Most songs usually have a meaning behind them and the majority of pop songs that we hear today mostly have a direct meaning – we don’t necessarily have to think much to understand the artist’s point. On the other hand, there have been amazing songs written over the years and if we dig deeper into the lyrics there is a whole different representation of what we originally thought.
One classic example of this is Peter Gabriel’s Solsbury Hill. For me it’s truly fantastic, a timeless song. I’m pretty sure Gabriel is trying to tell us something – but what?
The original
On tour a few years back
There is definitely something underneath the surface of these lyrics that grabs people’s attention. I believe that Gabriel intended these words to have a different meaning to different people. Even when I listen to this song, it may represent something one day the next time I listen to it, it could represent another.
People’s representation of this are varied, from meeting Jesus to first encountering aliens. From a representation of World War 2 to the song just being a metaphor for him leaving Genesis.
There's a discussion on this web board
Lyrics:
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
I had to listen had no choice
I did not believe the information
Just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom, boom
"Son," he said, "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."
To keeping silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
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."
Yeah back home
When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes, but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'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."
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
I had to listen had no choice
I did not believe the information
Just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom, boom
"Son," he said, "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."
To keeping silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
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."
Yeah back home
When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes, but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'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."
Great examples of how meaning is slippery. I think the idea that meaning is "fixed" and dependent on the production or the creation of the work (the Adorno position) is FAR to limiting. I like your idea that Gabriel intentionally wrote this song so people could make their own meaning out of it. This makes me wonder how one goes about intentionally creating something that has no fixed meaning... I'm thinking abstract art/ Jackson Pollock/ and maybe musicians like John Cage... maybe writing in a way that doesn't seek to "trap" meaning is a new mode of expression in itself. hmmmm.....
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