Wallflower

Album: Security (1982)
Play Video
  • Six by six, from wall to wall
    Shutters on the windows, no light at all
    Damp on the floor you got damp in the bed
    They're trying to get you crazy get you out of your head
    They feed you scraps and they feed you lies
    To lower your defenses, no compromise
    There's nothing you can do, the day can be long
    You mind is working overtime, your body's not too strong

    Hold on, hold on, hold on,
    Hold on, hold on, hold on

    They put you in a box so you can't get heard
    Let your spirit stay unbroken, may you not be deterred
    Hold on, you have gambled with your own life
    You faced the night alone
    While the builders of the cages
    Sleep with bullets, bars and stone
    They do not see the road to freedom
    That you build with flesh and bone

    They take you out the light burns your eyes
    To the talking room it's not surprise
    Loaded questions from clean white coats
    Their eyes are all as hidden as their Hippocratic Oath
    They tell you how to behave, behave as their guest
    You want to resist them, you do your best
    They take you to your limits, they take you beyond
    For all that they are doing there's no way to respond

    Hold on, hold on
    They put you in a box so you can't get heard
    Let your spirit stay unbroken, may you not be deterred
    Hold on, you have gambled with your own life
    You face the night alone
    While the builders of the cages
    Sleep with bullets, bars and stone
    They do not see the road to freedom
    That you build with flesh and bone

    Though you may disappear, you're not forgotten here
    And I will say to you, I will do what I can do

    You may disappear, you're not forgotten here
    And I will say you you, I will do what I can do
    And I will do what I can do
    I will do what I can do Writer/s: PETER GABRIEL
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Jim from Pleasant Hill, CaThis explanation is minimal and the song title seems incongruous for a song about political prisoners. I always thought this echoed Gabriel's "Lead a Normal Life" - presumably about the plight of people in mental institutions.
  • Hernan from Buenos Aires, ArgentinaI always thought that Wallflower was born as one of the songs of the soundtrack of Birdy, the 1984's Alan Parker movie.
  • Miles from Vancouver, CanadaBy far one of his best and most wonderful songs both musically and lyrically.
  • Agustin from Santiago, ChilePeter Gabriel sang Wallflower as lead singer in october 1990's Amnesty International's concert "Desde Chile, Un Abrazo a la Esperanza", at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile, with chilean folk music band Inti Illimani as support band. Introducing that number, in front of 75000 people, Gabriel told to the audience that he had composed that song after knowing about torture in Chile. They (Gabriel + Inti Illimani) also played then "El Arado", a song composed by chilean musician Victor Jara (tortured and assassinated in 1973), with Gabriel as lead singer, in spanish.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.