"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." That verse breaks me. He's broken and sad, he goes back to his childhood home for comfort, and then finds out it's ruined. Everything is changed, and not for the better. There is no refuge for him there.
Please see this comment....I saw Peter Gabriel this Tuesday in Antwerp and my god, it's probably the best concert I've been to. First of all, the man's voice is literally like 80-90% as good as on his albums 40 years ago. I went with my dad who is the actual Peter Gabriel fan while I'm just an admirer of ridiculous talent and only knew 3 of his biggest hits. When he started singing we just looked at eachother with a smile like "holy shit he's still this good?" Aside from his performance, Tony Levin and all the other extremely talented musicians were very good and the production, camera work and his cool "stage machines" (not just spots but really fun surprises I can't describe well) were fantastic. If you can see him, you absolutely should. I saw Rammstein last year btw who are quite different but also praised for live shows, Peter Gabriel was more memorable for me and I'm a Rammstein fan...
Kate's voice is capable of carrying a story on it's own, but coupled with great lyrics (and both of them are fantastic lyricists, though this song is obviouly his) she enhances lyrics with her vocal expression and strengthens the story being told.
This song hits. Heard it during a rough patch. Laid off from work, had a young son and a wife to support. All those feelings i couldn’t express were here in this song.
I believe the song is based on a period in British history, when Margaret Thatcher was PM and the government closed down multiple coal mines and there was mass unemployment. Whole towns and villages went from relative prosperity to poverty within months. And unemployed men in particular suffered from anxiety and depression. And many sadly committed suicide. Here Peter is enacting one of those men contemplating suicide, and the loving wife is trying to talk him out of it.
In 1982 Peter Gabriel walked by me down the isle with a tiny little drum on his way to the stage. He was in full monkey makeup. Band started with "Rhythm of The Heat". When he got on the stage Peter Gabriel does that yoddle and then the Bell Tolls........then the Chorus of children. Sounds like I was in Africa.............screams "The Rhythm Has My Soul....the Rhythm of the Heat". More Chorus.".has My............Sooooouuullll" More African Drums......Goosebumps. That's how the concert started.
That bass outro could go on forever! I believe Peter asked Dolly Parton first and she turned him down. But Kate is perfect. Love how the eclipse in the background follows emotions in the song.
Peter Gabrial made a joke along those lines saying hugging Kate for 6 minutes wasn't the worst thing he had been forced to do. But he did make sure his wife was at the video recording. It did not stop the press and there were several stories about their 'affair' to a point that Kate actually released a statement denying it. Interestingly a few years later Sinead O'Connor was quoted as saying that she admired Kate as the only Woman who flatly turned down Peter's advances.
I love this song because it is an answer to the over masculine propaganda about how to work through hardships. In movies and tv the answer to hardship is violence, or "toughing it out emotionlessly" "ignoring the pain", or some macho BS. Peter and Kate reveal that the answer to getting through is vulnerability and honesty, and admitting you are struggling. The soothing female power of comfort and emotional support, hope, even love in the face of despair carries you through the dark times, the eclipse of the soul, into the resolution where the sun comes back again, even if you are still not whole, you have lived through it and come to the realization that your connections are the most important thing. The Great Depression after 1929 clear up to World War II was such a time in America and England as well, and they sort of captured that. In my time of darkness this song would have me crying openly. It still makes me misty. The only other song that has captured this emotion for me is Duran Duran's "Still Breathing", but even that is not as deliberately melancholy as this.
Given that both of them are from the UK, it's more likely the song is about the 1980's economic reforms under Margaret Thatcher , which almost blended Britain and caused mass unemplyment and skyrocketing crime.
The song was inspired by the Depression-era photographs of Dorothea Lange, showing poverty-stricken Americans in Dust Bowl conditions. Gabriel saw Lange's images in a 1973 book titled In This Proud Land. He felt that a song based on this was wholly appropriate to difficult economic conditions in England under Margaret Thatcher. He composed lyrics about a man whose unemployment causes stress in his domestic relationship. The verses, sung by Gabriel, describe the man's feelings of isolation, loneliness and despair; the choruses, sung by Bush, offer words of hope and encouragement. Gabriel originally wrote the song from a reference point of American roots music and he approached country singer Dolly Parton to sing it with him. However, Parton turned it down, so his friend Kate Bush took her place
Bought this record for my then husband when it came out. He was unemployed during the 80s recession and it was hard for both of us. We're not together now but this brings back bittersweet memories.
Kate Bush released her first album the kick inside which was a big hit in 1978 in England but The first time we heard kate sing with Peter Gabriel was on peters song games without frontiers Which was released in 1980 . but Kate’s voice was just a sample of her voice on peters track but Gabriel also sang with Kate on the one off kate bush show made by BBC TV . they sang a song called Another Day which you can see online as a video on u-tube ! 🇬🇧👋🏻
when this song/video came out I was too young to care and was probably just waiting for some other favorite video to come on after. Tonight I watch and listen with a different adult perspective. thanks for re-introducing it to me !
I saw Kate Bush at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1978. She had a couple of surprise guests on stage with her! Steve Harley of Cockley Rebel and...Peter Gabriel.
Really doesn't get any better than these two, they are both sort of musical twins, both amazing songwriters and trailblazers. I've seen Peter live 5 times over the years, and trust me there is no better show.
It’s funny how people can’t express what makes them cry about this song. The thing is, in the song and video we see someone who loves someone unconditionally and supports and believes in them and that’s what every person wants so we get emotional seeing it portrayed.
Yes...DO GO SEE HIM! I saw Phil Collins back in 2019 in San Francisco. He was chair bound and his son played the drums. Phil still sounded great though. Wonderful show! ✌
This video captures the sentiment of the song with a simple loving embrace. To be that loved - it made me cry and I'm not overly sentimental. Sooo glad you finally got to it
Peter Gabriel was my very first recorded music ever owned. At age 15 In 1980 I got a boombox - a dual speaker with cassette player for Christmas along with the equally requested (wish) cassette that Peter Gabriel's Games Without Frontiers came on - his 3rd album referred to as "Melt" due to the album not having a name and an image of Peter partially melted on the cover. Turns out Kate Bush is on vocals and sings the "Jeux sans frontières" lines of that song.
The song reminds me of the early 1980s when i couldn’t get a job even though I was a skilled welder and also had a bus driver license. The sense of futility captured in this song.
N&L - Do yourself a favour and go see him live - he is brilliant and the production is outstanding !! Listen to Mercy Street - another brilliant track from this record. Cheers !
This is one of THE great duets in modern music history. Two unique, singular talents combining to produce beautiful, emotional music. When this album was released I was in a similar situation to Peter's character in the song, and it gave me the strength and fortitude to keep on fighting for everything. I've lost count of the amount of times I have listened to this song in the last 37 years, but every time my eyes well up with tears. On a BBC documentary on Kate's career Elton John said that this song helped him finally get sober for life. You have recently done a Peter marathon Nick, but there are so many more that can be done; and we have to do some Kate reactions too! She is not just 80's, her career started in 1977, and her albums 'The Red Shoes' (1993) 'Aerial' (2005) and '50 Words for Snow' (2011) are mature works of art. No-one comes close to her, innovative, challenging but so rewarding. Thanks guys xx
For me, it's the fact that Peters character is very fragile and vulnerable. He could easily slide into depression, yet Kate never ever lets go of him - ever. There's the lesson. Never let go of one's who are vulnerable and needy. Support them all the way.
I read somewhere that the bass player had recently become a father, and he had spent a long time trying to get the right sound for this track. After some time he changed the babies nappy (diaper), and in a moment of inspiration he placed a nappy between the strings and the bass... And that's now what we hear today on the recording. Peter called it something like 'The Happy Nappy Bass'.
Peter Gabriel was one of the best concerts I've ever seen so definitely go if you can. Also Peter does a great duet with Sinead O'Connor with The Blood of Eden and Kate does a moving duet with Elton John with Snowed in at Wheeler Street. Best wishes. Great reaction!
All of Peter Gabriel’s videos are quite good. He was a real innovator of the form. This is not even the first time Gabriel and Bush performed together. She did background vocals on his song Games Without Frontiers, back in 1980.
I love this song. So beautiful. Peter Gabriel is a genius. 1986. Yes, you definitely need to see him live. I’ve seen him live twice and he puts on an amazing show.
My brother had a ticket to see Jeff Beck a few months ago. He didn't feel up for the long drive to get there so he didn't go. He regrets that decision now.
Something easy to overlook in the video: the sun in the background goes through a total eclipse matching the tone of the song. Sad at first but hopeful at the end.
It's time for you to dive into both their work. It will be true rabbithole experiences. This is something I genuinely wish for you. Love your heartfelt reaction.
Loved this song from the moment it was released! My niece did a beautiful quartet dance number to it, when she studied dance in high school, that made me cry. The song came out the year she was born, so I was surprised that 15+ years later she was dancing to it! You just can't go wrong with either of these artists. They're both so talented and beautifully expressive. Loved your reactions! Thank you! 🎵❤️🎵 Debbie
Peter has such a great voice and Kate just enhances it. My ex boss knew Peter very well and drank in the same pub as him about 13 years ago. Maybe they still do.
"You know it's never been easy" ...awesome dynamics riding over the bass line of Tony Levin, amazing and expressive voices. Also Beautiful lyrics it was a fresh breeze on the 80s
Beautifully constructed song, 2 fantastic singers, one great writer, many great musicians. Still moves me after what-30 years? Glad you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed your reaction.
@@fd1930 *_"I have post dental surgery pain so not thinking too straight!"_* OOF! That's never fun. I hope they gave you decent pain killers! 🤗 {:o:O:}
Hey guys, I've loved this song since it was first released in the 80's. The live version of this song that was recorded in Italy during Peter Gabriel's 1993-1994 Secret World Live tour, with Paula Cole singing Kate Bush's part, is also phenomenal. (BTW, In Your Eyes is one of my favorite songs and the extended live version from the Secret World Live tour is unbelievable and almost like a spiritual experience).
So I haven't started it yet . . . I am predicting, _while_ you are watching the "Video", there won't be a dry eye in the house 🥲. On my Top 5 Peter tracks, Tony Levin's Bass (or Stick) tone, and these 2 Angelic voices . . . its an incredibly moving song. You 2 are chipping away at tracks I included in your "Anniversary" Playlists (which has a grouping of "Friendship" songs on "Book II"), so hopefully you will get to enjoy some of the playlists on your own sometime sooner than later 😊. This song always reminds me, that I have friends that care when "times get rough", and those I know going through their own ordeals, that I'm just a phone call away. - So HUGE hugs to you 2 and Marley 💓🐶 A verse that gets to me sometimes . . . "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" 😥 But . . . _Don't give up_ 🙂. Edit: GO SEE PETER!!! The last album that was all _new_ music was "Up" from 2002, and the new one "i/o" will be released soon (only 3 tracks have been released so far). So he doesn't release albums often. I'd LOVE to see him, never have.
The Fairlight CMI sampler keyboard was introduced in 1979 in Australia. It enabled musicians to capture “found” sounds like a dog’s bark, crashing glass, or a pipe organ in a great cathedral. Any musician could then play those sounds (. WAVs ?) on an electric keyboard at different frequencies. Gabriel purchased the first Fairlight in England. Bush loved what Gabriel did with this new instrument and became another early adopter of this technology. I wouldn’t be surprised if the two of them shared libraries of the sounds that they sampled. It just seems inevitable that they would collaborate. Great song.
Yes, I believe Peter Gabrial 3 (Melt) and Never For Ever (both mid-1980) were the first albums released using the technology. Kate provided backing vocals on Melt (prominently on Games without frontiers shortly after Peter appeared on Kate's 1979 BBC Christmas special when they dueted on Roy Harper's Just Another Day. That show is always worth a watch!
Seen him 6X and I HIGHLY recommend you attend his show. I've seen many, many concerts and his Secret World show was in my top 3 of all time. He NEVER disappoints. He's also 73 and this may very well be his last tour.
Hi Nik and Lex! Great show on my favorite all time performer! My wife Laura and I, have tickets for PG in Buffalo, September 22! My 4th time. Thank you.
