Peter Gabriel: Trending quotes

“The place where I come from is a small town.
They think so small;
They use small words
-But not me.
I'm smarter than that.
I worked it out.
I've been stretching my mouth
To let those big words come right out.”

Peter Gabriel

Big Time
Song lyrics, So (1986)

Thinking

“From the pain come the dream.
From the dream come the vision.
From the vision come the people.
From the people come the power.
From this power come the change.”

Peter Gabriel

Fourteen Black Paintings
Song lyrics, Us (1992)

Pain , People , Dreams , Change

“Changing your ways, changing those surrounding you.
Changing your ways, more than any man can do.
Open your heart, show him the anger and pain, so you heal.
Maybe he's looking for his womanly side, let him feel.”

Peter Gabriel

Shaking the Tree
Song lyrics, Shaking the Tree (1990)

Pain , Way , Feeling , Change

“Rest your head.
You worry too much.
It's going to be alright.
When times get rough,
You can fall back on us.”

Peter Gabriel

Song lyrics, So (1986)
Context: Rest your head.
You worry too much.
It's going to be alright.
When times get rough,
You can fall back on us.
Don't give up;
Please don't give up.

Time

“The Man with the Child in His Eyes is still one of those things, which right from the get-go … has its own life, because it's just a great song.”

Peter Gabriel

The Kate Bush Story (2014)
Context: The Man with the Child in His Eyes is still one of those things, which right from the get-go … has its own life, because it's just a great song. … For all the time that she or I or anyone spend decorating and creating moods, its actually the key element of what your saying, the melody and the chords which still speak louder than all the stuff around, on a great song.

Life

“I come to you defenses down,
With the trust of a child.”

Peter Gabriel

Red Rain
Song lyrics, So (1986)
Context: Red rain-
Putting the pressure on much harder now
To return again and again.
Just let the red rain splash you,
Let the rain fall on your skin.
I come to you defenses down,
With the trust of a child.

“I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive.”

Peter Gabriel

In Your Eyes
Song lyrics, So (1986)
Context: I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive.

Time

“Love I get so lost, sometimes.
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart.”

Peter Gabriel

In Your Eyes
Song lyrics, So (1986)
Context: Love I get so lost, sometimes.
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart.
When I want to run away,
I drive off in my car.
But whichever way I go,
I come back to the place you are.

Love , Heart

“I was taught to fight, taught to win;
I never thought I could fail.”

Peter Gabriel

Don't Give Up, Duet written by Gabriel, sung with Kate Bush
Song lyrics, So (1986)
Context: In this proud land we grew up strong;
We were wanted all along.
I was taught to fight, taught to win;
I never thought I could fail.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.

Fight

“Creativity comes from the freedom to fail. And freedom to fail comes from experimentation, and that's what gives something its individuality.”

Peter Gabriel

On Kate Bush
The Kate Bush Story (2014)
Context: Creativity comes from the freedom to fail. And freedom to fail comes from experimentation, and that's what gives something its individuality. And, you know, I think her courage, which is the positive way of interpreting it, or bloody-mindedness, which is the negative, is part of what gives her real value as an artist.

Freedom

“It’s only in uncertainty
That we’re naked and alive.”

Peter Gabriel

That Voice Again, written by Peter Gabriel and David Rhodes
Song lyrics, So (1986)
Context: I’m hearing right and wrong so clearly.
There must be more than this.
It’s only in uncertainty
That we’re naked and alive.