Solsbury Hill Lyric Analysis

I've always loved the emotional impact of this song. And who hasn't struggled with those life decisions of giving up something you HAVE for something else that you suspect COULD be better? Those kinds of risks can be terrifying, but, ultimately often lead us to better places.

Feel free to post your reactions in the comments or suggest other songs that would be good to explore.

Thanks for watching!

Solsbury Hill
-Peter Gabriel

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
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 keep in 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
Though my life was in a rut
Until I thought of what I'll 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"

[RyanJGage]

"Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see"

seems to me how life can be only personal with what you feel and how your decisions effect that. while people with no inside perspective of your life are watching/judging your moves but have no sight into how you feel and the weight of your decisions.
this song is so beautiful thanks for the video

[Margaret]

I just found your channel. Love your thought process!

[retroactivejealousy-worldl]

Great video. I used to live right opposite ‘Little Solsbury Hill’ (to give it it’s full name) and climbed it many times. It’s a very magical place. It is crowned by an Iron Age hill fort. I believe the nearest property to it is called something like ‘Eagle Farm’ which is interesting.

[theislanders]

I believe the turning water into wine might be reaching a point where there is no turning back. As the next line is, "open doors would soon be shut." It follows the original story too

[stevemorse]

Very interesting analysis...thanks...I am a friend of Steve Hackett and will run by your interpretation by him....I also know Gabriel but have always made it a point to never ask him about Genesis...but since this is one of his early solo songs maybe I will ask him to. BTW and not meaning to be pedantic but right after heard a voice I believe your chord choice is incorrect.To my ear the correct chords are; F#m E F#m
.

[kiwisoup]

I'm wondering if the final verse is about fame? Empty silhouettes could be how he sees the crowd from the stage? And maybe some fans can be a little invasive (lacking etiquette.) At the end where he says 'you can keep my things they've come to take me home' is him turning away from the trappings and materialism that goes with fame?

[marcelodemasi]

I would like to listen you about Silent Running by Mike Rutherford. Thanks.

[TossTurner]

It's not the eagle who he answered? :
"Hey, " I said
"You can keep my things, they've come to take me home"
and the question is who are "they"? but there the song ends.

[candandy]

TURNING WATER INTO WINE…I thought that meant “Turning the ordinary into extraordinary” And, “TRUST IMAGINATION” meant faith….I just wish Pete could tell us what the real meaning of his song meant…

[theyogamer]

what he means by empty silhouettes is what you have seen off him is not real and empty he's going to show another me me being the real him the full me

[jenniferraynes]

This is an interesting video, however don't subscribe to the idea that a layman can interpret an artists words or thoughts from a song, literature or say, a painting. That's point. We interpret it as we alone see it. I enjoyed your thoughts!

[bevforetune]

Call me a layman but I pretty much take it literal. #gaysok