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Peter Gabriel — In Your Eyes (live)
Album: Live in Athens 1988
Avg rating:
8.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4693









Released: 1988
Length: 11:51
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Love
I get so lost sometimes
Days pass
And this emptiness fills my heart

When I want to run away
I drive off in my car
But whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are

All my instincts
They return
The grand façade
So soon will burn

Without a noise
Without my pride
I reach out from the inside

In your eyes
The light, the heat
In your eyes
I am complete
In your eyes
I see the doorway
To a thousand churches
In your eyes
The resolution
In your eyes
Of all the fruitless searches

Oh, I see the light and the heat
In your eyes
Oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
The heat I see in your eyes

Love
I don't like to see so much pain
So much wasted
And this moment keeps slipping away

I get so tired
Working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you
To keep me awake and alive

And all my instincts
They return
And the grand façade
So soon will burn

Without a noise
Without my pride
I reach out from the inside

In your eyes, in your eyes
In your eyes, in your eyes

In your eyes
The light the heat
In your eyes
I am complete
In your eyes
I see the doorway
To a thousand churches
In your eyes
The resolution
In your eyes
Of all the fruitless searches

Oh, I see the light and the heat
In your eyes
Oh, I want to be that complete
I wanna touch the light
The heat I see in your eyes

In your eyes, in your eyes
In your eyes, in your eyes
In your eyes, in your eyes
Comments (681)add comment
No matter how many years, no matter how many times I hear this live version, including the times I've seen Peter (etc) perform on stage...it THRILLS me to hear it again! It's gotta be one of my top faves!


David Sancious on keyboards, Darryl Jones on bass, David Rhodes on guitar, and Manu Katche on drums.

Utterly joyful
I like the little tinkely thing at the end, and then drums kick in 
Going to see Youssou N'dour on Friday night (21.10.2022) at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg!  A few months ago I was listening to RP at work, and a nice YN song came on.  I spontaneously googled Youssou N'Dour Tour, and there were tickets available at the Elbphilharmonie - wow!  I've been wanting to go there for years!  Two birds with one stone... (in a good way) 
Not this performance, but pure visual/aural porn just the same:

In Your Eyes w/ Papa Wembe
There are a lot of live versions of this that started overshadowing the album version on commercial radio as far back as the mid-90s.    I think the best one is the Chobham UK concert that's on YouTube and there are a couple of others that are stand outs as well.   The Athens 1987 version is a bit weak in comparison, the music and drums are not as tight, although you can see they are setting the standard here for what would become the live version of the song for decades to come.  I think Peter and his band improved their live chops significantly over time.  Bill check out some of these other versions.   Am I the only one that has to turn this up to 11 when it comes on, no matter what version?
 grogg wrote:

Greatest version of maybe the greatest 80s song. Magical every time.



Agree 100%.
Although it must be noted, less competition in the '80's than any other decade before or since! 
 RabbitEars wrote: Maybe the circles everywhere in the orchestration (trance effect), the syncopated rhythm that makes your body want to move (tribal effect), the progression in the composition (epic effect) and rhe voice of Gabriel... maybe.

i would give an arm and a kidney to have his voice.
 maboleth wrote:

A perfect song for elite RP crowd that usually shudder and shake on anything non-English, different or true ethnic coming from middle East or Africa. Here, they are "above" while listening to Peter Gabriel's superficial, filtered and utterly monotonous take of western-pretending-to-be ethnic music.

Normally, I wouldn't give a damn for PG and his stuff, but 8.1 rating for THIS, while so many great and talented ethnic and tribal musicians get dissed, ridiculed and rated with the lowest of the low here is hypocrisy on steroids.


Gee who pissed in your cheerios?
 rnflynn wrote:
Bloated and repetitive. 


Don't be so hard on yourself.
what makes this song great?
 maboleth wrote:

A perfect song for elite RP crowd that usually shudder and shake on anything non-English, different or true ethnic coming from middle East or Africa. Here, they are "above" while listening to Peter Gabriel's superficial, filtered and utterly monotonous take of western-pretending-to-be ethnic music.

Normally, I wouldn't give a damn for PG and his stuff, but 8.1 rating for THIS, while so many great and talented ethnic and tribal musicians get dissed, ridiculed and rated with the lowest of the low here is hypocrisy on steroids.



You must be great at dinner parties....
I saw this played during the Secret World tour with Sinéad O'Connor in 1993 in Mexico City of all places... such an incredible audio visual experience. Soundtrack of my youth years for sure
Greatest version of maybe the greatest 80s song. Magical every time.
      
                        
I loved the track builder in the interactive DVD CD EVE
 bombaysaphire wrote:



Saw the same show in Philly November 1986. Still think about it every time I hear this song.


I was there with you! 
 RabbitEars wrote:

Back in '86/87 seeing Youssou and Peter Gabriel perform this song was one of the peak moments of my life. And I got the privilege more than once! The feeling in the crowd was beyond extraordinary. 




Saw the same show in Philly November 1986. Still think about it every time I hear this song.
Back in '86/87 seeing Youssou and Peter Gabriel perform this song was one of the peak moments of my life. And I got the privilege more than once! The feeling in the crowd was beyond extraordinary. 
 rnflynn wrote:
Bloated and repetitive. 


Too many notes?  LOLOL
aaahhhhh....live concerts. I miss them
My favorite song on RP. Moves me every time I hear it.
Bloated and repetitive. 
Above magical is transcendent  And I agree.  
 clwguy wrote:

It was a magical song until they extended it and performed it live in concert. Then it became... what's above magical?
 



Really magical?
 Laptopdog wrote:

Great version, I just wish it wasn't at such a lower volume than all the other songs on RP. I don't mind cranking up the volume to hear this properly, but if I don't remember to turn the volume back down by the next tune, I end up getting blasted with Dengue Fever, or something.


It's not, actually. It just starts out that way.
 maboleth wrote:
A perfect song for elite RP crowd that usually shudder and shake on anything non-English, different or true ethnic coming from middle East or Africa. Here, they are "above" while listening to Peter Gabriel's superficial, filtered and utterly monotonous take of western-pretending-to-be ethnic music.

Normally, I wouldn't give a damn for PG and his stuff, but 8.1 rating for THIS, while so many great and talented ethnic and tribal musicians get dissed, ridiculed and rated with the lowest of the low here is hypocrisy on steroids.
 
Do feel free to take your snotty bien-pensant nonsense and shove it.
 maboleth wrote:
A perfect song for elite RP crowd that usually shudder and shake on anything non-English, different or true ethnic coming from middle East or Africa. Here, they are "above" while listening to Peter Gabriel's superficial, filtered and utterly monotonous take of western-pretending-to-be ethnic music.

Normally, I wouldn't give a damn for PG and his stuff, but 8.1 rating for THIS, while so many great and talented ethnic and tribal musicians get dissed, ridiculed and rated with the lowest of the low here is hypocrisy on steroids.
 
Pardon me, but I believe RP has an entire channel that plays world music. And it seems to me that the Elitist here is you since you feel so superior to those of us who like Peter Gabrial and know that if an artist uses rhythms and timing of world music they are being complimentary, not trying to be, or thinking they are better.    
This song has been described by Melissa Etheridge as "the most beautiful love song ever written." I'm inclined to agree.
A perfect song for elite RP crowd that usually shudder and shake on anything non-English, different or true ethnic coming from middle East or Africa. Here, they are "above" while listening to Peter Gabriel's superficial, filtered and utterly monotonous take of western-pretending-to-be ethnic music.

Normally, I wouldn't give a damn for PG and his stuff, but 8.1 rating for THIS, while so many great and talented ethnic and tribal musicians get dissed, ridiculed and rated with the lowest of the low here is hypocrisy on steroids.
 tinypriest wrote:
It's cool to hear live tracks like this in the playlist once in a while. I saw Peter Gabriel that year (1987) at Exhibition Place in Toronto. I remember his white jacket under that bright spotlight. Good memories.
 
Must have been the tour before that I saw him at Maple Leaf Gardens... rolling over the crowd in his plastic bubble, and the terrifyingly cool robotic spotlights hovering over him serpent-like as he curled up in a ball onstage to sing either Don't Give Up or Mercy Street.
 clwguy wrote:
It was a magical song until they extended it and performed it live in concert. Then it became... what's above magical?
 
 
10 - Godlike ?
So love full this concert. So great musicians and public 
Manu Kathé the French-drummer so great 
Reminds me of his earlier 'Plays Live' album that I used to listen a lot in my younger days, especially 'Shock the Monkey' and 'No Self Control' songs. In a way, more raw energy.   
this just made my 30th birthday  <3  so many memories, this song gives me wings
Well worth watching this incredible performance on youtube.
Make sure you get the 12 minute one and not the 10 minute version.
 tkrusher53 wrote:
Love this song.  I really like the version from the Secret World Live tour with the female vocals (Paula can't remember her last name).
 
Paula Cole. Really good version!
Why is there not a rating option higher than 10?? 🙂
Love this song.  I really like the version from the Secret World Live tour with the female vocals (Paula can't remember her last name).
 clwguy wrote:
It was a magical song until they extended it and performed it live in concert. Then it became... what's above magical?
 
 
Divine.
This is by far my favorite concert DVD in my collection. I remember  my daughter was probably about 6 or 7 years old when she came and asked me "do you know who Peter Gabriel is? Cuz they are playing his concert on The Disney Channel tonight"
We watched it together and she became a fan. She's 29 now and I gave her a copy for Christmas a couple years back.  It was a timeless cross generational father / daughter moment that we still cherish. 
 Will_I_am wrote:
You can go make a coffee during this song, and when you come back it'll still be playing! 
 

That just happened to me!  (I don't know why I decided I need coffee just then.  It won't happen again.)
 clwguy wrote:
It was a magical song until they extended it and performed it live in concert. Then it became... what's above magical?
 
 

Divine.
This is "Sternstunde" in music!!!
Genius.  A high point in music history.

 atrocity wrote:
Yes, I uploaded this something like 15 years ago after copying it from the Japanese Laserdisc. I'm stunned and flattered and just blown away that it's still in rotation.

The new mix is also available on a Blu-ray and doesn't have that unfortunate little speed glitch in the middle like this one does. (Not a copying error, it really is that way on the disc.) 
  
I remember when it was added to the library and have been looking for it ever since.

I just got the brand new 2020 vinyl release of this album on Saturday just for this version of this song.  Haven't cracked the shrink yet, but I will be doing it very soon.  It has been extremely hard to find over the years in any form.

Long ago rated a 10.
Reminds me of show I saw him play in Golden Gate Park on the WOMAD tour. It was a great show and line up.
11
It's cool to hear live tracks like this in the playlist once in a while. I saw Peter Gabriel that year (1987) at Exhibition Place in Toronto. I remember his white jacket under that bright spotlight. Good memories.
Manu Katché has twelve arms and four brains.  and he smiles like a God. 
What he does here... Well, fireworks. 
 Laptopdog wrote:
Great version, I just wish it wasn't at such a lower volume than all the other songs on RP. I don't mind cranking up the volume to hear this properly, but if I don't remember to turn the volume back down by the next tune, I end up getting blasted with Dengue Fever, or something.
 
Fixed. Sorry about that!
Every time I hear this it puts me in a trance.
 scrubbrush wrote:
Possibly one of the most joyous songs in the history of mankind. 
 

Hmm ... I'm not sure I would call the song itself 'joyous.'  The verses are downright bleak ... but that's to act as contrast to launching into a redemptive chorus of hope and revival found 'in your eyes' ... a true love song.   But yes, this is a joyous performance of this song. 
Magnifique version
I like the part where he shouts "EVERYBODY!" like they weren't already all singing along... 
Two of my top 10 concerts are Peter Gabriel!
 RabbitEars wrote:
a must see if you love this song... some musical reasons why this song is great
 

bumping up since it's been a while
Gave this an instant 9 the first time I heard it on RP several months ago (which was the first time I’d heard it - thanks Bill); then I saw the video. Now it’s bumped 9 > 10. Wish I could’ve been there.
I tested your theory with a Nespresso Americano and achieved similar results. Science! 

Will_I_am wrote:
You can go make a coffee during this song, and when you come back it'll still be playing! 
 

I like to imagine hearing this played live, outdoors, and the audience would be all Radio Paradise fans singing & dancing together.  Also, just watched the video of this for the first time. It's a delight of a bonus. Much dancing and hopping. Gabriel was no Johnny  Clegg (RIP ), but he's precious too. 

You can go make a coffee during this song, and when you come back it'll still be playing! 
 moodfood wrote:
   Is that Phil on drums..
 
I think is Manu Katché 
Watch the video. At 3:34 PG sings "...without a noise" as he is jumping., then again when he jumps and sings "without my pride". The audio of his vocals should fade as he jumps but it doesn't. A few seconds later PG is singing  "...inside" while the video shows him singing "...whoaoahh".    Clearly dubbed.

Nevertheless it is a great concert performance.

Jelani wrote:
 MattRudely wrote:

Overdubbed vocal, soz.
 Could you provide me some confirmation of that, for realz?

 
A more apt tune for these times of racial strife does not exist.

I would almost trade the 100-odd concerts I have gone to just to see this tune performed live in 1988.
Amazing version with Youssou Ndour. Think about the time frame! '88??
 MattRudely wrote:


Overdubbed vocal, soz.
 Could you provide me some confirmation of that, for realz?

maybe you had to be there...
FORA BOLSONARO!!!
(#stayhome)
 Jelani wrote:

 The video is incredible.https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
 

Overdubbed vocal, soz.
 FlatCat wrote:
I generally dislike live versions of rock songs. The wolf whistles, the poor quality audio, the less than polished performances. The whole excitement-of-the-moment, celebration-with-the-performer thing leave me cold.

But THIS. This performance is unforgettable.
 
 The video is incredible.https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
I generally dislike live versions of rock songs. The wolf whistles, the poor quality audio, the less than polished performances. The whole excitement-of-the-moment, celebration-with-the-performer thing leave me cold.

But THIS. This performance is unforgettable.
Peter Gabriel are my MOST DESIRED concert tickets . Must see --before he retires form touring.
 memoryboxer wrote:
The original of this was already a gorgeous song (overplay bedamned), and this arrangement takes it to glorious heights. That whole period around his work on The Passion took him so far beyond "pop star".
 
Agreed - this version is where I want to use my 11 rating.
I've tired from this long winded commitment of a tune. The novelty wore off many moons ago and now it prods along feeling more dated as time goes on. I'm a big PG fan...but this is hard to stomach for so many years. Sadly I use the PSD button.
   Is that Phil on drums..
 grogg wrote:
I'm over the moon with excitement every time I hear the intro to this start up. Still wish I could hear it outside of Radio Paradise, but it's a delightful moment when it it plays here.
 
You could always buy the album
 Laptopdog wrote:
Great version, I just wish it wasn't at such a lower volume than all the other songs on RP. I don't mind cranking up the volume to hear this properly, but if I don't remember to turn the volume back down by the next tune, I end up getting blasted with Dengue Fever, or something.
 
Blasted with Dengue Fever, sounds like a great name for a band.
The original of this was already a gorgeous song (overplay bedamned), and this arrangement takes it to glorious heights. That whole period around his work on The Passion took him so far beyond "pop star".
Got to see Peter at the LA Coliseum with Tracy Chapman, Sting and Bruce at the Amnesty International Human Rights Now! tour in September, 1988. What a freakin' show. Love Gabriel.
 desertsounds wrote:
ps have been enjoying RP for several years in Dubai & now in Oman, a real oasis in this parched land  - great job
 
This music stream kept me sane while living outside Jeddah.  Was quite surprised that BillG's offering of western decadence made it through the Kingdom's filtered and sanitized internet.

PS:  Where's the world map that shows how many listeners are "tuned in"?
 RabbitEars wrote:
a must see if you love this song... some musical reasons why this song is great
 
Beato is the best!
 edz wrote:
Lucky to see this performed live at the LA Forum December 15 1986. AMAZING
 

I saw an early leg of the tour at Forest Hills in Queens, NY, and the later leg at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Life-changing experience. 
a must see if you love this song... some musical reasons why this song is great
I looked back, and the second comment I posted on RP was the following on the studio version of this song:

 My freshman college roommate and his girlfriend had this as "their" song. I heard it to the point of utter revulsion at that time, preferring to brave the subzero temperatures outside than hear "In your eyes.." for the twelfth frickin' time on a given day. Sorry Peter, I like a lot of your stuff, but even two and half decades later I still start to twitch when I hear this song...



I don't twitch as much a few years later, maybe in another decade I will join all those that love, or at least tolerate this song.
 gin-soaked-boy wrote:
If you didn't give this a big fat 10, you're just wrong. 
 
OK, fine!  9 -----> 10
If you didn't give this a big fat 10, you're just wrong. 
Possibly one of the most joyous songs in the history of mankind. 
This is the most exceptional live version of a song...had to make it my wedding song.  Long ass time to dance, though!!
wow... I've just come home from a loooong day at work and this song still hasn't ended.
 Rovelló_de_Busa wrote:
From Barcelona, Catalonia, thank you Peter Gabriel for your solidarity and understanding. Self-determination is not a crime.
 

Not if you pursue it from within the legal constitutional framework - and if you can avoid boring the arse off of the rest us while you're at it then even better.
From Barcelona, Catalonia, thank you Peter Gabriel for your solidarity and understanding. Self-determination is not a crime.
Great version, I just wish it wasn't at such a lower volume than all the other songs on RP. I don't mind cranking up the volume to hear this properly, but if I don't remember to turn the volume back down by the next tune, I end up getting blasted with Dengue Fever, or something.
Lucky to see this performed live at the LA Forum December 15 1986. AMAZING
This version of the song, of all the ones I've heard, delivers the message best. 
I'm over the moon with excitement every time I hear the intro to this start up. Still wish I could hear it outside of Radio Paradise, but it's a delightful moment when it it plays here.
 Canadese wrote:


I'm relatively new to the station and see 'PSD' often referred to. What is it?
 "Play Something Different".  Not on the latest version of the player I think; now there is the "Skip to Next Song" button.

 thollenbeck wrote:
For some reason, you can't use the "PSD" function with this song.  It's happened twice in the past week when it's been playing. 
 

I'm relatively new to the station and see 'PSD' often referred to. What is it?
Holy God Almighty! I will love that song until the day I die.
Lawdy. That one went on longer than the Thanksgiving Day turkey takes to roast. Happy Thanksgiving to all fellow RP junkies! And our King/Queen Mr. Bill and Ms. Rebecca too, of course.
 {#Cheers}
 thollenbeck wrote:
For some reason, you can't use the "PSD" function with this song.  It's happened twice in the past week when it's been playing. 
 
Obviously a redundant feature as no normal person would want to skip. this song  :-)
For some reason, you can't use the "PSD" function with this song.  It's happened twice in the past week when it's been playing. 






As others have suggested, we should be able to rate one song an 11.  For me, this is it.

Peace
glorious 
This is a brilliant version. Incredible tour. 
 
 SmackDaddy wrote:
What's with the Peter Gabriel obsession lately? 3-5 times a day is a bit much.

 
I think it's cool, assuming that your count is correct. One of the features of RP is the idiosyncratic approach to the music. Sometimes a theme flows through the selection, at other times who knows? But like many maybe most of us, he probably finds a particular musician more compelling, in some way, for a while, then moves on. The difference is that he has his own station.
Without a doubt the greatest version of this song. Heck, this is the greatest version of a lot of other songs, too. A showstopper.
 whomhow wrote:
what an awful perfomance! So out of date (in any terms)... 1

 
buh?
 atrocity wrote:
Yes, I uploaded this something like 15 years ago after copying it from the Japanese Laserdisc. I'm stunned and flattered and just blown away that it's still in rotation.
 
This sir, is my favorite version ever, of this song .. when Youssou N'Dour's solo bit and the ambient echo hit .. I just get that feeling of "wow" from the start of the last word in the solo .. till you can't hear it echoing ..

It also take me back to one of the few live concerts I've been so lucky to have time and money to go see .. PG's UP! tour .. and then reminds me of Blind Boys of Alabama doing the opening for it, and how good that was too!

And for anyone that's never said it before.. Thank U 'atrocity' for having uploaded this.
what an awful perfomance! So out of date (in any terms)... 1
If there's some obsession please let it run the course... I've heard some versions here at RP that never I knew and oh how I love.
What's with the Peter Gabriel obsession lately? 3-5 times a day is a bit much.
The non live version gets a 10 :-)
Must have been a great show in Athens !{#Dance}
Gives me goosebumps! I never tire of this version.