I had no idea who Peter Gabriel was when I discovered this song. I will explain. But first:
Memorial Day.
This seems like a good post about change and decisions that are validated by reflection, which is part of the process of recognizing and honoring the dead on a day like today.
I memorialize my lost loved ones.
In part, I honor them in writing about this song.
One of the albums I chose was Peter Gabriel's first album. She told me I could pick out five records. We're talking vinyl LPs.
Songwriters: Peter Gabriel
Solsbury Hill lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Artist: Peter Gabriel
Album: Peter Gabriel
Released: 1977
Genre: Rock
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- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I post Hey Mom blog entries on special occasions. I post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day, and now I have a second count for Days since my Dad died on August 28, 2024. I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of Mom's death, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of her death and sometimes 13:40 EDT for the time of Dad's death. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.
I was starting to get into music more. I can't remember if this memory is from early college or late high school, but my Mom went with me to a record store or a store with a lot of records in the mall. I want to say it was called State Vitamin
One of the albums I chose was Peter Gabriel's first album. She told me I could pick out five records. We're talking vinyl LPs.
I cannot remember what all I chose. Though if I could, it would help me narrow down if I was still in high school or not.
But if I am ranking Peter Gabriel songs, "Solsbury Hill" is definitely top five. I hesitate to do a top five because I will forget some songs, but I would guess it might be this:
For instance, if this is when I bought the Kansas album Point of No Return, which I know I had while in high school, then that gift places this trip better in time. But I can't remember, and this is not something that my parents, let alone my mother, would remember either. Regardless, sometimes from 1978 to 1980 we went to that store, I chose five albums, and one of the them was what is known as Peter Gabriel 1 or the Car Album.
The purpose of the trip to the store was to discover new music, and so I surely selected five different bands or artists and some that I did not know so as to discover them. I miss those days of discovery and gifts, uncomplicated days in which I was opening doors to learn new things. I still learn things these days, but when I knew less, the opening up was far more significant.
I remember more now (written days after I wrote the above): I know this is when I also chose the Genesis album Wind and Wuthering without knowing that Peter Gabriel was a former member of the band. I may have also chose the Kansas album Leftoverture with "Carry on My Wayward Son." Maybe a Cars album? Devo? Not sure. But certain of the Genesis album and reasonably sure of the Kansas album.
And Peter Gabriel's album.
This album caught my eye because of the cover art. I liked the simplicity of it, the water, the image of the man in the car. What a great photo.
And then I listened to it.
The first song was unlike anything I had ever heard before.
"Moribund the Burgermeister" was a weird and unusual track, strange as a first track, and quite off-putting to my fledgling musical explorations.
But I stuck with it because soon the second track, "Solsbury Hill," would become one of my favorites in all of music.
Later, "Here Comes the Flood," especially when I discovered Robert Fripp's Exposure and found the track there, too.
My first Gabriel album and one I dearly love, it does not make my top five Gabriel albums as I shared recently in this post (which also lists all the Gabriel posts from the last two years):
Monday, May 19, 2025
That top five list:
Security
Us
Passion
Passion
Peter Gabriel III
i/o
the second five
Peter Gabriel I
So
Up
Long Walk Home
Scratch My Back
Peter Gabriel I definitely ranks above So despite loving "Red Rain," "In Your Eyes," and "Mercy Street." Oh and especially "Don't Give Up."
I liked Up well enough and saw that tour, so it ranks in the top ten, not that there that many Gabriel albums to rank. I have never been a fan of the second album, though it has some good songs, like "On the Air" and "Exposure." But Long Walk Home and Scratch My Back edge that second solo album.
As for the top five, it's a very tough call as I wrote in that previous blog post linked above. All five albums could be ranked in various orders in the top five. But in really examining my feelings, and the way the tour for Security changed my life and view of music, another of the very best shows I have ever seen (I need to make that list), I have to rank it number one, closely followed by Us, and I wish I had seen that tour. As albums, without the concerts, those are very much tied. Passion edges the third solo album only in numbers of times I have listened to it, though the third album ranks above the new one, i/o, maybe only because I have not had that much time with it yet. A large part of these favorite rankings, it seems to me, are affected by the number of years with the album and the number of listens as opposed to getting all the albums at the same time and simply ranking them by some merit system. This rankings is not what I think are the BEST albums in order, but what are my favorites.
TOP FIVE PETER GABRIEL SONGS
"Washing of the Water"
"Washing of the Water"
"Solsbury Hill"
"Secret World"
"Wallflower"
"Don't Give Up"
As you see, I have a love for the slow songs with great singing parts. I hesitate to call them ballads. Ballad-like?
Also, I do not believe that the first album came with lyrics, so it was over years of listening that I got most of them and then could be more certain with the postings on the Internet once that became a thing.
As you see, I have a love for the slow songs with great singing parts. I hesitate to call them ballads. Ballad-like?
Also, I do not believe that the first album came with lyrics, so it was over years of listening that I got most of them and then could be more certain with the postings on the Internet once that became a thing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solsbury_Hill_(song)
I always felt that the song was about a visitation either by extra-dimensional spirits, faeries, or space aliens.
I always felt that the song was about a visitation either by extra-dimensional spirits, faeries, or space aliens.
Gabriel leaves all of that open to interpretation.
Gabriel has said of the song's meaning, "It's about being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get ... It's about letting go."[9]
Google AI shared:
Gabriel has said of the song's meaning, "It's about being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get ... It's about letting go."[9]
Google AI shared:
The Peter Gabriel song "Solsbury Hill" is widely understood as an allegory for the singer's decision to leave the band Genesis and pursue a solo career. It's about personal epiphany, breaking free from a stifling situation, and making a leap of faith. Gabriel himself has said it's about being prepared to lose what you have for what you might gain, and about letting go. The song also speaks to the courage it takes to make big life changes.
TWO LINKS ON MEANING:
https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-meaning-of-solsbury-hill-by-peter-gabriel/
https://marleneveltre.medium.com/sunny-sundays-song-of-the-day-peter-gabriel-s-solsbury-hill-17ab5ace226b
There's also an "about the song" video at the end of the post.
TWO LINKS ON MEANING:
https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-meaning-of-solsbury-hill-by-peter-gabriel/
https://marleneveltre.medium.com/sunny-sundays-song-of-the-day-peter-gabriel-s-solsbury-hill-17ab5ace226b
There's also an "about the song" video at the end of the post.
Regardless of how one interprets the song, it's definitely about making a change and making the right decision to then be welcomed "home."
This song has been an anthem in my life since I discovered it.
Below are lyrics and multiple versions and performances, including a cover by Sia.
I adore this song.
I adore this song.
Thanks for tuning in.
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
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 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
Till I thought of what I'd say
And 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
Son, 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
Close their eyes but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
So 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
Come back home
Come back home
Come back home
parashify
Nov 20, 2011
Official music video of "Solsbury Hill" performed by "Peter Gabriel".
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
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 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
Till I thought of what I'd say
And 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
Son, 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
Close their eyes but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
So 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
Come back home
Come back home
Come back home
Songwriters: Peter Gabriel
Solsbury Hill lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Artist: Peter Gabriel
Album: Peter Gabriel
Released: 1977
Genre: Rock
Peter Gabriel
The official Solsbury Hill video. Directed by Graham Dean.
Peter Gabriel
Mar 2, 2017
This montage of live performances of Solsbury Hill includes footage from Rockpalast (1978), Live in Athens (1987), Secret World Live (1993), Growing Up Live (2003), New Blood Live (2011) and Back To Front (2013).
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Feb 13, 2025 #Kimmel
Sia spreads the word about the Humane World for Animals with the Peter Gabriel classic “Solsbury Hill.”
Peter Gabriel
Sep 29, 2017
Peter Gabriel live on Rockpalast TV show.
Recorded live at Grugahalle, Essen, Germany on 15 September 1978
treasurehd
Oct 26, 2010
http://treasurehd.ca - Peter Gabriel Solsbury Hill Live in full 1080p High Definition with Lyrics
The Story Behind Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill
Apr 20, 2024 #petergabriel #classicrock #genesis
The Story Behind Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill
#petergabriel #genesis #solsburyhill #classicrock
StrangeDevice explores the origins and meaning behind Peter Gabriel's first-ever single as a solo artist.
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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2505.26 - 10:10
- Days ago: MOM = 3616 days ago & DAD = 270 days ago
- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I post Hey Mom blog entries on special occasions. I post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day, and now I have a second count for Days since my Dad died on August 28, 2024. I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of Mom's death, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of her death and sometimes 13:40 EDT for the time of Dad's death. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.
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