The Poignant Words of Peter Gabriel Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "As I drove into the sun, didn't dare look where I had begun. Lost among echoes of things not there, watching the sound forming shapes in the air." (1977)

Answer: Humdrum

"Humdrum" appeared on Peter Gabriel's first solo album called "Peter Gabriel". Actually, Gabriel's first four solo albums were all called "Peter Gabriel", so fans gave them nicknames, and his first album became known as "Car" because of the cover photo of Gabriel sitting in a car.

The song was actually a mixture of arrangements and styles, a bit synthesized, a bit Latin, and was reportedly inspired by the birth of his first child: "Our amoeba, My little liebe schoen". During Gabriel's 2012 "Back to Front" tour, he asked fans which older song they would like to see him perform, and "Humdrum" was selected.

2. "You can blow out a candle, but you can't blow out a fire. Once the flames begin to catch, the wind will blow it higher." (1980)

Answer: Biko

Gabriel wrote the song "Biko" in honor of anti-Apartheid activist Stephen Biko, who had died in 1977 while in police custody in South Africa. The song appeared on Gabriel's third solo album called "Peter Gabriel" but nicknamed "Melt" by fans. Released as a single, it only hit number 38 on the U.K. Charts, but it became a standard at Gabriel's concerts and was covered by other artists such as Joan Baez, Simple Minds, and Paul Simon.

The lyrics of the song include samples of South African songs "Ngomhla sibuyayo" and "Senzeni Na?", and the Xhosa phrase "Yihla Moya" which means "come spirit" appears in the chorus of the song: "Yihla Moya, Yihla Moya, The man is dead, The man is dead".

3. "Rest your head, you worry too much. It's going to be alright. When times get rough, you can fall back on us." (1986)

Answer: Don't Give Up

Gabriel recorded "Don't Give Up" as a duet with Kate Bush on his 1986 smash album "So", and the lyrics listed were part of the verses sung by Bush. The song was reportedly inspired by depression-era photographs, with the lyrics sung by Gabriel expressing the hopelessness and despair ("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"), while Bush's words offered encouragement ("Don't give up. You still have us... We don't need much of anything").

The song was released as the second single from the album, and it reached number nine in the U.K. and number five in Australia. During his 1993 "Secret World" tour, Gabriel performed the duet with singer Paula Cole, and the song has been covered by other artists, including a 2005 charity version featuring Bono and Alicia Keys called "Don't Give Up (Africa)".

4. "I can imagine the moment, breaking out through the silence. All the things we both might say. And the heart, it will not be denied." (1992)

Answer: Come Talk to Me

The first song on Gabriel's sixth album "Us", "Come Talk To Me" was also the opening song on his 1993 "Secret World" tour. Ever the showman, he performed the song emerging from a British telephone box, struggling to pull the phone cord along as he walked the length of the stage.

The struggle was emphasized in the lyrics: "Won't you please talk to me - We can unlock this misery. Come on, come talk to me". According to Gabriel, the song was written because of the difficulty he was having communicating with his daughter Melanie after his marriage ended. Apparently, they resolved their issues by 2003 when Melanie performed as a singer on his "Growing Up" tour.

5. "Nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey. Nowhere in the suburbs in the cold light of day. There in the midst of it so alive and alone, words support like bone." (1986)

Answer: Mercy Street

"Mercy Street" was included on Gabriel's 1986 album "So" and had the distinction of being declared one of the "10 Most Depressing Songs Ever" according to a 2012 article in the British music magazine, "New Musical Express" (it ranked number seven with Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt" picking up the top spot).

The song was inspired by the poetry of American poet Anne Sexton, who had written both a play and a poem with the same name (although the poem was called "45 Mercy Street" and wasn't released until after her 1974 suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning).

The dark lyrics of the song mimic the poem; in her poem, Sexton wrote of "searching for a street sign - namely Mercy Street. Not there" and Gabriel wrote of "Dreaming of Mercy Street. Swear they moved that sign".

6. "Turning the tide, you are on the incoming wave. Turning the tide, you know you are nobody's slave." (1989)

Answer: Shaking the Tree

"Shaking the Tree" is the only song in this quiz in which Peter Gabriel shared the writing credits; it was co-written by Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour. The song had originally appeared as a duet on N'Dour's 1989 album "The Lion", and Gabriel then re-recorded the song with N'Dour for Gabriel's 1990 compilation album "Shaking the Tree" which was subtitled "Sixteen Golden Greats".

The song was intended to be an anthem for women, particularly in Africa: "Waiting your time, dreaming of a better life. Waiting your time, you're more than just a wife. You don't want to do what your mother has done, she has done.

This is your life, this new life has begun. It's your day - a woman's day".

7. "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." (1986)

Answer: In Your Eyes

"In Your Eyes" was the third single (in the U.S.) from Gabriel's 1986 album "So", reaching number 26 in the U.S. charts. Youssou N'Dour performed guest vocals on the studio version, as did Simple Minds' Jim Kerr, and when Gabriel performed the song on his 1993 "Secret World" tour, Congolese singer Papa Wemba helped out with vocals on some of the tour dates.

The song received pop culture status when it was featured in the 1989 teen film "Say Anything..." The iconic scene where actor John Cusack blared the song from a boombox held over his head has been used in parodies on television shows "American Dad" and "South Park", among others, and when Gabriel played the song during a 2012 Hollywood Bowl stop on his "Back to Front" tour, Cusack appeared on stage with a boombox.

The song became Gabriel's traditional encore song at his concerts with an extended intro: "Accepting all I've done and said. I want to stand and stare again. Til there's nothing left out, oh - it remains there in your eyes. Whatever comes and goes, I will hear your silent call. I will touch this tender wall, Til I know I'm home again".

8. "Watched by empty silhouettes, close their eyes but still can see. No one taught them etiquette, so I will show another me." (1977)

Answer: Solsbury Hill

The first single off of Peter Gabriel's first solo album, "Peter Gabriel" aka "Car", "Solsbury Hill" reached number 13 in the U.K. and number 68 in the U.S. A 2017 article by "Billboard" magazine declared it to be one of the greatest songs of all time for several reasons including its unusual 7/4 time signature, its acoustic guitar riff and simple flute, and scene-setting lyrics: "Climbing up on Solsbury Hill, I could see the city light. Wind was blowing, time stood still. Eagle flew out of the night." Although the song has spiritual overtones ("turning water into wine"), Gabriel has stated that it was about leaving the band Genesis and the challenge of starting something new.

In a 2011 interview with "Rolling Stone" magazine, he denied that the song had anything to do with Bruce Springsteen (another rumored source of inspiration); he stated that, "when I left Genesis, I just wanted to be out of the music business. I felt like I was just in the machinery... I just did not enjoy that".

9. "Come back Mum and Dad, you're growing apart, you know that I'm growing up sad. I need some attention; I shoot into the light." (1980)

Answer: Family Snapshot

Another song from Gabriel's third solo album, "Peter Gabriel" aka "Melt, "Family Snapshot" featured former Genesis band mate Phil Collins on snare drum and had the unusual inspiration of an assassination attempt. It was based on a book written by Arthur Bremer who attempted to assassinate U.S. presidential candidate George Wallace in 1972, although Gabriel stated that some of the imagery in the song was from the JFK assassination.

The chilling lyrics indicate that the motive for the shooting was fame: "I don't really hate you, I don't care what you do. We were made for each other, me and you. I want to be somebody, you were like that too.

When you don't get given, you learn to take, and I will take you."

10. "I am standing up at the water's edge in my dream. I cannot make a single sound as you scream." (1986)

Answer: Red Rain

"Red Rain" was the first song on Gabriel's 1986 album "So" and was the second single released, reaching number 47 in the U.K. and number three on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart; it didn't reach the "Billboard 100". The song was reportedly inspired by a recurring dream that Gabriel had, and he had planned to use the song for a movie that never came to fruition about villagers being punished for their sins with a rain of blood.

In 1986, he performed the song at an "Amnesty International" event, dedicating it to the prisoners on death row.

Although it didn't do well on the charts, the song became a fan favorite and was ranked number four in a 2015 "Rolling Stone" reader poll of the top ten Peter Gabriel songs. Former Police drummer Stewart Copeland played the hi-hat cymbals on the track, which were used to symbolize the rain.

Source: Author PDAZ

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Questions		Choices
1. "As I drove into the sun, didn't dare look where I had begun. Lost among echoes of things not there, watching the sound forming shapes in the air." (1977)		Mercy Street
2. "You can blow out a candle, but you can't blow out a fire. Once the flames begin to catch, the wind will blow it higher." (1980)		Humdrum
3. "Rest your head, you worry too much. It's going to be alright. When times get rough, you can fall back on us." (1986)		Red Rain
4. "I can imagine the moment, breaking out through the silence. All the things we both might say. And the heart, it will not be denied." (1992)		Solsbury Hill
5. "Nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey. Nowhere in the suburbs in the cold light of day. There in the midst of it so alive and alone, words support like bone." (1986)		Shaking the Tree
6. "Turning the tide, you are on the incoming wave. Turning the tide, you know you are nobody's slave." (1989)		Come Talk to Me
7. "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." (1986)		In Your Eyes
8. "Watched by empty silhouettes, close their eyes but still can see. No one taught them etiquette, so I will show another me." (1977)		Don't Give Up
9. "Come back Mum and Dad, you're growing apart, you know that I'm growing up sad. I need some attention; I shoot into the light." (1980)		Biko
10. "I am standing up at the water's edge in my dream. I cannot make a single sound as you scream." (1986)		Family Snapshot

Can you match these Peter Gabriel lyrics to the songs? Some of these lyrics are from popular songs; others only true fans will probably recognize. I've added the year to make it a wee bit easier.