Stand back!
Stand back!

What are those dogs doing sniffing at my feet
They're on to something, picking up
Picking up this heat, this heat

[Chorus 1:]
Give me steam
And how you feel to make it real
Real as anything you've seen
Get a life with this dreamer's dream

You know your culture from your trash
You know your plastic from your cash
When I lose sight of the track
You know the way back
But I know you

You know your stripper from your paint
You know your sinner from your saint
Whenever heaven's doors are shut
You kick them open but
I know you

[Chorus 2:]
Give me steam
And how you feel to make it real
Real as any place you've been
Get a life with the dreamer's dream

Stand back!
Stand back!
Can't you see I've lost control I'm getting indiscreet
You're moving in so close 'til I'm picking up
Picking up this heat, this heat

[Chorus 1]

You know your green from your red
You know the quick from the dead
So much better than the rest
You think you've been blessed
But I know you

You know your ladder from your snake
You know the throttle from the brake
You know your straight line from a curve
You've got a lot of nerve
But I know you

[Chorus 2]

Everybody nosedive
Hold your breath, count to five
Back-slap, booby-trap,
Cover it up in bubble wrap
Room shake, earthquake
Find a way to stay awake
It's going to blow, it's going to break
This is more than I can take

Oh yeah, I need steam
Feel the steam all around me
Ah you're turning up the heat
When I start to dream aloud
See you move your hands and feet
Won't you step into this cloud of steam
This steam

[Chorus 1]

Help me yeah
Ready to steam out the log jam
Stir crazy from the freezer to the boil
Water's bubbling, it's b-b-b-bubbling
Bubbling [Repeat x 4]
Like it's coming to a boil
Give me steam, lady
Give me steam around me now
Ahh, coming alive [Repeat x 2]
Said give me some steam


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

Steam Lyrics as written by Peter Gabriel

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Steam song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    I think artist frequently use sexual references in songs. It all boils down to understanding life through sexual realtionships; doesn't it? I believe PG is speaking to/about cultural/social myths. Dog sniffing at ones feet may be the idea of people seeing something in someone, perhaps anti something. The song then goes on to indict societies about it's grasp of the material, solid, explainable way's we exist, then challenges us to use our imagination and see things outside the ordinary.

    rjwoodon April 15, 2007   Link

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