This is a song that seems to know when it is most needed to be heard. And I’m not the only one who thinks that.
I recently posted a short video about how ‘Solsbury Hill’ by Peter Gabriel always plays on the radio whenever I make a life altering decision. No exaggeration, it happens every single time. When I put down my guitar and lept headlong into a publishing career — there it was. When I decided foolheartedly to give up that lucrative career to pursue a dream of making and selling food — there it was. Then, in an effort to save my own life by pledging the way of sobriety — there it was. After Covid burnout and the food industry crash when I felt it was time to step away and close my cafe — there it was.
Those are just a handful of occasions that ‘Solsbury Hill’ would spontaneously play on the radio. When I was a kid trying to be a rock star. A little bit older when I spent years honing my skills as a sound designer and engineer. During the time of owning my li’l cafe and experimenting with new, innovative recipes. Being among the first to offer significant vegan options in the area. Even when I tried to run a small delivery service after closing the cafe. And then about two and a half years ago it happened again when I decided to return to life among the working masses by accepting a job at the Trader Joe’s in Hoboken.
That was the last time I struggled with such a decision because I felt (and still feel) totally at ease in the new job and the so-called normal life. It was also the last time I heard ‘Solsbury Hill’ on the radio, until just a few days ago when I made another big decision. This time I decided to change how I publish and promote my writing. I go into more detail on another post. You can read that here. Anyway, a few hours after making this decision, I was driving in my car and right on cue, ‘Solsbury Hill’ comes on the radio. What I didn’t mention in that short video I posted was the absolute joy I felt. I literally started yelling, “I KNEW IT!!! I KNEW IT!!! I FUCKING KNEW IT!!!” Other drivers must’ve thought I was nuts (haha).
I got choked up too because once again, with no prompting from me other than a stream of thoughts in my head, that song played. And I’m not the only one who has noticed this. Since posting that video, I’ve been told by several friends about how they’ve had similar experiences specifically with ‘Solsbury Hill’. Is Peter Gabriel some kind of mystic. Well probably, yeah. I don’t know. I’m not a religious man by any means, but I do believe in synchronicity and connectivity in the universe. There is an energy we all put out that attracts that same energy. I feel that it’s no coincidence the song has attached itself to my life in such a significant way.
Released as a single in 1977 from his first self-titled solo album, ‘Solsbury Hill’ famously describes how Gabriel was feeling about life after Genesis and the hope for things to come. He struggled with the idea of leaving a hugely successful band that he helped found. Following a long hike filled with contemplation and reflection atop the real Solsbury Hill in England in 1975, Gabriel experienced a spiritual awakening. He found the courage to embrace the very heavy decision to venture on his own. Gabriel has described the song’s core meaning as being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get.
I think that perfectly describes how this song has affected my life and it is beautiful. What do you think? Have you had a similar experience with a song or an image or some other thing in your life? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear about it.
Cheers!
Stephen
Peter Gabriel Links:
Website -> petergabriel.com
Bandcamp -> petergabriel.bandcamp.com
Instagram -> instagram.com/itspetergabriel
TikTok -> tiktok.com/@itspetergabriel_official
YouTube -> youtube.com/itspetergabriel
