Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city lights
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 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
yeaah, 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
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
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rocknroller_75
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20/07/2009
21:40:19
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This is one of the best written and sung songs of all time. I LOVE IT!!!
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applenooker
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16/11/2008
08:28:04
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tooo deep all of you....it's just a great song.
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woody_123066
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15/06/2007
07:30:10
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Listening right now...and loving it!
01:18am CST June 15, 2007
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mrmiggs
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04/01/2007
22:55:20
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eeeekkkk is right...Solsbury Hill is or was near where Peter lived and he used to go there quite a bit to sit on the top and look out over the countryside and think about life and other things. I remember him saying in an interview once that the song is at least partially about his leaving Genesis since it's about looking to make some changes in his life and take on new challenges. Great song and always a concert favorite!
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spacekase35
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22/12/2005
21:29:04
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great song, it was on the In Good Company soundtrack, i love it! Dave Matthews did a really good version of it, too.
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led_fly_zzz
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27/02/2005
23:27:04
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i believe i read somewhere that this song is about Gabriel's leaving Genesis
great song, too
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piocho
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10/01/2005
09:51:56
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Great song!!! Very poerful.
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eeeekkkk
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03/08/2004
21:51:32
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Okay everyone, I did some research and we are all wrong. First, it is definatley Solsbury Hill, it shows it as that title on the back of the CD.
Now for the important stuff:
Solsbury Hill (in full, Little Solsbury Hill) is a small flat-topped hill above the village of Batheaston in Somerset, England, near the city of Bath. The top of the hill is ringed by the ramparts of an ancient hill fort. People protesting against the building of an A46 bypass road have recently cut a small maze into the hill.
Solsbury hill is a possible location of the Battle of Mount Badon, which was fought between the Britons (under the legendary King Arthur) and the Saxons c.496 CE and which was mentioned by the chroniclers Gildas and Nennius.
Solsbury Hill was also the title of rock musician Peter Gabriel's first solo single.
There you go. I hope this helps.
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berndog
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14/06/2004
00:26:56
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The first time I actually "heard" this song, I was driving myself home from re-hab after checking myself in. Since then I don't go a day without remembering that. It's all about perspective and what you're going to do with that knowledge.
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Jaxxboss
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30/04/2004
04:44:24
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Ok, it is NOT Salisbury Hill as you claim. It is Quite obvious that it is Solsbury Hill. This is a given. There is no wiggle room on this.
I think that the song is about making the listener think about it. Maybe some believe it is about leaving genisis, or dying or Religion.
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Caspar M
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21/02/2004
23:18:06
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Ok, maybe I can shed some light on this: Salisbury Hill (The song is called 'Salisbury Hill', not Solsbury) is a large natural fortress in former Rhodesia (Africa). Around 1970 there was a great civil war in Rhodesia, and British soldiers were sent in to protect the former colony. Many of them were stationed on Salisbury Hill. When the opposing forces started growing stronger, they attacked Salisbury Hill, causing a massacre amongst British soldiers.
What the song would be about, concidering this is the Salisbury Hill he meant, is a British soldier either dying or going mad.
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bigjimslade
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29/01/2004
07:19:50
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Ah yes a great song, probably one of my all time favorite. I do believe it's about taking a "leap of faith", I really think he was not ready to take a leap until he received a message from the almighty one. Without some sort of sign or guidance he wasn't about to leave Genesis and that is what he was waiting for...
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woody_123066
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20/01/2004
10:55:19
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Ladymist: I think you hit the nail right on the head...
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ladymistboarder
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22/12/2003
01:03:00
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I think that this song has a signifigant meaning no matter what your interpretation is. I can see how it can be related to religion but I don't really believe that is what Gabriel was thinking when he wrote it. I believe it does have a lot to do with taking a leap of faith even if it means sacrificing something.
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wiz
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11/10/2003
21:38:28
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Religeous links no but I think it would be great at my funeral. "Boy, I said you can keep my things they've come to take me home" enough said!
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Archive
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06/10/2003
18:30:47
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I agree, it is easy to see how this song can discribe the time he left Genesis. As it being religious, no. The closest we get to religion is having faith or hope that things will work out. In fact if you look at references about how people would take his revelation, they would "think he was a nut." There was no basis that things would work out.
The song speaks to me of taking that leap of faith that changing your direction in mid life brings. It is risky but the life you are leading now is empty, "I was feeling part of the scenery."
Verse 1
"Eagle flew out of the night"
This song is full of imagery. Have you ever watched the sunrise or stop to watch ants work. It is a moment in time. I live by the seashore and watching the seagulls flying around doing there own thing creates a pause in a day. The first verse talks of such a time, on a hill away from everything watching an eagle fly free. It triggered a thought of freedom, a feedom of shedding the responsiblities that have grown into his life and finding a new road.
Verse 2
"My friends would think I was a nut ... Open doors would soon be shut"
I want to talk to my friends about my my desire to leave and start new but they would not understand. I have a good thing going here and to leave and start over would seem like a waste of time, not to mention they would not take it well. So I must bide my time while I think it over and if so how I would do it. The daily grind just seems so much worse.
Verse 3
"you can keep my things they've come to take me home"
I done this in the past, to start anew. Everytime I think that I am going to be free to do what I want and somehow I always end up trapped in some way. Hey if my friends cannot understand why I want to leave they must be ignoring ("close their eyes") my discontent but, "they must still see" it. So if they don't have the understanding to see my point of it then they are not really my friends and don't deserve anymore consideration, so I will show them another side of me, a more unpleasant one. I am going to leave.
That is what I get out of the song.
Take care.
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lazereth
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02/09/2003
07:20:13
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hey SILKYMINX your right this sight is awsome! its funny cause i did the same thing as u I heard this song at work and I didnt know what it was so i tried to find it on the net but the only words i could remeber was the boom boom part.
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aann
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05/03/2003
19:08:41
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In reply to Lumpy, who asked about reflecting on the meaning. ALthough I'm sure it wasn't Gabriel's intent, I hear this song as a statement of what it's like to become a Chrisitan:
1) The eagle is Jesus
2) The "information" - that Jesus saves, etc
3) "trust imagination" = have faith
4) "turning water into wine" = obvious ;-)
5) "walked right out of the machinery" = the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace
That's what it means to me.
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Anonymous
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18/02/2003
02:52:23
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I believe Solsbury Hill was about his feelings when he left Genesis. The 2nd verse has the clues. "..life was in a rut", "which connection I should cut", "walked right out of the machinery" etc. No matter what the interpertation, Its a GREAT song!
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Anonymous
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17/02/2003
16:44:30
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I do reflect on the meaning of lyrics. And you could be right in your conclusions. However, it is Salisbury (not Solsbury) Plain.
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Lumpy
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13/02/2003
10:02:26
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does anybody reflect on the meaning of songs? I would like to hear a discussion about the meaning of this song . Is is about Solsbury plain, where "StoneHenge" is located, and does it reference a person who is frustrated with organized religeon? I really want to know what people think.
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ntn_haqqer
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19/01/2003
01:02:55
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This is a classic Peter Gabriel tune, but I really enjoy Erasure's version of it from their new album "Other People's Songs" :)
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silkyminx
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14/01/2003
13:19:21
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I am seriously impressed with this sight,after surfing the net for days and giving up i found the lyrics artist and name of song i have been after for a couple of month...Peter Gabriel/solsbury hill.
And the only thing i had to go off were the lyrics BOOM BOOM BOOM! lol
So thankyou very much!
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