well I'm not a close personal friend of Peter Gabriel or anything so I have no way of knowing if my interpretation is correct, but this is my impression.
For me, the tone of the communication is somewhat aggressive, misogynistic, and uncomfortable to listen to. It has the tone of a thwarted Love Affair, which has separated on difficult terms, residual rancour and resentment. And it's a statement of intimate sexual knowledge of another person who is now sexually distanced themselves from Peter Gabriel.
Within the context of relationships, unfortunately it is often the case where the consciously or unconsciously that men do feel as though they have proprietary rights over the bodies of women including their intimate parts. So it's not unreasonable to think that his communication might also be infected with this ideology which is far from over.
I detect an undercurrent of rage, hostility directed anger, and an urge to display sexual dominance over another person in their absence.
It would be very nice if people who were gifted Musicians also automatically, were self-aware when it came to their destructive tendencies or unconscious, misogynistic ideas, but it's just not that simple. It's possible to be very talented in one area and deeply unconscious in another. Particularly when it comes to difficult resentment filled separations.
It's clear to me listening to this song but there is still a lot of very bitter feelings going on afterwards. I wonder why. Was it because something went wrong between them or was it because of the financial implications. Who knows could be a combination of both
but there's something really awkward about listening to this display of his need to be seen to be in full knowledge of her sexual intimacy in such a public way. It's always the case that will people need to assert themselves in this clearly dominant way, often reveals a deeply inadequate part of their psychology that needs to be propped up by this demonstration of dominance.
I just don't see how somebody who is completely comfortable with themselves and has managed to bury the hatchet would need to sing the song in that way. I found it somewhere cringe to watch. It was as if he was waving his dirty laundry in public and declaring his rather infantile need to show sexual dominance over another woman.
It's sad but people rarely process these difficult break ups very well. And it was just a bit embarrassing. It was like watching somebody who you think should be saying this in a couples counselling room not on stage in front of all these people.
There's a lot of rage there. I don't think he would be so stupid so us to act out that rage in ways that would be harassing or aggressive towards his ex-wife, but the sentiment shines through this song and it is difficult to watch.
@sera1234 Very astute observation. I wouldn't presume to know whom he was singing about but in the 93 live show he does a immature fingering gesture at "I know you" which makes me think you're right
@sera1234 Very astute observation. I wouldn't presume to know whom he was singing about but in the 93 live show he does a immature fingering gesture at "I know you" which makes me think you're right
@sera1234 that's it comes accross to me as well I was never keen on the song or video, feels like he was nagged into doing another Sledgehammer to get the album selling only this time it's even more crass. Digging in the dirt explores similar territory only for me a much more interesting song.
@sera1234 that's it comes accross to me as well I was never keen on the song or video, feels like he was nagged into doing another Sledgehammer to get the album selling only this time it's even more crass. Digging in the dirt explores similar territory only for me a much more interesting song.
well I'm not a close personal friend of Peter Gabriel or anything so I have no way of knowing if my interpretation is correct, but this is my impression. For me, the tone of the communication is somewhat aggressive, misogynistic, and uncomfortable to listen to. It has the tone of a thwarted Love Affair, which has separated on difficult terms, residual rancour and resentment. And it's a statement of intimate sexual knowledge of another person who is now sexually distanced themselves from Peter Gabriel.
Within the context of relationships, unfortunately it is often the case where the consciously or unconsciously that men do feel as though they have proprietary rights over the bodies of women including their intimate parts. So it's not unreasonable to think that his communication might also be infected with this ideology which is far from over.
I detect an undercurrent of rage, hostility directed anger, and an urge to display sexual dominance over another person in their absence.
It would be very nice if people who were gifted Musicians also automatically, were self-aware when it came to their destructive tendencies or unconscious, misogynistic ideas, but it's just not that simple. It's possible to be very talented in one area and deeply unconscious in another. Particularly when it comes to difficult resentment filled separations.
It's clear to me listening to this song but there is still a lot of very bitter feelings going on afterwards. I wonder why. Was it because something went wrong between them or was it because of the financial implications. Who knows could be a combination of both
but there's something really awkward about listening to this display of his need to be seen to be in full knowledge of her sexual intimacy in such a public way. It's always the case that will people need to assert themselves in this clearly dominant way, often reveals a deeply inadequate part of their psychology that needs to be propped up by this demonstration of dominance.
I just don't see how somebody who is completely comfortable with themselves and has managed to bury the hatchet would need to sing the song in that way. I found it somewhere cringe to watch. It was as if he was waving his dirty laundry in public and declaring his rather infantile need to show sexual dominance over another woman.
It's sad but people rarely process these difficult break ups very well. And it was just a bit embarrassing. It was like watching somebody who you think should be saying this in a couples counselling room not on stage in front of all these people.
There's a lot of rage there. I don't think he would be so stupid so us to act out that rage in ways that would be harassing or aggressive towards his ex-wife, but the sentiment shines through this song and it is difficult to watch.
@sera1234 Very astute observation. I wouldn't presume to know whom he was singing about but in the 93 live show he does a immature fingering gesture at "I know you" which makes me think you're right
@sera1234 Very astute observation. I wouldn't presume to know whom he was singing about but in the 93 live show he does a immature fingering gesture at "I know you" which makes me think you're right
@sera1234 that's it comes accross to me as well I was never keen on the song or video, feels like he was nagged into doing another Sledgehammer to get the album selling only this time it's even more crass. Digging in the dirt explores similar territory only for me a much more interesting song.
@sera1234 that's it comes accross to me as well I was never keen on the song or video, feels like he was nagged into doing another Sledgehammer to get the album selling only this time it's even more crass. Digging in the dirt explores similar territory only for me a much more interesting song.