYES _______________________________________________________________ 55
MERCY STREET ______________________________________________________________ 57
MERCY STREET ______________________________________________________________ 57
BIG TIME ____________________________________________________________________ 59
WE DO WHAT WE'RE TOLD_____________________________________________________ 61
THIS IS THE PICTURE _________________________________________________________ 62
Us (1992) ___________________________________________________________ 63
COME TALK TO ME ___________________________________________________________ 64
LOVE TO BE LOVED ___________________________________________________________ 66
BLOOD OF EDEN _____________________________________________________________ 68
STEAM ______________________________________________________________________ 70
ONLY US ____________________________________________________________________ 72
WASHING OF THE WATER _____________________________________________________ 73
DIGGING IN THE DIRT _________________________________________________________ 74
KISS THAT FROG _____________________________________________________________ 75
SECRET WORLD______________________________________________________________ 77
OVO (2000)_______________________________________________________ 78
6. FATHER, SON ______________________________________________________________ 79
UP (2002) __________________________________________________________ 80
DARKNESS __________________________________________________________________ 81
GROWING UP ________________________________________________________________ 83
SKY BLUE ___________________________________________________________________ 85
NO WAY OUT ________________________________________________________________ 86
I GRIEVE ____________________________________________________________________ 87
THE BARRY WILLIAMS SHOW___________________________________________________ 88
MY HEAD SOUNDS LIKE THAT __________________________________________________ 90
MORE THAN THIS_____________________________________________________________ 91

SIGNAL TO NOISE ____________________________________________________________ 93
THE DROP ___________________________________________________________________ 94
1. Album / 'car' (1977)
MORIBUND, THE BURGERMEISTER

Caught in the chaos in the market square
I don't know what, I don't know why, but something's wrong down there
Their bodies twistin' and turnin' in a thousand ways
The eyes all rollin' round and round into a distant gaze
Ah, look at that crowd!
Some are jumping up in the air - say "We're drowning in a torrent of blood!"
Others going down on their knees, seen a saviour coming out of the mud
Oh Mother! It's eating out my soul
Destroying law and order, I'm gonna lose control
What can I do to stop this plague, spread by sight alone
Just a glimpse and then a quiver, then they shiver to the bone
Ah, look at them go!
Bunderschaft, you are going daft? Better seal off the castle grounds
"This is Moribund, the Burgermeister, I'm gonna keep this monster down,
Somebody sent the subversive element; going to chase it out of down."
No-one will tell what all this is about
But I will find out.
<I will find out. I will find out.>
This thing's really outrageous, I tell you on the level
It's really so contagious must be the work of the devil
You better go now, pick up the pipers, tell them to play
Seems the music keeps them quiet, there is no other way.
Ah, close the doors!
"We've tried potions and waxen dolls, but none of us could find any cures,"
Mother please, is it just a disease, that has them breaking all my laws,
Check if you can disconnect the effect and I'll go after the cause
No-one will tell what this is all about
But I will find out
I will.
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
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
"Hey" he said "Grab your things
I've come to take you home."
<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 on 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
"Hey" I said "You can keep my things,
they've come to take me home."
MODERN LOVE
Hey, I'm feeling so dirty, you're looking so clean
All you can give is a spin in your washing machine
I fly off to Rome to my prima bella
She leaves me in the rain with telescopic umbrella
Ooh the pain - Modern love can be a strain <repeated>
I trusted my Venus was untouched in her shell
But the pearls in her oyster were tacky as hell
For Lady Godiva I came incognito
But her driver had stolen her red hot magneto
Ooh the pain - Modern love can be a strain <repeated>
I don't know why they leave me in the lurch
To carry on the search
It's driving me up the wall
Pity when I have so much passion
Romance is out of fashion
Can't handle modern love at all
So I worship Diana by the light of the moon
When I pull out my pipe she screams out of tune
In Paris my heart sinks when I see the Mona Lisa
She gives me the wink, then she shows me the freezer
Ooh the pain
Modern love can be a strain
EXCUSE ME
Excuse me
You're wearing out my joie de vie
Grabbing those good years again
I want to be alone
Excuse me
I'm not the man I used to be
Someone else crept in again
I want to be alone
Excuse me please
I'm looking for Lost Angeles
Soaking up the sin again
I want to be alone
I want to be alone
I want to be alone
I want to be alone
You got the money back, that's okay
Who needs a Cadillac anyway
I got the medicine, make you see the light
Call me in Alaska if it all turns out right allright
Excuse me please
You're standing on my memories
Stealing souvenirs again
I want to be alone
Leave me alone
I wanna be alone
I wanna be alone
I wanna be alone
I wanna be alone
You got the money back, that's okay
Who needs a Cadillac anyway
I got the medicine, to make you see the light
Call me in Alaska, if it all turns out right, allright
HUMDRUM
I saw the man at J.F.K.
He took your ticket yesterday
In the humdrum
I ride tandem with a random
Things don't run the way I planned them
In the humdrum
Hey Valentina, do you want me to beg?
You got me cooking I'm a hard boiled egg
In the humdrum
Empty my mind - I find it hard to cope
Listen to my heart - don't need no stethoscope
It seem' to me that television
She come to cut me a deep incision
In the humdrum
Empty my mind - I find it hard to cope
Listen to my heart - don't need no stethoscope
Out of woman come the man
Spend the rest of his life gettin back where he can
As a bow, so a dove
As below, so above
From the black hole
Come the tadpole
With the dark soul
In coal she burn, she burn
As I drove into the sun
Didn't dare look where I had begun
Lost among echoes of things not there
Watching the sound forming shapes in the air
From the white star
Came the bright scar
Our amobea
My little liebe schon
SLOWBURN
We're character actors from the Tower of Babel
Bewildered, burnt out hardly able
To sit astride the high wire cable
It's hard to balance, a little unstable.
Through broken eyes and contact lenses
I watched you draw your future tenses
See kisses of flame blow out of your lips
You're back telling me your Apocalypse.
Don't get me wrong, I'll be strong
When the slowburn sunset come along
You've gotta stay the night
I gotta think that you might.
We've tried a handful of bills and a handful of pills
We've tried making movies from a volume of stills
But the words fell like hailstones,
bouncing at our feet,
Covering our feelings with a frozen sheet.
A chance to move, I take a shot
I get cold - you get hot
We look outside, lyin' awake
See birds breaking surface on a silent lake.
But don't get me wrong, I'll be strong
When I'm back on the Isle of Avalon
Don't get me wrong, I'll be strong
When the slow burn sunset come along
You've got to stay the night
I've got to think that you might.
Don't try to make it easy, it'll cut you down to size
Darlin' we've got to trust in something
We're shooting down our skies
shooting down our skies
WAITING FOR THE BIG ONE

The wine's all drunk and so am I
Here with the hoi-poloi, don't ask me why
We're celebratin' anticipatin'; end of the year
everybody come, everybody here
- well more or less
Some already in a mess
I guess they're waiting for the big one.
Wonder why I'm cold. How did I get this far?
Had no money, had no car
I pray the snow goes, be bad if it settles
'cos I follow my nose and the dried up rose petals
- like the man says,
Sure hope Moses knows his roses
Or we'll all be waiting for the big one.
Once I was the credit to my credit card
spent what I hadn't got, wasn't hard
No trust in judgement no trust in money
Someday I'll find myself like a bee finding honey
But in the meantime
I'm gonna have me some fun
Waiting for the big one.
One too many, where ego I go too
Looking for the real thing
It don't come from what I do
No real communication moves out of my face
I'm beginning to think I'm just out of place
Won't get in too deep, I want to get some sleep
To be ready for the big one
- waiting for the big one
DOWN THE DOLCE VITA

"Hey Mac, see you down the Dolce Vita!
"Get back, we don't have time
'Cos I hear we're sending off the heroes
When the yera goes, they're out of the bay,
Trying to find a way
to make it alive"
"So long," said four men to their families
"Be strong till we get back home
And if not, take care of all the children
Until then just hope and pray
We're gonna find a way
to make it alive"
"You guys are crazy!"
They shout and then we leave the harbour.
In doubt, they're acting weird
And the sea is whipping up a welcome
If hell come we're all easy prey,
to make it alive"
"You guys are crazy!"
The captain's hand shook for
the guys to get in place
He said, "Let's look behind your face".
With each corner covered, they were all around
Waiting for the midnight bell to sound.
"Out of sight," cried Aeron through his glasses
"Don't fight" said Gorham's smile
All the while, his hand was on my shoulder
I was scared of being an easy prey,
to make it alive"
<I won't be easy prey trying to find a way to make it alive.>
HERE COMES THE FLOOD

When the night shows
the signals grow on radios
All the strange things
they come and go, as early warnings
Stranded starfish have no place to hide
still waiting for the swollen Easter tide
There's no point in direction we cannot
even choose a side.
I took the old track
the hollow shoulder, across the waters
On the tall cliffs
they were getting older, sons and daughters
The jaded underworld was riding high
Waves of steel hurled metal at the sky
and as the nail sunk in the cloud, the rain
was warm and soaked the crowd.
Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
in any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry.
When the flood calls
You have no home, you have no walls
In the thunder crash
You're a thousand minds, within a flash
Don't be afraid to cry at what you see
The actors gone, there's only you and me
And if we break before the dawn, they'll
use up what we used to be.
Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
in any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry.
< Repeat chorus once >
2. Album / 'scratch' (1978)
ON THE AIR
Built in the belly of junk by the river, my cabin stands;
Made from the trash I dug off the heap with my own bare hands.
Every night I'm back at the shack, I'm sure no one is there,
I'm putting the aerial up, so I can go out on the air...
On the air
On the air
On the air
Every morning I'm out at dawn with the dwarfs and tramps
For a silent communion lit from above by the sodium lamps.
Everyone I meet on the street acts as if I wasn't there,
But they're all going to know who I am, 'cos I can go out on the air.
Chorus (On the air...)
Leaving the car down the leafy lane,
Turning out Tarzan for my Jungle Jane.
Anyone at all, from Captain Zero
And his band of superheroes standing by on call.
Oh it's not easy,
No it's not easy making real friends...
Don't give me your steak-reared milkboys, milkboys,
Half alive on empty white noise, white noise,
I've got power, I'm proud to be loud, my signal goes out clear,
I want everybody to know that Bozo is here!
Chorus
D.I.Y.
D.I.Y., D.I.Y., D.I.Y., D.I.Y.
Don't tell me what I will do, 'cos I won't.
Don't tell me to believe in you, 'cos I don't.
Be on your guard, better hostile and hard, don't risk affection;
Like flesh to the bone in the no-go zone,
You're still looking for the Resurrection.
Come up to me with your "What did you say?"
And I'll tell you, straight in the eye:
D.I.Y., D.I.Y., (etc.)
Everyone wants to be what he not, what he not.
Nobody happy with what he got, what he got.
You function like a dummy with a new ventriloquist,
Do you say nothing yourself?
Hanging like a thriller on the final twist,
Is it true you're getting stuck on the shelf?
Come up to me with your "What did you say?"
And I'll tell you, straight in the eye:
When things get so big, I don't trust them at all,
You want some control, you've got to keep it small.
MOTHER OF VIOLENCE
Walking the street with her naked feet,
So full of rhythm but I can't find the beat.
Snapping her heels, clicking her toes,
Everybody knows just where she goes.
Fear, Fear, she's the mother of Violence,
Making me tense to watch the way she breed.
Fear, she's the mother of Violence,
You know self-defense is all you need.
It's getting hard to breathe,
It's getting so hard to believe,
To believe in anything at all.
Mouth all dry, eyes bloodshot,
Data stored on a microdot.
Kicking the cloud with my moccasin shoes,
TV dinner, TV news.
Fear, Fear, she's the mother of Violence,
Don't make any sense to watch the way she breed.
Fear, she's the mother of Violence,
Making me tense to watch the way she feed.
The only way you know she's there
Is the subtle flavor in the air.
Getting hard to breathe,
Getting hard to believe in anything at all
But Fear.
A WONDERFUL DAY IN A ONE DAY WORLD

Saturday is shopping day and I drive my car but there's no place to park it,
No respect for supermen in the supermarket.
I guess there must be trouble but I've not been alerted;
Looking round the store, it was all deserted
And I'm stranded here with my empty basket,
So full of questions but nowhere to ask it.
Chorus:
By the one way out, strange voice shouts,
"Don't let that good man out!"
"Have a wonderful day in our one-way world,
One way, one day;
Have a wonderful day in our one-way world,
One way, one day;
One-way man, one-way mind, get along with mankind."
There's an old man on the floor so I summon my charm,
I say, "Hey scumbag, has there been an alarm?"
He says "Yeah, I been selling off eternal youth,
They all got afraid, 'cos I'm the living proof.
My name is Einstein, do you know time is a curve?"
I said, "Stop, old man! You've got a nerve,
'cos there's only one rule that I observe:
Time is money, and money I serve."
Chorus
WHITE SHADOW
Ten coaches roll into the dust, chrome windows turned to rust.
Hang on inside, they know they must, hanging on the green-backed words
"In God We Trust."
No one knows if the spirit died, all wrapped to go like Kentucky Fried,
Trying to read the flight of birds, low on fuel, getting low on words.
And she comes out like a white shadow,
She comes out like a white shadow.
Each one drawn to empty spaces, outsiders, borderline cases.
It's hard to tell black from white when you wake up in the middle of the
night.
Weighted down by the absence of sound, broken now by the cry of a hound,
Looking for movement within the haze, light can be deceptive with her rays.
She comes out like a white shadow.
INDIGO
It's too late, this model's out of date.
Got every spare part, but there ain't much heart inside here.
Not like the start, I was good at the art of survival;
I've always tried to keep my feelings deep inside
Where I can hide them, now I'm open wide.
When it ends, again I'll see my friends,
They'll give me a lift, I've been running adrift, so easy...
Shifting the gear, I've got nothing to fear from a showdown,
I'll go down quiet.
And the kids downstairs making a hell of a din,
I'm all alone, getting a quote for the wages of sin.
Beyond the indigo, indigo,
Where the chilly winds, winds will blow,
My time is running low.
Going to cross the dark, dark river,
Going to see my good life-giver,
Better cover my yellow liver.
All right, I'm giving up the fight,
I didn't know when I'd be a stranger again in my own land.
The days are okay, but oh, how I hate these long nights.
You understand?
Darling, please just hold my hand.
You feel so warm, in the eye of the storm,
I'm going away, I'm going away, I'm going away.
See you again someday...
Darling, I'm going away.
Feel like I'm going away, this time I'm going away.
ANIMAL MAGIC
What did you mean when you opened your mouth and let all our secrets out?
You told him what I was about, my cover was completely blown.
I tell you darling, I've been watching the war films
And I've got a few ideas of my own,
'cos after the film had ended, the call for recruits was shown,
And I'll be joining the professionals, I want to be a man.
With all that animal magic I'll do anything you can.
I'm joining the professionals 'cos I want to be a man,
Look! I wave my wand, watch the rabbit disappear...
Join the professionals and learn to fight!
I bet the two of you still laugh at me for being timid as a lamb;
That may be the way I look, but it's no longer what I am.
I've been across to Northern Ireland,
And I came home with a new kind of charge:
I learned how to hunt in the night, I learned about camouflage.
I've been joining the professionals, and now that I'm a man
With all that animal magic I'll match anything you can.
I'm joining the professionals, this time I understand,
Look! I wave my wand, watch the rabbit disappear...
Join the professionals and learn to fight!
EXPOSURE
Exposure
Space is what I need, it's what I feed on.
Exposure
Out in the open...
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM

Doing nothing, stuck in the mud, just pumping the blood.
The water level's getting low, something ugly's going to show.
If only I could touch you, I guess you'd be alarmed.
If only I could touch you, I don't mean you no harm.
If only I could touch you, like the wind can touch the sail,
If only I could touch you, darling, now that words have failed.
Oh, flotsam still afloat,
Oh, jetsam thrown out of the boat.
Oh love, my love, nothing here is what it seems.
We both know it; Christ, you show it...
Oh, oh my love.
PERSPECTIVE
I need perspective, 'cos I'm facing the wall.
I need perspective, 'cos I'm not that tall.
I need perspective, heard the trumpet call.
Don't trust my eyes, want to know where things fall.
I need perspective, party time for the newly wed.
I need perspective, colors ran as the images bled.
I need perspective, like confetti on the flower bed.
Don't trust my eyes, priest crying he's got fire in his head.
Chorus:
Oh Gaia, if that's your name,
Treat you like dirt, but I don't want to blame.
Oh Gaia, the wind heals the fire and blows the ash away.
I need perspective, sitting in a long, long hall.
I need perspective, staring at the white, white wall.
I need perspective, waiting for the phone to call.
Don't trust my eyes, there's one thing I've got to tell you all.
I need perspective, to see through red, red skies.
I need perspective, to carry merchandise.
I need perspective, I don't trust my eyes.
Chorus
I used to be an industrial giant,
Sitting in a garden full of chemical plants.
Trying very hard to get you off my mind.
Acting like any man, taking you for all I can,
Just the same, the same as all my kind, so blind.
I need perspective.
HOME SWEET HOME

Met this girl called Josephine and took her up on my machine,
We had a little fun, and now we got a little one.
Had to get married, being chased out of town.
Found ourselves a place to live, we put all our money down.
Called it Home Sweet Home, Home Sweet Home,
Eleven floors up in a tower block, happy just to have a home.
I've gone and changed the lock on our home.
Nothing really worked out right; things got broke, they stayed that way.
None of our friends came round at night, little Sam got no place to play.
"We've got to get out of here, Bill," she said,
"I've been telling you all the while,"
When I came home from work that night,
She'd jumped out the window with our child.
From our Home Sweet Home, Home Sweet Home.
Just a place to take a rest, just a place to make a nest.
We call it home.
When the insurance money came through,
It seemed dirty, didn't know what to do.
Took out the cash, went down to the casino,
Down on the wheel on a double,
And I won, yes I won, like I never won before.
Bought myself a country house with an antique carved oak door.
It was Home Sweet Home, Home Sweet Home.
Just a place to lay our head, think of all the things we said
About in our Home Sweet Home.
3. Album - 'melt' (1980)
INTRUDER
I know something about opening windows and doors
I know how to move quietly to creep across creaky wooden floors
I know where to find precious things in all your cupboards and drawers
Slipping the clippers
Slipping the clippers through the telephone wires
The sense of isolation inspires
Inspires me
I like to feel the suspense when I'm certain you know I am there
I like you lying awake, your baited breath charging the air
I like the touch and the smell of all the pretty dresses you wear
Intruders happy in the dark
Intruder come
Intruder come and leave his mark, leave his mark
No Self-Control
Got to get some food
I'm so hungry all the time
I don't know how to stop
Got to get some sleep
I'm so nervous in the night
No, I don't know how to stop
Got to pick up the phone
I will call any number
I will talk to anyone
I know I'm gone too far
Much too far I gone this time
And I don't want to think what I've done
There are always hidden silences
Waiting behind the chair
They come out when the coast is clear
They eat anything that moves
I go shaky at the knees
Lights go out, stars come down
Like a swarm of bees
No self-control
You know I hate to hurt you
I hate to see your pain
But I don't know how to stop
Street after street
Night after night
I walk on through the rain
I walk on through the rain
START
(Instrumental)
I DON'T REMEMBER
I got no means to show identification
I got no papers show you what I am
You'll have to take me just the way that you find me
What's gone is gone and I do not give a damn
Empty stomach, empty head
I got empty heart and empty bed
I don't remember
I don't remember
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything at all
I got no memory of anything
-anything at all
Strange is your language and I have no decoder
Why don't you make your inentions clear
With eyes to the sun and your mouth to the soda
Saying, "Tell me the truth, you got nothing to fear
Stop staring at me like a bird of prey
I'm all mixed up, I got nothing to say
I don't remember
I don't remember
I got no memory of anything
Anything at all
i got no memory of anything
absolutely anything at all
I don't remember
FAMILY SNAPSHOT
The streets are lined with camera crews
Everywhere he goes is news
Today is different
Today is not the same
Today I make the action
Take snapshot into the light, snapshot into the light
I'm shooting into the light
Four miles down the cavalcade moves on
Driving into the sun
If I worked it out right
They won't see me or the gun
Two miles to go, they're clearing the road
The cheering has really begun
I've got my radio
I can hear what's going on
I've been waiting for this
I have been waiting for this
All you people in TV land
I will wake up your empty shells
Peak-time viewing blown in a flash
As I burn into your memory cells
'Cos I'm alive
They're coming 'round the corner with the bikers at the front
I'm wiping the sweat from my eyes
-It's a matter of time
-It's a matter of will
And the governor's car is not far behind
He's not the one I've got in mind
'Cos there he is-the man of the hour, standing in the limousine
"I don't really hate you
-I don't care what you do
We were made for each other
-Me and you
I want to be somebody
-You were like that too
If you don't get given you learn to take
And I will take you."
Holding my breath
Release the catch
And I let the bullet fly
All turned quiet-I have been here before
Lonely boy hiding behind the front door
Friends have all gone home
There's my toy gun on the floor

Come back Mum and Dad
You're growing apart
You know that I'm growing up sad
I need some attention
I shoot into the light
"The song [Family Snapshot] is based on "An Assassins Diary", the notes and
scribbles of Arthur Bremmer, who shot and crippled Governor George Wallace of
Alabama in 1972.
`It was a really nasty book, but you do get a sense of the person who is writing it.'
says Gabriel, `Bremmer was obsessed with the idea of fame. He was aware of the
news broadcasts all over the world and was trying to time the assassination to hit the
early evening news in the States and the late night in Europe to get maximum
coverage.'
Bremmer originally went after Nixon, which explains the references to the
Presidential cavalcade in the song. Gabriel has dropped stage references to
Kennedy's assassination having been convinced a solitary assassin was not
responsible for that murder."
-- "Peter Gabriel: An Authorized Biography" by Spencer Bright,
-- Headline Book Publishing PLC, London, 1989.
...AND THROUGH THE WIRE

And through the wire I hear your voice
And through the wire I touch the power
And through the wire I see your face
It's through the wire
Friday night, you're staying at home I want you
I'm tickling and clicking a metronome I want you
Prowling the waterhole-I wait for the kill I want you
Pressure's building-overspill I want you
And through the wire You are secure
And through the wire We can talk
And through the wire We can walk
Watchmaker steadies his delicate hand I want you
For barbeque parties on blood red sands I want you
Caught in the strugle tight on the rod I want you
Bring out the devil to bring out the god I want you
And through the wire I hear your voice
And through the wire I touch the power
And through the wire I see your face
Driving 'round the city rings
Staring at the shape of things
I talk in pictures not in words
Overloaded with everything we said
be careful where you tread
Watch the wire
And through the wire You are secure
And through the wire We can talk
And through the wire We can walk
And through the wire We're clinging like leeches
And through the wire We push out tailormade speeches
And through the wire We get so strange across the border
We get so strange across the border
GAMES WITHOUT FRONTIERS

Hans plays with Lotte, Lotte plays with Jane
Jane plays with Willi, Willi is happy again
Suki plays with Leo, Sacha plays with Britt
Adolf builts a bonfire, Enrico plays with it
-Whistling tunes we hid in the dunes by the seaside
-Whistling tunes we're kissing baboons in the jungle
It's a knockout
If looks could kill, they probably will
In games without frontiers-war without tears
Games without frontiers-war without tears
Jeux sans frontieres
Andre has a red flag, Chiang Ching's is blue
They all have hills to fly them on except for Lin Tai Yu
Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games
Hiding out in tree-tops shouting out rude names
-Whistling tunes we hide in the dunes by the seaside
-Whistling tunes we piss on the goons in the jungle
It's a knockout
If looks could kill they probably will
In games without frontiers-wars without tears
If looks could kill they probably will
In games without frontiers-war without tears
Games without frontiers-war without tears
Jeux sans frontieres
NOT ONE OF US
It's only water
In a stranger's tear
Looks are deceptive
But distinctions are clear
A foreign body
And a foreign mind
Never welcome
In the land of the blind
You may look like we do
Talk like we do
But you know how it is
You're not one of us
Not one of us
No you're not one of us
Not one of us
Not one of us
There's safety in numbers
When you learn to divide
How can we be in
If there is no outside
All shades of opinion
Feed an open mind
But your values are twisted
Let us help you unwind
You may look like we do
Talk like we do
-But you know how it is
You're not one of us
Not one of us
Lead A Normal Life
It's nice here with a view of the trees
Eating with a spoon?
They don't give you knives?
'Spect you watch those trees
Blowing in the breeze
We want to see you lead a normal life
BIKO
September '77
Port Elizabeth weather fine
It was business as usual
In police room 619
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
-The man is dead
When I try to sleep at night
I can only dream in red
The outside world is black and white
With only one colour dead
-The man is dead
You can blow out a candle
But you can't blow out a fire
Once the flames begin to catch
The wind will blow it higher
-The man is dead
And the eyes of the world are
watching now
watching now
4. Album / 'security' (1982)
THE RHYTHM OF THE HEAT

Looking out the window
I see the red dust clear
High up on the red rock
Stands the shadow with the spear
The land here is strong
Strong beneath my feet
it feeds on the blood
it feeds on the heat
The rhythm is below me
The rhythm of the heat
The rhythm is around me
The rhythm has control
The rhythm is inside me
The rhythm has my soul
Drawn across the plainland
To the place that is higher
Drawn into the circle
That dances round the fire
We spit into out hands
And breathe across the palms
Raising them up high
Help open to the sun
Self-conscious, uncertain
I'm showered with the dust
The spirit enter into me
And I submit to trust
Smash the radio
No outside voices here
Smash the watch
Cannot tear the day to shreds
Smash the camera
Cannot steal away the spirits
The rhythm is around me
The rhythm has control
The rhythm is inside me
The rhythm has my soul
SAN JACINTO
Thick cloud - steam rising - hissing stone on sweat lodge fire
Around me - buffalo robe - sage in bundle - run on skin
Outside - cold air - stand, wait for rising sun
Red paint - eagle feathers - coyote calling - it has begun
Something moving in - I taste it in my mouth and in my heart
It feels like dying - slow - letting go of life
Medicine man lead me up though town - Indian ground so far down
Cut up land - each house - a pool - kids wearing water
wings - drink in cool
Follow dry river bed - watch Scout and Guides make
pow-wow signs
Past Geronimo's disco - Sit 'n' Bull steakhouse - white
men dream
A rattle in the old man's sack - look at mountain top keep climbing up
Way above us the desert snow - white wind blow
I hold the line - the line of strength that pulls me through
the fear
San Jacinto - I hold the line
San Jacinto - the poison bite and darkness take my sight I hold the line
And the tears roll down my swollen cheek - think I'm losing
it - getting weaker
I hold the line - I hold the line
San Jacinto - yellow eagle flies down from the sun from the sun
We will walk - on the land
We will breathe - of the air
We will drink - from the stream
We will live - hold the line
I HAVE THE TOUCH

The time I like is the rush hour, cos I like the rush
The pushing of the people - I like it all so much
Such a mass of motion - do not know where it goes
I move with the movement and ... I have the touch
I'm waiting for ignition, I'm looking for a spark
Any chance collision and I light up in the dark
There you stand before me, all that fur and all that hair
Oh, do I dare ... I have the touch
Wanting contact
I'm wanting contact
I'm wanting contact with you
Shake those hands, shake those hands
Give me the thing I understand
Any social occasion, it's hello, how do you do
All those introductions, I never miss my cue
So before a question, so before a doubt
My hand moves out and ... I have the touch
Wanting contact
I'm wanting contact
I'm wanting contact with you
Give me the thing I understand
Pull my chin, stroke my hair, scratch my nose, hug my knees
Try drink, food, cigarette, tension will not ease
I tap my fingers, fold my arms, breathe in deep, cross my legs
Shrug my shoulders, stretch my back - but nothing seems
to please
I need contact
I need contact
Nothing seems to please
I need contact
THE FAMILY AND THE FISHING NET

Suffocated by mirrors, stained by dreams
Her honey belly pulls the seams
Curves are still upon the hinge
Pale zeros tinge the tiger skin
Moist as grass, ripe and heavy as the night
The sponge is full, well out of sight
All around the conversations
Icing on the warm flesh cake
Light creeps through her secret tunnels
Sucked into the open spaces
Burning out in sudden flashes
Draining blood from well-fed faces
Desires form in subtle whispers
Flex the muscles in denial
Up and down its pristine cage
So the music, so the trial
Vows of sacrifice, headless chickens
Dance in circles, they the blessed
Man and wife, undressed by all
Their grafted trunks in heat possessed
Even as the soft skins tingle
They mingle with the homeless mother
Who loves the day but lives another
That once was hers
The worried father, long lost lover
Brushes ashes with his broom
Rehearses jokes to fly and hover
Bursting over the bride and groom
And the talk goes on
Memories crash on tireless waves
The lifeguards whom the winter saves
Silence falls the guillotine
All the doors are shut
Nervous hands grip tight the knife
In the darkness, till the cake is cut
Passed around, in little pieces
The body and the flesh
The family and the fishing-net
And another in the mesh
The body and the flesh
SHOCK THE MONKEY

Shock the monkey to life
Cover me when I run
Cover me through the fire
Something knocked me out' the trees
Now I'm on my knees
Cover me, darling please
Monkey, monkey, monkey
Don't you know when you're going to shock the monkey
Fox the fox
Rat the rat
You can ape the ape
I know about that
There is one thing you must be sure of
I can't take any more
Darling, don't you monkey with the monkey
Don't you know you're going to shock the monkey
Wheels keep turning
Something's burning
Don't like it but I guess I'm learning
Shock! - watch the monkey get hurt, monkey
Cover me, when I sleep
Cover me, when I breathe
You throw your pearls before the swine
Make the monkey blind
Cover me, darling please
Don't you know you're going to shock the monkey
Too much at stake
Ground beneath me shake
And the news is breaking
Shock! - watch the monkey get hurt, monkey
Shock the monkey
Shock the monkey
LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME

Sat in the corner of the Garden Grill, with plastic flowers
on the window sil
No more miracles, loaves and fishes, been so busy with the
washing of the dishes
Reaction level's much too high - I can do without the stimuli
I'm living way beyond my ways and means, living in the
zone of the inbetweens
I can see the flashes on the frozen ocean, static charge of
the cold emotion
Watched on by the distant eyes - watched on by the silent
hidden spies
But still the warmth flows through me
And I sense you know me well
No luck, no golden chances
No mitigating circumstances now
It's only common sense
There are no accidents around here
I am willing - lay your hands on me
I am ready - lay your hands on me
I believe - lay your hands on me, over me
Working in gardens, thornless roses, fat men play with their
garden hoses
Poolside laughter has a cynical bite, sausage speared by the
cocktail satellite
I walk away from from light and sound, down stairways
leading underground
But still the warmth flows through me
And I sense you know me well
It's only common sense
There are no accidents around here
I am willing - lay your hands on me
I am ready - lay your hands on me
I believe - lay your hands on me, over me
over me
Lay your hands on me
Lay your hands on me
Lay your hands on me, over me
WALLFLOWER
6x6 - from wall to wall
Shutters on the windows, no light at all
Damp on the floor you got damp on the bed
They're trying to get you crazy - get you out of your head
They feed you scraps and they feed you lies
To lower your defences, no compromise
Nothing you can do, they day can be long
You mind is working overtime, you body's not too strong
Hold on, hold on
They put you in a box so you can't get heard
Let your spirit stay unbroken, may you not be deterred
Hold on, you have gambled with your own life
And you face the night alone
While the builders of the cages
They sleep with bullets, bars and stone
They do not see your road to freedom
That you build with flesh and bone
They take you out - the light burns your eyes
To the talking room - it's not surprise
Loaded questions from clean white coats
Their eyes are all as hidden as their Hipppcratic Oath
They tell you - how to behave, hehave as their guest
You want to resist them, you do your best
They take you to your limits, they take you beyond
For all that they are doing there's no way to respond
Hold on, hold on
They put you in a box so you can't get heard
Let your spirit stay unbroken, may you not be deterred
Hold on, you have gambled with your own life
And you face the night alone
While the builders of the cages
They sleep with bullets, bars and stone
They do not see your road to freedom
That you build with flesh and bone
Though you may disappear, you're not forgotten here
And I will say to you, I will do what I can do
You may disappear, you're not forgotten here
And I will say you you, I will do what I can do
And I will do what I can do
And I will do what I can do
KISS OF LIFE
See me a big woman, big woman look how you dance
See me a big woman, big woman caught in a trance
Dancing on the tabletop, covered up with the Easter feast
You're dancing for the fishermen, from the very large right
to the least
Dancing for the slow release, first the boy and then the beast
Then the beast
Burning, buring with the kiss of life
Burning, buring with the kiss of life
See me, a big woman, big woman so full of life
See me, a big woman, big woman going to be my wife
Watching for the different eyes - they change your face they come inside
Watch the spirits laugh and cry, watch them find a place
to hide
Watch the spirits talk in tongues, watch them take you for
a ride
Down at the ocean lies a body in the sand
Big woman sits beside, head in hand
With heat from her skin, and fire from her breath
She blows hard, she slows deep in the mouth of death
Burning, burning with the kiss of life
So (1986)
RED RAIN
red rain is coming down
red rain
red rain is pouring down
pouring down all over me
I am standing up at the water's edge in my dream
I cannot make a single sound as you scream
it can't be that cold, the ground is still warm to touch
this place is so quiet, sensing that storm
red rain
well I've seen them buried in a sheltered place in this town
they tell you that this rain can sting, and look down
there is no blood around see no sign of pain
hay ay ay no pain
seeing no red at all, see no rain
red rain
red rainputting the pressure on much harder now
to return again and again
just let the red rain splash you
let the rain fall on your skin
I come to you defences down
with the trust of a child
red rain
and I can't watch any more
no more denial
it's so hard to lay down in all of this
red rain is coming down all over me
I see it
I'm bathing in it
red rain coming down

I'm begging you
over me in the red red sea
over me
over me
red rain
SLEDGEHAMMER
you could have a steam train
if you'd just lay down your tracks
you could have an aeroplane flying
if you bring your blue sky back
all you do is call me
I'll be anything you need
you could have a big dipper
going up and down, all around the bends
you could have a bumper car, bumping
this amusement never ends
I want to be your sledgehammer
why don't you call my name
oh let me be your sledgehammer
this will be my testimony
show me round your fruitcage
'cos I will be your honey bee
open up your fruitcage
where the fruit is as sweet as can be
I want to be your sledgehammer
why don't you call my name
you'd better call the sledgehammer
put your mind at rest
I'm going to be-the sledgehammer
this can be my testimony
I'm your sledgehammer
let there be no doubt about it
sledge sledge sledgehammer
I've kicked the habit
shed my skin
this is the new stuff
I go dancing in, we go dancing in
oh won't you show for me
and I will show for you
show for me, I will show for you
yea, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I do mean you
only you
you've been coming through
going to build that powerr
build, build up that power, hey
I've been feeding the rhythm
going to feel that power, build in you
come on, come on, help me do
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you

it's what we're doing, doing
all day and night
DON'T GIVE UP
in this proud land we grew up strong
we were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail
no fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
but no one wants you when you lose
don't give up
'cos you have friends
don't give up
you're not beaten yet
don't give up
I know you can make it good
though I saw it all around
never thought I could be affected
thought that we'd be the last to go
it is so strange the way things turn
drove the night toward my home
the place that I was born, on the lakeside
as daylight broke, I saw the earth
the trees had burned down to the ground
don't give up
you still have us
don't give up
we don't need much of anything
don't give up
'cause somewhere there's a place
where we belong
rest your head
you worry too much
it's going to be alright
when times get rough
you can fall back on us
don't give up
please don't give up
'got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
going to stand on that bridge
keep my eyes down below
whatever may come
and whatever may go
that river's flowing

that river's flowing
moved on to another town
tried hard to settle down
for every job, so many men
so many men no-one needs
don't give up
'cause you have friends
don't give up
you're not the only one
don't give up
no reason to be ashamed
don't give up
you still have us
don't give up now
we're proud of who you are
don't give up
you know it's never been easy
don't give up
'cause I believe there's the a place
there's a place where we belong
THAT VOICE AGAIN

I want to be with you
I want to be clear
but each time I try
it's the voice I hear
I hear that voice again
I'm listening to the conversation
judge and jury in my head
it's colouring everything
all we did and said
and still I head that sharp tongue talking
talking tangled words
I can sense the danger
just listen to the wind
I want you close I want you near
I can't help but listen
but I don't want to hear
hear that voice again
I want to be clear
but each time I try
I'm hearing right and wrong so clearly
there must be more than this
it's only in uncertainty
that we're naked and alive
I hear it through the rattle of a streetcar
hear it through the things you said
I can get so scared
listen to the wind
hear that voice again
what I carry in my heart
brings us so close or so far apart
only love can make love

I want to be clear
but each time I try
IN YOUR EYES
love I get so lost, sometimes
days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
when I want to run away
I drive off in my car
but whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are
all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
the heat I see in your eyes
love, I don't like to see so much pain
so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive
and all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light,

the heat I see in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
MERCY STREET
for anne sexton
looking down on empty streets, all she can see
are the dreams all made solid
are the dreams all made real
all of the buildings, all of those cars
were once just a dream
in somebody's head
she pictures the broken glass, she pictures the steam
she pictures a soul
with no leak at the seam
lets take the boat out
wait until darkness
let's take the boat out
wait until darkness comes
nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey
nowhere in the suburbs
in the cold light of day
there in the midst of it so alive and alone
words support like bone
dreaming of mercy st.
wear your inside out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy('s arms again
'swear they moved that sign
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms
pulling out the papers from the drawers that slide smooth
tugging at the darkness, word upon word
confessing all the secret things in the warm velvet box
to the priest-he's the doctor
he can handle the shocks
dreaming of the tenderness-the tremble in the hips
of kissing Mary's lips
wear your insides out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms again

'swear they moved that sign
looking for mercy
in your daddy's arms
mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
Anne, with her father is out in the boat
riding the water
riding the waves on the sea
BIG TIME
suc cess
I'm on my way, I'm making it
I've giot to make it show, yeah
so much larger than life
I'M going to watch it growing
the place where I come from is a small town
they think so small
they use small words
-but not me
I'm smarter than that
I worked it out
I've been stretching my mouth
to let those big words come right out
I've had enough, I'm getting out
to the city, the big big city
I'll be a big noise with all the big boys
there's so much stuff I will own
and I will pray to a big god
as I kneel in the big church
big time
I'm on my way-I'm making it
big time big time
I've got to make it show yeah
big time big time
big time
I'm going to watch it growing
big time
my parties all have big names
and I greet them with the widest smile
tell them how my life is one big adventure^
and always they're amazed
when I show them round my house, to my bed
I had it made like a mountain range
with a snow-white pillow for my big fat head
and my heaven will be a big heaven
and I will walk through the front door
big time
I'm on my way-I'm making it
big time big time
I've got to make it show-yeah
big time big time
I'm going to watch it growing

big time big time
my car is getting bigger
big time
my house is getting bigger
big time
my eyes are getting bigger
big time
and my mouth
big time
my belly is getting bigger
big time
and my bank account
big time
look at my circumstance
big time
and the bulge in my big big big big big big big
WE DO WHAT WE'RE TOLD

milgram's 37
we do what we're told
told to do
told to do
one doubt
one voice
one war
one truth
one dream
THIS IS THE PICTURE

excellent birds
flying birds
excellent birds
watch them fly, there they go
falling snow
excellent snow
here it comes. watch it fall
long words
excellent words
I can hear them now
this is the picture, this is the picture
I'm sitting by the window
watching the snow fall
I'm looking out
and I'm moving, turning in time
catching up. moving in
jump up! I can land on my feet. look out!
looking out. watching out
when I see the future I close my eyes
I can see it now
I see pictures of people, rising up
pictures of people, falling down
I see pictures of people
they're standing on their heads, they're ready
they're looking out, look out!
they're watching out, watch out!
they're looking out, look out!
they're watching out, watch out!
Us (1992)
COME TALK TO ME
The wretched desert takes its form, the jackal proud and tight
In search of you, I feel my way, through the slowest heaving night
Whatever fear invents, I swear it make no sense
I reach through the border fence
Come down, come talk to me
In the swirling, curling storm of desire unuttered words hold fast
With reptile tongue, the lightning lashes towers built to last
Darkness creeps in like a thief and offers no relief
Why are you shaking like a leaf
Come on, come talk to me
Ah please talk to me
Won't you please talk to me
We can unlock this misery
{Chorus 1:}
I did not come to steal
This all is so unreal
Can't you show me how you feel now
Come talk to me [x2]
The earthly power sucks shadowed milk from sleepy tears undone
From nippled skin as smooth as silk the bugles blown as one
You lie there with your eyes half closed like there's no-one there at all
There's a tension pulling on your face
Won't you please talk to me
If you'd just talk to me
Unblock this misery
If you'd only talk to me
{Chorus 2:}
Don't you ever change your mind
Now your future's so defined
And you act so deaf and blind
[And you act so deaf so blind]
I can imagine the moment
Breaking out through the silence
All the things that we both might say
And the heart it will not be denied
'Til we're both on the same damn side
All the barriers blown away
I said please talk to me

Won't you please come talk to me
Just like it used to be
I did not come to steal
This all is so unreal
Can you show me how you feel now
I said please talk to me
If you'd just talk to me
Unblock this misery
If you'd only talk to me
[Chorus 2]
LOVE TO BE LOVED
[Aaaaahi, byeeee]
So, you know how people are
When it's all gone much too far
The way their minds are made
Still, there's something you should know
That I could not let show
That fear of letting go
And in this moment, I need to be needed
With this darkness all around me, I like to be liked
In this emptiness and fear, I want to be wanted
'Cause I love to be loved
I love to be loved [x2]
Yes, I love to be loved
I cry the way that babies cry
The way they can't deny
The way they feel
Words, they climb all over you
'Til they uncover you
From where you hide
And in this moment, I need to be needed
When my self-esteem is sinking, I like to be liked
In this emptiness and fear,
I want to be wanted
I love to be loved [x2]
Oh I love to be loved
This old familiar craving
I've been here before, this way of behaving
Don't know who the hell I'm saving anymore
Let it pass let it go let it leave
From the deepest place I grieve
This time I believe
And I let go [x2]
I can let go of it
Though it takes all the strength in me
And all the world can see
I'm losing such a central part of me
I can let go of it
You know I mean it
You know that I mean it
I recognize how much I've lost
But I cannot face the cost
Yes I love to be loved

I love to be loved
[x3]
I love to be loved
I love to be loved
Yes I love to be loved
BLOOD OF EDEN
I caught sight of my reflection
I caught it in the window
I saw the darkness in my heart
I saw the signs of my undoing
They had been there from the start
And the darkness still has work to do
The knotted chord's untying
They're heated and they're holy
Oh they're sitting there on high
So secure with everything they're buying
{Chorus:}
In the blood of Eden
Lie the woman and the man
With the man in the woman
And the woman in the man
We wanted the union
Oh the union of the woman
The woman and the man
My grip is surely slipping
I think I've lost my hold
Yes, I think I've lost my hold
I cannot get insurance anymore
They don't take credit, only gold
Is that a dagger or a crucifix I see
You hold so tightly in your hand
And all the while the distance grows between you and me
I do not understand
[Chorus]
At my request, you take me in
In that tenderness, I am floating away
No certainty, nothing to rely on
Holding still for a moment
What a moment this is
Oh for a moment of forgetting, a moment of bliss
Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
I can hear the distant thunder
Of a million unheard souls
Of a million unheard souls
Watch each one reach for creature comfort
For the filling of their holes

We wanted the union
Of the woman and the man
I feel the man in the woman
I feel the man in the woman
We've done everything we can
Saw the end as we began
It was all for the union
Oh, the union of the woman, the woman and the man.
[extra lyrics from the "film mix"]
The blood of Eden keeps running through me
running through my veins
the blood of Eden keeps rushing through me
when I'm sure there's none that remains
the blood of Eden keeps running through me
I can feel it in my bones
that blood of Eden keeps rushing through me
taking back what it owns
STEAM
Stand Back!
Stand Back!
What are those dogs doing sniffing at my feet
They're on to something, picking up
Picking up this heat, this heat
{Chorus 1:}
Give me steam
And how you feel to make it real
Real as anything you've seen
Get a life with this dreamer's dream
You know your culture from your trash
You know your plastic from your cash
When I lose sight of the track
You know the way back
But I know you
You know your stripper from your paint
You know your sinner from your saint
Whenever heaven's doors are shut
You kick them open but
I know you
{Chorus 2:}
Give me steam
And how you feel to make it real
Real as any place you've been
Get a life with the dreamer's dream
Stand back!
Stand back!
Can't you see I've lost control I'm getting indiscreet
You're moving in so close 'til I'm picking up
Picking up this heat, this heat
[Chorus 1]
You know your green from your red
You know the quick from the dead
So much better than the rest
You think you've been blessed
But I know you
You know your ladder from your snake
You know the throttle from the brake
You know your straight line from a curve
You've got a lot of nerve
But I know you

[Chorus 2]
Everybody nosedive
Hold your breath, count to five
Backslap, boobytrap,
Cover it up in bubblewrap
Room shake, earthquake
Find a way to stay awake
It's going to blow, it's going to break
This is more than I can take
Oh yeah, I need steam
Feel the steam all around me
Ah you're turning up the heat
When I start to dream aloud
See you move your hands and feet
Won't you step into this cloud of steam
This steam
[Chorus 1]
Help me yeah
Ready to steam out the log jam
Stir crazy from the freezer to the boil
Water's bubbling, it's b..b..b..bubbling
bubbling [x4]
like it's coming to a boil
Give me steam, lady
Give me steam around me now
Aah coming alive [x2]
Said give me some steam
ONLY US
Only Us [x3]
It wasn't in the words that kept sticking in their throats
It wasn't with the angels in their quilted coats
These battered wings still kick up dust
Seduced by the noise and the bright things that glisten
I knew all the time I should shut up and listen
And I'm finding my way home from the great escape
{Chorus:}
The further on I go, oh the less I know
I can find only us breathing
Only us sleeping
Only us dreaming
Only us
I hear you calling me
Yes I hear you calling me
Home from the great escape
Yes I can read you loud and clear
The further on I go, oh the less I know
Friend or foe, there's only us
[Chorus]
I'm coming home again, home again
And I hear you calling me home again
I am coming home again
Only us [x8]
WASHING OF THE WATER

River, river carry me on
Living river carry me on
River, river carry me on
To the place where I come from
So deep, so wide, will you take me on your back for a ride
If I should fall, would you swallow me deep inside
River, show me how to float
I feel like I'm sinking down
Thought that I could get along
But here in this water
My feet won't touch the ground
I need something to turn myself around
Going away, away towards the sea
River deep, can you lift up and carry me
Oh roll on though the heartland
'Til the sun has left the sky
River, river carry me high
'Til the washing of the water make it all all right
Let your waters reach me like she reached me tonight
Letting go, it's so hard
The way it's hurting now
To get this love untied
So tough to stay with thing
'Cause if I follow through
I face what I denied
I get those hooks out of me
And I take out the hooks that I sunk deep in your side
Kill that fear of emptiness, loneliness I hide
River, oh river, river running deep
Bring me something that will let me get to sleep
In the washing of the water will you take it all away
Bring me something to take this pain away
DIGGING IN THE DIRT

Something in me, dark and sticky
All the time it's getting strong
No way of dealing with this feeling
Can't go on like this too long
{Chorus:}
This time you've gone too far [x3]
I told you [x4]
This time you've gone too far [x3]
I told you [x4]
Don't talk back
Just drive the car
Shut your mouth
I know what you are
Don't say nothing
Keep your hands on the wheel
Don't turn around
This is for real
Digging in the dirt
Stay with me, I need support
I'm digging in the dirt
To find the places I got hurt
Open up the places I got hurt
The more I look, the more I find
As I close on in, I get so blind
I feel it in my head, I feel it in my toes
I feel it in my sex, that's the place it goes
[Chorus]
Stay with me I need support
To find the places I got hurt
To open up the places I got hurt
Digging in the dirt
To find the places we got hurt
[x7]
Fourteen Black Paintings
From the pain come the dream
From the dream come the vision
From the vision come the people
From the people come the power
From this power come the change
KISS THAT FROG

[Aah, yeah]
Jump in the water
Sweet little princess
Let me introduce his frogness
You alone can get him singing
He's all puffed up, wanna be your king
Oh you can do it
C'mon [x6]
Lady kiss that frog
Splash, dash heard your call
Bring you back your golden ball
He's gonna dive down in the deep end
He's gonna be just like your best friend
So what's one little kiss
One tiny little touch
Aaah, he's wanting it so much
I swear that this is royal blood
Running through my skin
Oh can you see the state I'm in
Kiss it better, Kiss it better
[Kiss that frog]
Get it into your royal head
He's living with you, he sleeps in your bed
Can't you hear beyond the croaking
Don't you know that I'm not joking
Aaah, you think you won't
I think you will
Don't you know that this tongue can kill
C'mon [x6]
Lady kiss that frog
Let him sit beside you
Eat right off your plate
You don't have to be afraid
There's nothing here to hate
Ah, princess you might like it
If you lower your defence
Kiss that frog, and you will
Get your prince [x2]
[Huh!]
Jump in the water, c'mon baby jump in with me
Jump in the water, c'mon baby get wet with me
Jump in the water, c'mon baby jump in with me
Jump in the water, c'mon baby get wet [get wet, get wet]
Kiss that frog, lady kiss that frog [x4]

Jump in the water, c'mon baby jump in with me [x3]
Jump in the water, c'mon baby get wet
[get wet, get wet] [x6]
SECRET WORLD
I stood in this unsheltered place
'Til I could see the face behind the face
All that had gone before had left no trace
Down by the railway siding
In our secret world, we were colliding
All the places we were hiding love
What was it we were thinking of?
So I watch you wash your hair
Underwater, unaware
And the plane flies through the air
Did you think you didn't have to choose it
That I alone could win or lose it
In all the places we were hiding love
In this house of make believe
Divided in two, like Adam and Eve
You put out and I receive
{Chorus:}
Down by the railway siding
In our secret world, we were colliding
In all the places we were hiding love
Oh the wheel is turning spinning round and round
And the house is crumbling but the stairways stand
With no guilt and no shame, no sorrow or blame
Whatever it is, we are all the same
Making it up in our secret world [x3]
Shaking it up
Breaking it up
Making it up in our secret world
Seeing things that were not there
On a wing on a prayer
In this state of disrepair
[Chorus]
Ssh listen...
OVO (2000)
6. FATHER, SON
Father, son.
Locked as one.
In this empty room.
Spine against spine.
Yours against mine, till the warmth comes through.
Remember the breakwaters down by the waves.
I first found my courage, knowing daddy could save.
I could hold back the tide.
With my dad by my side.
Dog plows and bows.
We move through each pose.
Struggling in our separate ways.
Mantras and hymns.
Unfolding limbs.
Looking for release through the pain.
And the yogi's eyes are open.
Looking up above.
He too is dreaming of his daddy's love.
With his dad by his side.
Got his dad by his side.
Can you recall.
How you took me to school.
We couldn't talk much at all.
It's been so many years, and now these tears.
Guess I'm still your child.
Out on the moors.
We take a pause.
See how far we've come.
You're moving quite slow.
How far can we go.
Father and son.
Got my dad by my side.
With me.
UP (2002)
DARKNESS
im scared of swimming in the sea
dark shapes moving under me
every fear i swallow makes me small
inconsequential things occur
alarms are triggered
memories stir
its not the way it has to be
im afraid of what i do not know
i hate being undermined
im afraid i can be devil man
and im scared to be divine
dont mess with me my fuse is short
beneath this skin these fragments caught
when i allow it to be
theres no control over me
i have my fears
but they do not have me
walking through the undergrowth, to the house in the woods
the deeper I go, the darker it gets
i peer through the window
knock at the door
and the monster i was
so afraid of
lies curled up on the floor
is curled up on the floor just like a baby boy
i cry until i laugh
im afraid of being mothered
with my balls shut in the pen
im afraid of loving women
and im scared of loving men
flashbacks coming in every night
dont tell me everythings alright
when I allow it to be
it has no control over me
i own my fear
so it doesnt own me
walking through the undergrowth, to the house in the woods
the deeper i go, the darker it gets
i peer through the window
knock at the door
and the monster i was
so afraid of
lies curled up on the floor
is curled up on the floor just like a baby boy
i cry until i laugh
GROWING UP
folded in your fleshy purse
i am floating once again
while the muted sounds are pumping rhythm
all the walls close in on me
pressures building wave on wave
til the water breaks and outside i go, oh
one dot, thats on or off, defines what is and what is not, one dot
two dot, a pair of eyes, a voice, a touch, complete surprise, two dot
growing up, growing up,
looking for a place to live
growing up, growing up
my ghost likes to travel so far in the unknown
my ghost likes to travel so deep into your space
three dot, a trinity, a way to map the universe,
three dot
four dot, is what will make a square, a bed to build on, its all there,
four dot
all the slow clouds pass us by
make the Empire State look high
as you take me in your sea-stained sweetness
it spills, it tingles and it stings
all the pleasure that it brings
til the door has let the outside inside here
well on the floor theres a long wooden table
on the table theres an open book
on the page theres a detailed drawing
and on the drawing is the name i took
growing up, growing up

my ghost likes to travel
moving inside of your space
moving inside
moving inside
the breathing stops, i dont know when
in transition once again
such a struggle getting through these changes
and it all seems so absurd
to be flying like a bird
when i do not feel Ive really landed here
SKY BLUE
lost my time lost my place in
sky blue
those two blue eyes light your face in
sky blue
i know how to fly, i know how to drown in
sky blue
warm wind blowing over the earth
sky blue
i sing through the land, the land sings through me
sky blue
reaching into the deepest shade of
sky blue
sky blue
so tired of all this travelling
so many miles away from home
i keep moving to be stable
free to wander, free to roam
train pulled out said my goodbyes
sky blue
back on the road alone with the sky
sky blue
theres a presence here no one denies
sky blue
sky blue
sky blue
so tired of all this travelling
so many miles away from home
i keep moving to be stable
free to wander, free to roam
i can hear the same voice calling
crying out, from my heart
and that cry, what a cry
what a cry, its going to be
if i can stop to let it out, oh
NO WAY OUT
saw a group of people forming
round a figure lying down
and someone runs to make a phone call
and the man kneels on the ground
the man kneels on the ground
theres a tightening in my chest
i know that Im drawn in
oh god let it not be you
dont leave us
dont leave like this
dont leave me here again
im not quitting on you
no one else
youre not quitting on us
no running out
the colour in your shirt is darkening,
against the paleness of your skin
i remember how you held the goldfish
swimming around in a plastic bag
swimming around in a plastic bag
you held it up so high
in the bright lights of the fair
it slipped and fell
we looked everywhere
dont leave us (your eyes are bright, your blood is warm)
dont leave like this (your heart is strong, youre holding on)
dont leave me here again (i feel your pulse, i hold your hand)
theres no one else
theres no way out
no way out
dont leave us
dont leave like this
dont leave me here again (i feel your pulse, i hold your hand)
theres no one else
no running away no way out
I GRIEVE
it was only one hour ago
it was all so different then
theres nothing yet has really sunk in
looks like it always did
this flesh and bone
its just the way that you would tied in
now theres no-one home
i grieve for you
you leave me
so hard to move on
still loving whats gone
they say life carries on
carries on and on and on and on
the news that truly shocks is the empty empty page
while the final rattle rocks its empty empty cage
and i cant handle this
i grieve for you
you leave me
let it out and move on
missing whats gone
they say life carries on
they say life carries on and on and on
life carries on
in the people i meet
in everyone thats out on the street
in all the dogs and cats
in the flies and rats
in the rot and the rust
in the ashes and the dust
life carries on and on and on and on
life carries on and on and on
its just the car that we ride in
a home we reside in
the face that we hide in
the way we are tied in
and life carries on and on and on and on
life carries on and on and on
did I dream this belief?
or did i believe this dream?
now i can find relief
i grieve
THE BARRY WILLIAMS SHOW

lets go
one man at the window
one girl at the bar
saw that look of recognition
when they know just who you are
i seen you on the tv
i seen you on that show
you make the people crazy
and then you let them go
before the show we calm them
we sympathise, we care
and the hostile folk we keep apart
til the red light says on air
did you see our leather lovers
all tied up to the chair
did you catch those child molesters
no one else goes there
what a show, the barry williams show
what a show,
dysfunctional excess
is all it took for my success
the greater pain that they endure
the more you know the show will scored
its showtime
got the reputation of a surgeon
cos they cannot feel the cut
it looks so very simple
but it really is an art
they call our studio the hospital
making money from the sick
we let people be themselves
there is no other trick
my lover stole my girlfriend
i keep beating up my ex
i want to kill my neighbour
my daughters selling sex
my s/m lover hurt me
my girl became a man
i love my daughters rapist
my lifes gone down the pan
what a show, the barry williams show
the barry williams show

and when the punches start to fly
the ratings always read so high
its showtime
that girl has got no scruples
not a wrinkle on her face
you would not believe the plot she conceived
so theyd let her take my place
well, no man is an island
no man is a sea
but this display of emotion
is all but drowning me
what a show, oh what a show
on my show, the barry williams show
its my show
what a show
the best tv youve ever seen
where people say the things that they really mean
i hear my name, i hear them roar
for the one more time i take the floor
just one more barry williams show
were gonna take you where you want to go
its showtime
come on down
come on down
MY HEAD SOUNDS LIKE THAT

the metal jangles as the key turns
unlock the door, wipe my feet clean
oh my head sounds like that
the oil is spitting in the saucepan
i squeeze this sponge and let the cat out
oh my head
oh oh oh
oh oh oh
the waters dripping in the hallway
the guy next door, he knocks his wall down
the knife it scrapes across the burnt brown toast
the freight train rumbles pass my window
oh my head
oh oh oh
oh oh oh
oh oh oh
around the axis we all spin
to determine whats left out and whats left in
whats left out and whats left in
whats left out and whats left in
whos left out and whos left in
whos left in
the moments come and go like water
i try to hold them but theyre fading
oh my head
oh oh oh
MORE THAN THIS

i woke up and the world outside was dark
all so quiet before the dawn
opened up the door and walked outside
the ground was cold
i walked until i couldnt walk anymore
to a place id never been
there was something stirring in the air
in front of me, i could see
more than this
more than this
so much more than this
there is something else there
when all that you had has all gone
and more than this
i stand
feeling so connected
and im all there
right next to you
it started when i saw the ship go down
i saw them struggle in the sea
and suddenly the picture disappears
in front of me
now were busy making all our busy plans
on foundations built to last
but nothing fades as fast as the future
and nothing clings like the past, until we can see
more than this
more than this
there is something out there
more than this
its coming through
and more than this
i stand alone and so connected
and Im all there
right next to you
oh then its alright
when with every day another bit falls away
oh but its still alright, alright, alright
and like words together we can make some sense
much more than this
way beyond imagination
much more than this

beyond the stars
with my head so full
so full of fractured pictures
and im all there
right next to you
there is something else there
when all that you had has all gone
and more than this
im alone
feeling so connected
and im all there right next to you
more than this
more than this
more than this
SIGNAL TO NOISE
you know the way that things go
when what you fight for starts to fall
and in that fuzzy picture
he writing stands out on the wall
so clearly on the wall
send out the signals deep and loud
and in this place, can you reassure me
with a touch, a smile while the cradles burning
all the while the world is turning to noise
oh the more that its surrounding us
the more that it destroys
turn up the signal
wipe out the noise
send out the signals deep and loud
man im losing sound and sight
of all those who can tell me wrong from right
when all things beautiful and bright
sink in the night
yet theres still something in my heart
that can find a way
to make a start
to turn up the signal
wipe out the noise
wipe out the noise
wipe out the noise
you know thats it
you know thats it
receive and transmit
you know thats it
you know thats it
you know thats it
you know thats it
THE DROP
moving down the fuselage
toward the open door
catch you looking down outside
to see what lies ahead
one by one
you watch them fall
fall through cloud
one by one
you watch them fall
no idea where theyre going
but down
where theyve gone
where theyve gone
watching as the sun goes down
i sit inside this plane
notice how the city lights
are like the nerves inside the brain
one by one
theyre going out
you watch them dim
one by one
you watch them fall
and wonder where theyre falling to
Lyrics compiled by David Steiger (2004)

If you want editable data, please e-mail me: davidsteiger@bluewin.ch

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Peter Gabriel Lyrics

1. Album / 'car' (1977)___________________________________ 4

2. Album / 'scratch' (1978) ____________________________ 14

3. Album - 'melt' (1980)__________________________________ 26

4. Album / 'security' (1982) ___________________________ 37

I HAVE THE TOUCH ___________________________________________________________ 40

MORE THAN THIS_____________________________________________________________ 91

1. Album / 'car' (1977)

MORIBUND, THE BURGERMEISTER

WAITING FOR THE BIG ONE

DOWN THE DOLCE VITA

HERE COMES THE FLOOD

2. Album / 'scratch' (1978)

A WONDERFUL DAY IN A ONE DAY WORLD

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM

HOME SWEET HOME

3. Album - 'melt' (1980)

There's my toy gun on the floor

...AND THROUGH THE WIRE

GAMES WITHOUT FRONTIERS

4. Album / 'security' (1982)

THE RHYTHM OF THE HEAT

I HAVE THE TOUCH

THE FAMILY AND THE FISHING NET

SHOCK THE MONKEY

LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME

red rain coming down

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you

that river's flowing

THAT VOICE AGAIN

I want to be with you

I want to touch the light,

dreaming of mercy st.

I'm going to watch it growing

WE DO WHAT WE'RE TOLD

THIS IS THE PICTURE

I said please talk to me

Yes I love to be loved

Lie the woman and the man

But I know you

WASHING OF THE WATER

DIGGING IN THE DIRT

KISS THAT FROG

Kiss that frog, lady kiss that frog [x4]

growing up, growing up,

THE BARRY WILLIAMS SHOW

is all it took for my success

MY HEAD SOUNDS LIKE THAT

MORE THAN THIS

much more than this

Lyrics compiled by David Steiger (2004)

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