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Darkness Lyrics

Artist: Peter Gabriel
Album: Up

i'm scared of swimming in the sea
dark shapes moving under me
every fear i swallow makes me small
inconsequential things occur
alarms are triggered
memories stir
it's not the way it has to be

i'm afraid of what i do not know
i hate being undermined
i'm afraid i can be devil man
and i'm scared to be divine
don't mess with me my fuse is short
beneath this skin these fragments caught

when i allow it to be
there's no control over me
i have my fears
but they do not have me

walking through the undergrowth, to the house in the woods
the deeper i go, the darker it gets
i peer through the window
knock at the door
and the monster i was
so afraid of
lies curled up on the floor
is curled up on the floor just like a baby boy

i cry until i laugh

i'm afraid of being mothered
with my balls shut in the pen
i'm afraid of loving women
and i'm scared of loving men
flashbacks coming in every night
don't tell me everything's alright

when i allow it to be
it has no control over me
i own my fear
so it doesn't own me

walking through the undergrowth, to the house in the woods
the deeper i go, the darker it gets
i peer through the window
knock at the door
and the monster i was
so afraid of
lies curled up on the floor
is curled up on the floor just like a baby boy

i cry until i laugh

Comments/Interpretations

by Dawn on 1/24/2011 1:27pm
I love this song!! It's the second song by Peter Gabriel I listened to, and I adore the power behind it. Especially the line "I cry until I laugh" - wow.

by Ave Maria on 6/11/2011 2:23pm
Who could hurt another so that they write a song as this?

by Don on 7/10/2011 1:46pm
This song appears to be about fighting fear and anxiety, fears that appear real in his mind. However, these fears may be not be as great or real as they may appear.

by Fliksie Ferris on 5/7/2012 9:39pm
I believe this is a song about someone haunted by their fears.
It begins with them talking about what they're afraid of, and how memories contribute to these phobias. People try to help this person, as this person's fears become worse. The fears begin to make the person angry, only adding to the paranoia. Finally, this person decides to go and face their fears. They realize there is nothing to be afraid of.
Then, suddenly, something goes wrong.
This person becomes even more paranoid, fearing the people that told the person to face their fears. The person's memories haunt him even more than before, and the person doesn't want to be comforted by the people they no longer trust.
This person finally decides to confront their fears once more.
As the song fades out, you can hear echoes of the fears, but eventually they fade away entirely.

by E on 3/1/2013 8:35pm
I think it's also a song about finally facing yourself...your inner most fears and once faced, you realize they aren't so bad and hopefully you can move on.