☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Solsbury Hill' symbolizes Peter Gabriel's spiritual and artistic journey as well as his departure from the band 'Genesis'.
- The eagle flying from the night is a sign of intuition and spiritual messages. It hears a voice telling him to pursue his artistic ambitions and dreams.
- Gabriel expresses concerns and fears of being misunderstood or considered crazy when following his own path.
- Metaphors like the 'Illusion' spinning its web and 'Liberty' doing pirouettes show how seductive and restrictive society can be.
- With the line 'Hey, I said, You can keep my things, They've come to take me home.', he expresses the complete process of detachment, giving up his old life to go to his true destiny and identity 'home'.
Interpretation
The song 'Solsbury Hill' by
Peter Gabriel is a very personal narrative that symbolizes his own spiritual and artistic journey. The lyrics reflect his departure from the band 'Genesis' and his path towards a solo career.
'Solsbury Hill' is a place in England, and the lines 'Climbing up on Solsbury Hill / I could see the city light' represent the beginning of an inner journey where he withdraws from the world to reflect on his own decisions and life path.
The eagle flying 'out of the night' is a symbol of intuition and spiritual messages. He hears a voice (the eagle) telling him, 'Grab your things, I've come to take you home.' This could be interpreted as an invitation to pursue his artistic ambitions and dreams and free himself from the expectations of others.
In the lines 'To keep in silence I resigned / My friends would think I was a nut,' he expresses his concerns and fears of being misunderstood or considered crazy when he follows his own path.
The 'illusion' spinning its web and 'liberty' doing pirouettes are metaphors for the deceptions and false freedoms that society offers. Gabriel explains that he's 'never there where he wants to be' and that, despite feeling free, he feels observed and restricted.
The last stanza ends with the line: 'Hey' I said 'You can keep my things, They've come to take me home.', which represents the complete process of detachment. He leaves behind his old life and old ties and is ready to go 'home' to his true destiny and identity.