Peter Gabriel
Solsbury Hill
“Solsbury Hill” is the debut solo single of
English musician Peter Gabriel.
He wrote the song about a spiritual experience
atop Little Solsbury Hill in Somerset, England. 1
When the human race learns to read
the language of symbolism,
a great veil will fall
from the eyes of men.
Manly P. Hall
Melchizedek and the Mystery of Fire 2
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
And the sun went down
As I crossed the hill
And the town lit up
The world got still
Tom Petty
Learning to Fly
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
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
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
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.” 3
All my instincts, they return
And the grand facade,
so soon will burn
Peter Gabriel
In Your Eyes
All those signs,
I knew what they meant
Some things you can invent
Some get made,
and some get sent
Coldplay
Speed of Sound
Additional Information:
Symbolism was largely a reaction against naturalism and realism, anti-idealistic styles which were attempts to represent reality in its gritty particularity, and to elevate the humble and the ordinary over the ideal. Symbolism was a reaction in favour of spirituality, imagination, and dreams. 4
frame of reference 5
- A set of assumptions, ideas and standards that form a viewpoint from which philosophical, religious and other ideas may be evaluated.
- (physics) A set of axes which enable an observer to measure the position and motion of all bodies in some system relative to the reference frame.
imagination 6
- The ability to confront and deal with reality by using the creative power of the mind; resourcefulness.
Notes & References:
- Wikipedia contributors. (2023, April 16). Solsbury Hill (song). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:16, April 24, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Solsbury_Hill_(song)&oldid=1150178803
↩︎ - Melchizedek and the Mystery of Fire (PDF) – Manly P. Hall
↩︎ - Without Frontiers: The Life & Music of Peter Gabriel By Daryl Easlea
↩︎ - Wikipedia contributors. (2024, April 26). Symbolism (arts). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:25, May 5, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Symbolism_(arts)&oldid=1220917110
↩︎ - https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/frame_of_reference
↩︎ - https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=imagination
↩︎
Peter Gabriel – Solsbury Hill (with lyrics)
The word ‘occult’ comes from the Latin occultus, meaning ‘hidden’. In modern times the word is used for those sciences and arts involved with looking into the secret world which is supposed to lie behind the world of our familiar experience.
Fred Gettings
Secret Symbolism in Occult Art
Oh, there’s a river that winds on forever
I’m gonna see where it leads
Lord Huron
Ends of the Earth