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Spot on Duddy You are (of course) right: it was the personal change I had in mind. I listened to the songs and the lyrics did not leave me, until I noticed, what fascinated me Now here is my interpretation for anyone who is interested "Washing" tells about the (unconscious) need or wish of purification through the water and going back to paradise (back into the womb, where there is no need to decide between wrong or right, bad or good, mine and yours etcetera). Of course there is no chance to go back into innocence, so "More Than this" tells about the (conscious) wish to go into the unknown, going forth, even if it's dark, into the dawn. And it really dawns: there isn't just me, but something/someone else who/which I am in contact with. "The drop" tells about a relaxed state, where the "I" is able to let things happen, the water (symbol of emotions) is falling while "I" am above the scenery. There is a certain self reliance. I am HERE, above all things happening, above these feelings finding their way, but I am not IN these feelings. The "I" can separate between feelings and thoughts (of the brain). The "self" is shining through, able to distinguish between "me" and "I" Now, that is a very personal interpretation, but that's so thrilling with PG's lyrics, isn't it? One understands them different in different times and circumstances, and as you need :-] I am shattered now, after these gushing thoughts :-]

Very interesting Ellee and isn't the interpretation what makes music so personal to each of us, with our different experiences and understanding? Yes I agree thrilling is the right word when the lyrics and music just chime so brilliantly together. Each of these songs has for me a strong sense of physical location. I think because they all invoke some sense of trance or thought and they all link physical sensations to mental ones. PG is a master of expressing the reflective state I think - amongst other things. I know what you mean about 'the Drop' - it makes me think of these so called out of body experiencess. As if you can see everything but you're detached from the action somehow. A very dreamy affectionate onlooker view maybe. You got me listening to 'Washing of the Water' again. . . Washing of the Water - New Blood. Love PG's voice here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd2kix-qor0 Washing of the Water around 2000-2002 when PG had been on Jools Holland show. I seem to recall this is Mr Holland on piano. There is a kind of elegaic quality to this, not so painful perhaps. The river seems more like part of a journey here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtIcpfY8X74 Both have a different feel from the verisons on 'Us' and 'Secret World'. Hope you've picked up the pieces? :-]

Yes, I've picked up the pieces again – and thanks for this idiom, Duddy. PG's lyrics and this forum are really good places for making my English better, as you said, Elliotte I am very impressed by these different versions of Washing of the Waters. Isn't it fascinating how different the moods are? From elegiac to deeply sad.

Ellee, very cool & interesting comments on these songs. i've been struggling a bit with The Drop, but put in line with these other two makes sense. i do love to consider how PG's lyrics can be interpreted in different ways, at different times, by different people. seems even PG re-interprets them for himself, yes? Duddy, thank you so much for these versions! Washing of the Water is one my favorite-favorites! PG's voice in this song, any version, is so emotional and beautiful - well i guess it is in most (all) he sings - oh, you know what i mean! he is the most amazing writer, singer, person. :-]

okay Duddy and Ellee, i have a question for you (and anyone else that wants to play). since i haven't been able to come up with any other entry for this game, i ask you about some particular Gabrielese - a gutteral almost fighting kind of sound - in both "Solsbury Hill" PG1 version (after regular lyrics) and "I Don't Remember" also original version. i wonder if you've heard this in other songs?

Hello Eliot, a very interesting topic. There's lots of non-verbal sounds from PG. I think the 2 you mention seem to express relief or even some kind of fear and panic. I was also thinking of tracks like Lead a Normal Life and Home Sweet Home where he is almost screaming - about fear and pain I think. Or at the beginning of Not one of Us where there is a kind of huh-huh-huh-huh-like a chant. Also the No Self Control live version with that repeated ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah at the start. I guess PG has always played with the sounds of his voice as well as trying to sing an actual note. Do you recall the Southbank programme about PG4 where he was talking about how he was trying to 'enlarge' what he did with his voice, ie NOT via technique but via emotion -creating moods and atmospheres through emotion. He talks about liking the guttural sounds made in other cultures' music, which often seem to let out anger or such like. We tend to associate inarticulate sounds with emotions and possibly something not as controlled or predictable as speech. Lots of instances in Genesis of him suddenly yelling out or screeching but usually live not on record. He doesn't do it so much now but he is using his voice in a much more exposed way anyway. There's a touch of it in 'My Head feels like that'. I think it often creates eerie and unfamiliar sounds as well as expressing emotional states. I can understand why people like to mess about with sampling and re-mixes - I'd like to pick out all PG's non-verbal stuff! :-] I hope you aren't really fading - unless you are going to morph to another name!

wow, Duddy. that's some great info. i agree that PG does some fascinating things with his voice to convey emotion. i admire the way he makes "ugly" sounds to convey an ugliness of spirit or situation. i've also been considering the songs that have "burn" in them. i know there's quite a few. - Burn You Up, Burn You Down (obviously) - "while the cradle's burning" Signal to Noise off the top of my head. there's more i know. i suppose my "fading" is somehow representative of my lack of activity here on the Moon, so i removed a few letters to show it. perhaps i'll be a bit more substantial after the evening of 13 Jun when i'll be front & center at red rocks. :-]

I do go on a bit don't I? I just like to admire PG's work. I know other Lunatics know it just as well as I do! 'Burnt brown toast'! My Head feels like that. 'Something's Burning' Shock the Monkey 'Burning with the Kiss of Life' Kiss of Life (never) 'the sun is burning. . .'I go swimming 'Burning out in sudden flashes. . .'Family & Fishing Net 'they take you out the light burns your eyes' Wallflower 'And the grand facade so soon will brun' In your eyes Hopefully there'll be a lot of Eliot after the gig!:-]

Oh typo at the end of course! 'burn' not 'brun'.

okay, another question. what songs do not mention the title in the song? i think we'd have to include all Passion songs from the get-go. "The Tower That Ate People"

I can only think of The Drop on the non-film albums.

yes, The Drop is a good one! and how about Darkness? the word "dark" is used, but not "darkness" . waddaya think? are there any on the Ovo album? Steam? no. Red Rain? no. hmmm. Sledgehammer? nope. :-]

Can't think of anymore Riversong. I'll get my PG thinking cap on and see if I can't think of something new maybe:-]