The Book Of Love

Album: Scratch My Back (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This perceptive dissection of love's simplicities is the first single from English musician Peter Gabriel's eighth studio and fourteenth album overall, Scratch My Back. The record consists of Gabriel covering twelve songs by various artists, using orchestra and voice rather than normal rock instruments. Gabriel's plan was for another album, I'll Scratch Yours, to be released at a later date, on which the twelve artists that the former Genesis frontman covered in turn perform one of his tracks.
  • This song is Gabriel's cover of a Magnetic Fields song from their 1999 three-volume concept album, 69 Love Songs. The Magnetic Fields is the principal creative outlet of singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt and "The Book of Love" is backed by Merritt's cover of Gabriel's "Not One Of Us." The single was released digitally on January 30, 2010, the day of January 2010's full moon.
  • Gabriel originally recorded this song for the soundtrack of the 2004 movie Shall We Dance.
  • Gabriel told "The Quietus about this string-laden cover: "I was introduced through a friend to the Magnetic Fields, and really fell in love with the song writing and the quirky way the band interpreted their material. This wonderful lyric is deeply romantic and a little cynical at the same time, which opens it to an audience that wouldn't buy slush. This was the track that stood out to me on 69 Love Songs and we were working on the strings for my track 'Signal to Noise' at the time. I thought it would be great to hear this performed on strings and just managed to get it arranged in time and recorded during the 'Signal to Noise' session. Claudia from the Magnetic Fields tells me that they're getting a lot of requests now for this particular version for wedding ceremonies, and it was used on the last episode of the Scrubs TV series, and seems to have generated its own cult following as a result."
  • The song also features the vocals of Gabriel's daughter Melanie. It was she who persuaded her father to cover the Bon Iver track "Flume" on Scratch My Back.

Comments: 8

  • Mary Brockman from AnonI like to imagine this is God speaking through Jesus, on the Mount. Giving " Wedding Rings"...advise on healing to the The Children of the Beatitudes...don't know what he artist had in mind...
  • Chris BergmanMy son and his husband used this beautiful song for their first wedding dance this past weekend. It was a perfect choice and the dance brought tears to my eyes.
  • Teresa from Cleveland, OhioJust heard this song and I fell in love with it. I have been a fan of Peter for 35 years and this may be my new favorite.
  • Stan from Illinois The first time I heard it on Shall.we Dance it gripped me so that I was brought to tears. Even now as the opening melody goes through my head my eyes start to water. Such a beautiful song that was played in my wedding.
  • Ellie from London, United KingdomI first hear this song when I was 11 or 12 from the film "Shall We Dance?" and I've been in love with this song ever since, especially Peter Gabriel's version. This song just sends me into my inner thoughts where I think about love and the people in my life and when I reach my happy thoughts while listening to this song I tear up every time
  • Maicod from NetherlandsI didn't know this was not an original song of Gavin James but by Peter Gabriel. I came here because I was curious if the song title and lyrics could also be read as describing the Bible.
  • John from Aberdeen, United KingdomFeatured on last episode of fab US TV series Scrubs
  • Adam from Lehman, Pabest love song ever, love peter gabriel on this song
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.