Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer Meaning

Sledgehammer Lyrics

you could have a steam train

if you'd just lay down your tracks

you could have an aeroplane flying

if you bring your blue sky back


all you do is call me

I'll be anything you need


you could have a big dipper

going up and down, all around...

1. anonymous

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   May 7th 2021 !⃝

   could be about sex, heroin and God. The lyrics fit all of these and sometimes lyrics have multiple meanings.
2. T_Matshall

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   Jan 20th 2021 !⃝

   Well it has such a pop danceable ,sound that it intentional or not the lyrics are easily overlooked as what the song is about. There many songs like this ,but to me it's clearly about addiction heroin ? maybe but the versus are I'll be everything to you ,verse after verse ,than comes I ki cked the habit ,and she'd my skin is often a term addicts use, in reference to leaving that person behind. It's surprising how many songs are about subjects that musically seem to not fit , the subject but it doesn't have to be dark and gloomy,like so many 90's bands were.
3. anonymous

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   Jan 15th 2021 !⃝

   Morons. It’s about addiction.
   I’ve kicked the habit
   She’d my skin
   
   And it’s not “show for me” & “show for you” it’s “chauffeur me” & “chauffeur you”, meaning be there for each other, a co-dependent Heroin relationship.
   
   Drugs. Heroin. Kicking addiction.
4. anonymous

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   Dec 6th 2020 !⃝

   Here is a direct quote from Peter Gabriel about his song 'Sledgehammer'
   
   And that person would be Peter. Gabriel once said about the hit, ‘Sometimes sex can break through barriers when other forms of communication are not working too well.’ (The “Sledgehammer” is his wang, for those not being Freudian here.)
   
   So I hope all of you can stop arguing over the meaning of the song.
5. cherubim

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   Mar 4th 2019 !⃝

   A "Sledgehammer" in addict parlance is a person that acts like a "Mentor" in Alcoholics Anonymous. The "Sledgehammer" breaks the needles. "You show for me, and I will show for you" means "when I need help to not shoot up, you come and help me, and I will do the same for you". This is not a song about sex at all. Many of his songs are about getting off heroin and free-basing. Grow up, people, and join the rest of us adults.
6. anonymous

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   Oct 19th 2017 !⃝

   Good pure physical love.
7. anonymous

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   May 26th 2017 !⃝

   Fuckwits, sex and drugs, heroin..
8. anonymous

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   May 19th 2017 !⃝

   You could interpret it as being a conversation between God and man, if you wanted to.
   It's a song. It can mean whatever it means to you because of how it effects you or doesn't affect you.
   But according to Peter Gabriel it's a song about sex. Why would he feel the need to lie about it? And who gives a shit either way? Don't take everything so seriously.
9. anonymous

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   Jan 29th 2017 !⃝

   It's about drugs freebase to be exact laydown your tracks which is shooting heroin you could have a big dipper freebase cocaine
10. anonymous

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    Feb 26th 2016 !⃝

    Seriously, some of you people need to go back to elementary school ! Bad grammar, spelling, etc. Anyway, obiously a "Subtle Lyrical Sex Song"....Totaly Awesome, those of you who don't get the clear message...well it's sad, but go back to school...this world and country is filled with plenty of Lazy, Rude, Uneducated, Incoherent, people as it is...Step up and take a chance on yourself
11. anonymous

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    Nov 21st 2015 !⃝

    Peter Gabriel said the song was full of euphemisms for intercourse.
12. anonymous

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    Apr 12th 2015 !⃝

    It's a song about drugs, not sex - about trying to entice someone back into a life of drugs. Watch the video!
13. anonymous

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    Nov 17th 2014 !⃝

    This is absolutely about sex but not in a nasty way. It's smooth and fun and a downright awesome song.
14. anonymous

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    May 5th 2014 !⃝

    This song has very little to do with sex. It's about Peter Gabriel changing his music style. Go listen to it again.
    
    Lou
15. anonymous

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    Jan 10th 2014 !⃝

    Of course it is about sex and love. There is one passage that I have always wondered about though. "Show for me, won't you show for me, I will show for you" My son is a musician and a band he was in covered this tune and the lyrics they transcribed were "Cheufeur me." Being British (PG)I assumed it was a soccer reference - tactical offense requires you "show" for your offensive partner to be available for a pass - I think this is what it means.

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