In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Moving down the fuselage
Toward the open door
Catch you looking down outside
To see what lies ahead
One by one
You watch them fall
Fall through cloud
One by one
You watch them fall
No idea where they're going
But down
Where they've gone
Where they've gone
Watching as the sun goes down
I sit inside this plane
Notice how the city lights
Are like the nerves inside a brain
One by one
They're going out
You watch them dim
One by one
You watch them fall
And wonder where they're falling to
Toward the open door
Catch you looking down outside
To see what lies ahead
One by one
You watch them fall
Fall through cloud
One by one
You watch them fall
No idea where they're going
But down
Where they've gone
Where they've gone
Watching as the sun goes down
I sit inside this plane
Notice how the city lights
Are like the nerves inside a brain
One by one
They're going out
You watch them dim
One by one
You watch them fall
And wonder where they're falling to
Lyrics submitted by mike_patton
The Drop Lyrics as written by Peter Gabriel
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song is about death and wondering about the afterlife; where people go, where the brain cells that make up a person go... I'm not sure why he chose this airplane setting but i think it makes sense that everything that rises falls and everything that is born dies.
PG said in one of his online video diaries that The Drop is about the last great mystery: death. The symbol he uses is waiting to parachute out of a plane, knowing it will be his turn soon, and watching the people who have gone ahead of him vanishing through a layer of cloud. He wonders where they've gone - Are they safe? Are they still falling? Have they landed somewhere? Or are they just gone?
This is an allegory for our own deaths and the deaths of those we know. We see those who die before us - they have vanished from sight, and maybe we have faith in an afterlife, maybe there is a safe landing place after the fall, an afterlife of some kind. We know that one day we will die too, and wonder what it will be like to pass through that final veil. Will we see our friends again, or will be just fall into nothing?
To me, this is a song about a huge decision he needs to make. Metaphorically, he is in a position to take the leap but is uncertain about the decision. The song, which is at the end of UP, lets the question remain open - i.e. it doesn't sound like he made the leap. (he's watching the city lights dim)
you should ALL go out and get his video collection on dvd...the video for this is awesome...done by a fan i believe..
I've read somewhere that part of the lyrics came from watching people jumping from WTC. That must be one of the most horrifying images of the 21st century.
This is a very bleak and frightening lyric, and the way it closes out Up, the darkest and scariest record PG ever put out, is absolutely brilliant.
I've read somewhere that part of the lyrics came from watching people jumping from WTC. That must be one of the most horrifying images of the 21st century.
This is a very bleak and frightening lyric, and the way it closes out Up, the darkest and scariest record PG ever put out, is absolutely brilliant.
I agree that this is definitely Peter coming to terms with his aging and getting older. He is obviously looking forward into the clouds wondering where you go after. I love that rather than the usual image of ascending into the clouds, that he is actually up above them watching it all drop. There is also a reference to sperm here too. Thousands of sperm leaving the fuselage not knowing where they are going or what will happen, thousands of deaths leading to life. And then the image of the city lights going out one by one. Beautiful song and deep personal lyrics. He is a deep writer and performer. I am sure there is no coincidence that his daughter sings this with him.
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I'm convinced this is about the 11th of September.
Erm, I don't think by "plane" he meant an aireplane. Plane could be used as a place or area.
No it's definitely an airplane. A fuselage is the place of a plane that holds passengers/cargo.