Peter Gabriel wrote “Wallflower” about the atrocity of human rights violations, with inspiration drawn from stories about Polish Solidarity trade union leader Lech Wałęsa’s arrests, Amnesty International’s work freeing political prisoners, and torture in Chile.
The instrumental “Under Lock And Key”...
[Verse 1]
6 by 6 from wall to wall
Shutters on the windows, no light at all
Damp on the floor, you got damp in the bed
They're trying to get you crazy, get you out of your head
And they feed you scraps and they feed you lies
To lower your defences, no compromise
Nothing you can do, the day can be long
Your mind is working overtime, your body's not too strong
[Pre-Chorus]
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
[Chorus]
They put you in a box so you can't get heard
Let your spirit stay unbroken, may you not be deterred
Hold on, you have gambled with your own life
And you face the night alone
While the builders of the cages
Sleep with bullets, bars and stone
They do not see your road to freedom
That you build with flesh and bone
[Verse 2]
They take you out and the light burns your eyes
To the talking room, it's no surprise
Loaded questions from clean white coats
Their eyes are all as hidden as their Hippocratic Oath
They tell you how to behave, behave as their guest
You want to resist them, you do your best
They take you to your limits, they take you beyond
For all that they are doing there's no way to respond
[Pre-Chorus]
Hold on, hold on
[Chorus]
They put you in a box so you can't get heard
Let your spirit stay unbroken, may you not be deterred
Hold on, you have gambled with your own life
And you face the night alone
While the builders of the cages
Sleep with bullets, bars and stone
They do not see your road to freedom
That you build with flesh and bone
(Flesh and bone)
[Outro]
Though you may disappear, you're not forgotten here
And I will say to you, I will do what I can do
You may disappear, you're not forgotten here
And I will say to you, I will do what I can do
And I will do what I can do
And I will do what I can do
Wallflower was written by Peter Gabriel.
Wallflower was produced by David Lord & Peter Gabriel.
Peter Gabriel released Wallflower on Mon Sep 06 1982.
In 2011, Peter Gabriel posted the following on his website:
There can be few things more terrifying than to be dragged out of your home in the early hours of the morning and then not to be able to communicate with anyone you know or with a lawyer – to be tortured. All this can be done when people d...