If I could choose one famous person to spend a couple of days with it would be Peter Gabriel.  It would be great to talk with him about his creative process. Or just sit in the corner of his recording studio and watch the work being produced.

His songs, music and lyrics have been part of so many phases in my life. First understanding the unfairness of the world. Peter put words to it. First understanding the hardship of war. Peter put words to it. First break-up and torment of the teenage years. Peter was with me. Traveling, moving. Peter was with me. My wedding. Peter was there. The many times of great grief and I return to some of his songs and albums. I have a relationship to his songs long before I hear them in some cheesy movie scene.

He is such a creative person and his lyrics means different things at different passages in life. If I had to pick one of my favorite songs it would be “Mercy Street” (although, tomorrow I might say it’s “Growing Up” or “Flood”). I have worked in those “corridors of pale green and gray”, I can even relate to the “velvet box” and even if I’m not a priest I’m supposed “to handle the shocks”. This song has really meant several different things to me.

Recently he released his “New Blood” album with a lot of his songs in full orchestra arrangements. It invites you to listen and reinterpret a lot of the music and lyrics. “Mercy Street” is on it. Here is the original version with the video.

I’m sure most of you have a favorite artist whose music you return to. Who is it? What’s your favorite song? Or who would you spend a couple of days with?

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