Solsbury Hill Lyrics
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
[Verse 2: Andy Bell]
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
I had to listen had no choice
[Pre-Chorus 1: Andy Bell]
I did not believe the information
Just had to trust imagination
My heart was going boom boom boom
[Chorus 1: Andy Bell]
"Son," he said, "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."
[Verse 3: Andy Bell]
To keeping silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
Though my life was in a rut
'Till I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut
[Pre-Chorus 2: Andy Bell]
I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart was going boom boom boom
[Chorus 2: Andy Bell]
"Hey," he said, "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."
[Interlude]
[Verse 5: Andy Bell]
When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
[Verse 6: Andy Bell]
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes, but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart was going boom boom boom
[Chorus 3: Andy Bell]
"Hey," I said, "You can keep my things, they've come to take me home."
[Outro: Ann-Marie Gilkes & Emma Whittle]
"Son," he said
Whoaa
Whooa
"Son," he said
"Son," he said
Whooa
Ooh
"Son,"
Ooh, yeah
"Son," he said
About
Solsbury Hill was recorded by British synthpop duo Erasure in 2003 for their cover versions album Other People’s Songs and released as a single (single and album feature THE SAME VERSION of the song) in the United Kingdom on 6 January 2003 and in the US on 14 January 2003. This Erasure single became a hit, reaching No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 7 in Denmark, No. 29 in Germany, No. 39 in Sweden and No. 41 in the Republic of Ireland. The track was chosen for the album by Erasure member Vince Clarke.
Clarke and singer Andy Bell turned the song into a mid-tempo electronic dance tune, displaying the signature Erasure sound. The band changed the structure of the song from the original 7/4 time signature to 4/4—except for the chorus, which slips back into 7/4 time for one line. This also results in the vocals in the verses effectively being shifted forward in comparison to Gabriel’s (which start on beat 5 of each bar) to start on beat 1 of bars 1 and 3.
Q&A
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