The final track on Peter Gabriel’s self-titled solo debut, “Here Comes the Flood” is inspired by a dream where Gabriel envisioned “psychic barriers which normally prevent us from seeing into each others’ thoughts” being broken, producing an inundating flood of mental information.
The Mozo mythology...
[Verse 1]
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 Easter tide
There's no point in direction, we cannot even choose a side
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
Lord, here comes the flood
We'll 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
[Verse 3]
When the flood calls you have no home, you have no walls
In the thunder crash you're a thousand minds, within a flash
Don't be afraid to cry at what you see
The actors gone, there's only you and me
And if we break before the dawn, they'll use up what we used to be
[Chorus]
Lord, here comes the flood
We'll 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
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
Lord, here comes the flood
We'll 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
[Outro]
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry
Here Comes the Flood was written by Peter Gabriel.
Here Comes the Flood was produced by Bob Ezrin.
Peter Gabriel released Here Comes the Flood on Fri Feb 25 1977.