Gabriel, Peter - Darkness Lyrics






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





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Gabriel, Peter Darkness Comments
  1. T.... R....

    1:48 this is incredible

  2. H.... B....

    Tengo miedo a lo que no conozco
    Odio ser quebrantado
    Temo ser el diablo; temo ser divino
    No te metas conmigo, mi mecha es corta
    Por debajo de esta piel con estos
    fragmentos atrapados
    Cuando me permito ser, no hay control sobre mi
    Tengo mis miedos; pero ellos no me tienen a mí…
    IMPECABLE

  3. T.... S....

    The lyrics...
    "When I allow it to be
    There's no control over me
    I have my fears
    But they do not have me"
    Wow!!! I needed this... :o)

  4. G.... C....

    I'm here because of Tarja.

  5. F.... L....

    Can't believe this is already 17 years old!

  6. b.... ....

    peter gabriel really is one of the most talented musicians of all time. not only did he produce the greatest soundtrack ever with the passion, he also had a huge influence on the hard rock scene that ended up becoming 'post rock' as we know it now

  7. A.... A....

    1:48 is one of the most beautiful music I've ever heard

    A.... A....

    That's what I love about this song, the contrast of such abrasive sounds with absolutely gorgeous ones works so well in a way only Peter could do, one of my favorite Gabriel songs

  8. O.... X....

    Both the best and creepiest Peter Gabriel song. Love it, but I'm also terrified of it.

  9. L.... k....

    You should not have to wait for old age wisdom to get rid of your fears. Start young and never forget you are loved dearly.

  10. J.... S....

    This is so good!!!!

  11. D.... M....

    Incredible song. They say, Peter Gabriel wrote this song inspired by his manic depression. It sends shivers down my spine.
    Don't start to loud on your phone/hifi.

  12. O.... ....

    0:28 the sound isn't loud enough, maybe you'll need to turn up the volume

    O.... ....

    SHUT UP

  13. p.... g....

    That s the sound of my alarm clock. Best song ever and ever.

  14. S.... M....

    Horrible representation of the song. YUCK.

    S.... M....

    Scott McAra can't make everyone happy, Scott

  15. J.... P....

    wow...went and checked out the tarja cover because of all the comments...not sure what your talking about...tarja cover is no where close to being as good as the original and the new blood versions

  16. H.... ....

    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

  17. A.... S....

    Tarja's is better

    A.... S....

    and I usually hate covers

    A.... S....

    I totally agree.

  18. K.... C....

    This is what Radiohead could have been if they didn't saturate their stuff with electric guitar.

  19. A.... L....

    genial!!!!!

  20. �.... �....

    I like it from Tarja but Gabriel really SMASHED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  21. L.... o....

    Anyone here because of NintendoCaprisun?

    L.... o....

    @NintendoCapriSun Goshdangit Tim why are you so awesome! You're the best man.

    L.... o....

    @NintendoCapriSun woah what video was this?

  22. Y.... W....

    Literally just saw this live, bloody amazing

    Y.... W....

    I envy you.

  23. B.... a....

    yep ,...darkness,.....kadk!!!

  24. p.... ....

    "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"

    These lines pretty much sum me up from age 12-19, I knew I was a good person but I was capable of great harm! Now I have grown into myself I see things more like this from Genesis Cinema Show:

    "Once a man, like the sea I raged
    Once a woman, like the earth I gave
    But there is in fact more earth than sea"

  25. M.... ....

    Starhunter 2300

  26. B.... U....

    These views are criminally low.

  27. T.... H....

    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

  28. J.... ....

    This album is helping me get over depression. This song and "Signal to Noise" in particular. This song helps me to cope with the monster that is me. "Signal to Noise" helps me to understand the feelings I have.

    J.... ....

    Listen to Peter Gabriel " i grieve"

    J.... ....

    Oh you and me both, heartbreak, poverty, uncertainty lead me into depression and this, seeing him preform it live, the last time my mother could walk, helped on so many levels!

    J.... ....

    Signal to Noise has such power and such deep things inside of it. And you only have to receive. And transmit. I'm inlove.

  29. B.... ....

    one my favourite gabriel songs.

  30. G.... F....

    Wonderfully dark with a surprisingly uplifting finish. Great power. NIN must have listened to this stuff.

    G.... F....

    This is after nin 2002

    G.... F....

    thanks. gabriel has always been pretty dark

    G.... F....

    Not sure, His song washing of the water has a similar feel

    G.... F....

    NIИ ha russia power

  31. M.... ....

    Much too much time in between tours, and I'm nowhere near Europe.  However, this was a powerhouse moment live. 

  32. M.... G....

    Incredible song. But weird video, even if the pictures are nice... It's not exactly the idea I have about Peter Gabriel's universe.

    M.... G....

    @Manon Gustave There should be a space montage! I always imagine outer space when I listen to Peter Gabriel's songs.

  33. M.... M....

    For me, this is the best Peter Gabriel song.

    M.... M....

    This has the best message signal to noise has the best sound, feeling, and rhythm of it.

  34. S.... 5....

    "consequence" ahh how ironic!!

  35. 6.... ....

    Great images for a wondeful song!

  36. d.... ....

     I remember getting so excited in anticipation of the album "Up" where this track came from. Having going through a phase of listening to his third solo album with the melting face cover, and feeling the chills from "Intruder" and "Lead a Normal Life", and how he evolved into "Don't Give Up" and "Digging In The Dirt" in the years afterward, I was totally unprepared for the adventure that would come along. When the electronic noodling effects introduced the song, I felt it might be a bit trance but WHOA was I wrong. "Intruder" seemed scary for a while but this song with the Nine Inch Nails-style screaming voice effect and angry electronic discord, the 'melt' LP all of a sudden felt like a sunny picnic soundtrack by comparison. When this song suddenly turned into a softer melodic style for a few seconds, I felt something truly scary in a way that "Intruder" never comes close to doing. And then it morphs back into the violent rage before becoming a beautiful blend of suspense, beauty and fear during the quieter stretches of the song, I can't but wonder what kind of genius was going on with Gabriel and his crew when they made this song. I remember the chills of "Intruder" with the creaking wire sound effects and discordant melodies but it was nothing compared to the terror that came out of the speakers on my stereo system. I sometimes wonder if "Darkness" is about somebody who committed a horrible crime but feels incredible remorse but still must face the effects of what he/she did.

     Not to diminish Intruder's power even now but I couldn't help but mention how scary "Intruder" was to my ears, but how "Darkness" just completely and felt something truly powerful beyond words. I could even describe this song as having kind of a 'split-personality' such as the angry loud electronic rage being the more evil half of oneself, and the more melodic half being one's better self. Both are equally part of one but neither can leave him/her.

     Fabulous classic. I never thought I'd see the day but this song is now close to joining "Red Rain", "Intruder", and "Shock The Monkey", among his more iconic tracks in my book and one I'll forever remember him by. Such a marvelous song and a work of a sheer genius. :D

    d.... ....

    Should see the live version he's been doing lately on the Back to Front tour. He's got a camera on his microphone so there's an extreme close-up of his face, and there's all trippy effects and shit. Really effective with the song. Definitely heighten the experience live. 

  37. t.... ....

    Masterpiece.

  38. f.... b....

    i like your artwork

  39. R.... S....

    Comparing this to Tarja's version is like comparing Trent and Cash's version of "Hurt".  They have so many differences to them, which speaks a lot of both artist's ability to intepret the music and lyrics. I like both versions, but for different reasons, so I can't say one is better than the other, I just listen to one based on my mood.

  40. l.... ....

    To see more of Sarah Bloom's Beautiful Photography visit http://www.sadandbeautiful.com/

  41. P.... Q....

    Fantastic photography; our decaying civilization.

  42. H.... e....

    Tarja transformou esta música na versão dela. A superioridade do cover é inegável. Porém esta música é uma obra de arte na versão original.

  43. N.... C....

    Gorgeous!!!

  44. M.... ....

    Wow!  Beautifully done!!

  45. a.... ....

    A version of this song was used during the closing credits for the second season of Star Hunter. 

  46. x.... ....

    It's about my psychotherapy.

  47. C.... C....

    If you like this song, listen to Tarja's cover on it. IT'S AMAZING! GUARANTEED YOU WILL LOVE IT. SHE'S A GODDESS *-*

    C.... C....

    I'm listening this because of PETER GABRIEL

    C.... C....

    Of course, nothing will be better than the original haha. Tarja still did a pretty good job. :3

    C.... C....

    Yeah. I hate covers but Tarja's Darkness is a very good song :)

    C.... C....

    Nope. Didn't love it :-) What now? If you compare both songs, Gabriels original has something, Tarjas cover hasn't - the shift between the manic/aggressive part and the depressive/soft phases is much more pronounced and thus the song is much more touching - in my opinion.

    C.... C....

    thanks for the suggestion my friend, but with due respect, covers are for faggots.

  48. C.... F....

    I just had to listen to the original, after hearing Tarja Turunen's version. And it's a good song, in either case.

  49. K.... L....

    This song is so creepy, haunting, weird and yet so beautiful at the same time. It's perfect for a contemporary dance routine. Would love to see that, might need to work on that...

  50. R.... P....

    Fantastic song...

  51. l.... ....

    Sarah is an amazing artist and her work just keeps getting better.

  52. W.... E....

    This is magical. It follows the painful, sometimes debilitating process of transforming shadow into light. As the artistic wonder of perfect images and arrangement mirrors the process, the lyrics sing you into a beautiful flow. The set at about 6:15 shakes you out of the flow and your conscious mind is forced to focus on the darkness again... you have to see it to transform it. AMAZING.

  53. d.... ....

    Logansaan is a renaissance artist taking the best of the visual and musical worlds and synthesizes a new art form, one that fulfills the true potential of the "Music Video".