The Chamber of 32 Doors

Peter Gabriel has been one of my favorite lyricists of the past four decades. His early work as the lead singer of Genesis was already demonstrating his fascination with the spiritual search. This piece from the seminal concept album, The Lamb Lies Down a Broadway, showcases that longing.  “The Chamber of 32 Doors” is the lament of a wayward soul in New York City who is trying to make sense of all those who wish to influence him.

It speaks as powerfully today as when it was penned in 1974…

At the top of the stairs, there's hundreds of people

running around to all the doors

They try to find, find themselves an audience

Their deductions need applause.

The rich man stands in front of me

The poor man behind my back

They believe they can control the game

But the juggler holds another pack.

I need someone to believe in, someone to trust

I need someone to believe in, someone to trust

I'd rather trust a country man than a town man

You can judge by his eyes, take a look if you can

He'll smile through his guard

Survival trains hard

I'd rather trust a man who works with his hands

He looks at you once, you know he understands

Don't need any shield

When you're out in the field.

But down here

I'm so alone with my fear

With everything that I hear

And every single door, that I've walked through

Brings me back, back here again

I've got to find my own way

The priest and the magician

Singing all the chants that they have ever heard

and they're all calling out my name

Even academics, searching printed word

My father to the left of me

My mother to the right

Like everyone else they're pointing

But nowhere feels quite right

And I need someone to believe in, someone to trust

I need someone to believe in, someone to trust

I'd rather trust a man who doesn't shout what he's found

There's no need to sell if you're homeward bound

If I choose a side

He won't take me for a ride

Back inside

This chamber of so many doors

I've nowhere, nowhere to hide

I'd give you all of my dreams, if you'd help me

Find a door

That doesn't lead me back again

- take me away

(“The Chamber of 32 Doors” by Genesis from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, 1974)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTby-nfFd1I