Peter Gabriel, album by album

[robkelk]

I just learned that Peter Gabriel's official website has his songs, with full lyrics, in the Discography section.

I've gone through the first two albums and identified what might be power songs. We can take turns going through the other albums. Quoting enough of the lyrics to get the idea across, and linking straight to the pages with the songs and the full lyrics...

From the album Car, released 1977

Moribund The Burgermeister
By Peter Gabriel, published by Real World Music Ltd

No-one will tell what all this is about
But I will find out
I will find out
I will find out

If there's a "toxic meme" going around, Doug learns who created it and why.

Solsbury Hill
By Peter Gabriel, published by Real World Music Ltd

**WHITENOISE** (private email already exists between myself and Bob on this one; for now, let's just say "gate song")

Excuse Me
By Peter Gabriel, written by Peter Gabriel and Martin Hall, published by Airs & Graces Music Ltd

Excuse me please
You're standing on my memories
Stealing souvenirs again
I want to be alone
I want to be alone
I want to be alone
I want to be alone
I want to be alone

A "get out of my head" song (one way or another).

Here Comes The Flood

Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
In any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry

Let's just put this on the Songs That Should Never Be Played list right now...

From the album Scratch, released 1978

D.I.Y.
By Peter Gabriel, published by Real World Music Ltd

Hey! D.I.Y., Do It Yourself,
D.I.Y., Do It Yourself
D.I.Y., Do It Yourself
D.I.Y., Do it Yourself

When things get so big I don't trust them at all
You want some control - you've got to keep it small

Gives everyone in the area of effect "Odious Personal Habit: rugged self-sufficiency" for the duration

Indigo
By Peter Gabriel, published by Real World Music Ltd

Oh how I hate those long nights
You understand
Darling please, just hold my hand
You feel so warm
In the eye of the storm
I'm going away, I'm going away, I'm going away

It's a hell of a stunt, but he can only do it once... Better not take the chance that it's a gate song, and put this on the Songs That Should Never Be Played list, too.

Animal Magic
By Peter Gabriel, published by Real World Music Ltd

And I'll be joining the professionals, I want to be a man.
With all that animal magic I'll do anything you can.
I'm joining the professionals 'cos I want to be a man,
Look! I wave my wand, watch the rabbit disappear...
Join the professionals and learn to fight!

Gives Doug the skills taught to the trained soldiers in the Area of Effect and removes any cowardice Doug might be feeling. Note that's "and", not "inclusive or" - he doesn't get the second part if there's no trained soldiers around to be copied.

Perspective
By Peter Gabriel, published by Real World Music Ltd

I need perspective Oh 'cos I'm facing the wall
I need perspective Oh 'cos I'm not that tall
I need perspective I heard the trumpet call
Don't trust my eyes I want to know where things fall

Essentially a divination - lets Doug know what's actually important at the moment. (If used in an Illuminatus-type setting, this may give Doug more knowledge than he bargained for...)

[Bob Schroeck]

Mm. They all sound good except for the implication that Doug might feel cowardice. Fear, yes. Trepidation, certainly. Cowardice? Not at all.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

[robkelk]

Mm. They all sound good except for the implication that Doug might feel cowardice. Fear, yes. Trepidation, certainly. Cowardice? Not at all.

I'm making allowance for the existence of mind-control and emotion-control. Other than that, the issue should never arise...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012