I’ve got no memory of anything at all…

Someone asked what I think the song “I don’t remember” by Peter Gabriel means, so I took some time to really think the song over, to see what it may mean.

Certain messages and other archetypes appeared on the screen, which are clues for the discerning in the audience. Peter Gabriel is a very spiritually grounded artist, so most of his music can be seen through a spiritual lens. The main thrust of the song seems to be centered around breaking free from memories and living in the present moment.

“I’ve got no means to show identification
I’ve got no papers showing you what I am
You’ll have to take me just the way that you found me
What’s done is done and I do not give a damn”

At the beginning he starts by singing about how, what we really are, cannot be identified by papers, etc; since what we are deep down cannot be seen through our name or the records of what we once did in life.

Notice later that there were a number of “stone-like” characters in the video, who appear to have some sort of residue coating their bodies and are often portrayed wrapped up in strings. I think he is trying to represent the entanglement that occurs when we get wrapped up in the past; basically being enthralled by ritual.

“Strange is your language and I have no decoder
Why don’t you make your intentions clear
With eyes to the sun and your mouth to the soda
Saying, “Tell me the truth, you got nothing to fear
Stop staring at me like a bird of prey
I’m all mixed up, I got nothing to say
I don’t remember…”

There seems to be a couple of different ideas in this verse. It looks like he’s talking about romance and how difficult it is for two people to really come together, given how affected they are by their past experiences. He also seems to be alluding to the difficulty of having real open communication and trust in a relationship.

Thats the basic idea that I get from it all. What do you think?

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