Shannon’s Perspective:
“Stranded starfish have no place to hide.”
While yes, I have always found this song beautiful it has been one that just flows by me but not anymore. Next time we hear it I will take Larry up on his offer to discuss in person.
Some housekeeping - I am strictly referring to the 1990 release of this song from the Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats album, not the 1977 version.
And I cannot quite explain why this song affects me so much emotionally. This song is much better discussed one on one with me. I've honestly struggled to put thoughts down on this one, which happens very rarely.
There are a few things that stand out for me - the first is more educational than anything else; the first two lines:
"When the night shows - The signals grow on radios"
This is just stating a scientific fact. But the visual it creates for me is extremely powerful. I just imagine being somewhere quiet and isolated, watching day turn to dusk listening to a radio and that signal becoming stronger and clearer. To me, this part of the song pairs perfectly with The Spirit of Radio. My parents weren't big record / eight track fans, so my very first memories of music involve hearing things over AM Radio - because to be honest, in the early 70's, I'm not even sure how prevalent FM radio was in Columbus, Ohio. I guess my other source of music was church hymns. Regardless, there was no way my parents would listen to that FM devil music. Oh if they only knew what the 80's was about to bring.
Nerd Info: How Stuff Works
Peter Gabriel's voice is so powerful in this song, almost calming. Which is the complete opposite of some of the subject matter, which some may consider defeatist.
"There's no point in direction - We cannot even choose a side"
Although written in 1976, this unfortunately feels right at home in 2024. Should I take baby-aspirin now that I'm 50+? Should I eat eggs? I mean come on egg council people - pick a side and stick to it. Insert any current political firestorm here. I have a strong moral compass, so I can choose a direction. I know what my beliefs and convictions are, so I can choose a side. But everyone is so fucking confrontational that taking the "fuck it - I give up" attitude is very, very tempting just to get people to shut up and leave you alone. I am not built that way. I lean into confrontation when it comes to defending my beliefs and support others defending theirs. Because I know I will walk away from that encounter with another perspective to think about - as will the other individual, hopefully.
"They were getting older, sons and daughters"
Sure it sucks getting old and you do start "looking for a flicker in the face of the clock". At my age you can basically only look back in time and when you correlate your childrens current age to what you were like at that same age, well, Here Comes the Flood. I'm how old? They're how old? Where did the time go?
"We will say goodbye to flesh and blood - If again the seas are silent - In any still alive - It'll be those who gave their island to survive"
I struggle with this one a bit as I can't quite land on who is surviving. Here's my take, so assume we are all individually an island unto ourselves. There are those people who give everything they have to help others. They are always there for everyone, they always go above and beyond and they visibly take themselves beyond their own limits. They are constantly giving their own island - the needs of the many versus the needs of the one, if you will. I think back to my note for Bent - who helps the helpers? So if you are a taker and not a giver, give a giver some props - they are exhausted but would never admit it. And they are giving their island so you can survive.
"When the flood calls - You have no home, you have no walls - In that thunder crash - You're a thousand minds, within a flash"
Yet another "bolt from the blue" memory type reference. When those Secret Wells of Emotion overflow and start the flood, you truly are 100% defenseless. Within a flash you are no longer in the present - you are a thousand miles away in a different moment. And the next line is perfect:
"Don't be afraid to cry at what you see - The actor's gone, there's only you and me"
Let it out - we all need to do that sometimes. Something I quote from Fight Club quite often: "It's ok Corneilus, you can cry". And sure, back in the day when I was trying to woo Shannon I tried to strut the stuff I didn't have. But very quickly I moved on to who I really was - not the actor. Shannon tried to do the same - but she will confirm I very bluntly told her at our very beginning not to be who she thought I wanted her to be - but to be true to herself and who she truly was - in essence Don't Change. So once we stopped being actors, there really was only you and me.
"Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry"
Not many follow their dreams. But it's never too late to start.
As with every single thing I've written already or will ever write - this is all my own interpretation. Again - we should chat about this song.
P.S. God forgive me for telling Shannon to be who she truly is; little did I know what I was asking for. It's been a long 30 years...
Here Comes The Flood
Peter Gabriel
When the night shows
The signals grow on radios
All the strange things
They come and go, as early warnings
Stranded starfish have no place to hide
Still waiting for the swollen Eastern tide
There's no point in direction
We cannot even choose a side
I took the old track
The hollow shoulder, across the waters
On the tall cliffs
They were getting older, sons and daughters
The jaded underworld was riding high
Waves of steel hurled metal at the sky
And as the nail sunk in the cloud
The rain was warm and soaked the crowd
Lord, here comes the flood
We will say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
In any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry
When the flood calls
You have no home, you have no walls
In that thunder crash
You're a thousand minds, within a flash
Don't be afraid to cry at what you see
The actor's gone, there's only you and me
And if we break before the dawn
They'll use up what we used to be
Lord, here comes the flood
We will say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
In any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry...
Ghost of a Chance 