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Peter Gabriel — Not One Of Us
Album: Peter Gabriel 3: Melt
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 773









Released: 1980
Length: 5:16
Plays (last 30 days): 0
It's only water
In a stranger's tear
Looks are deceptive
But distinctions are clear
A foreign body
And a foreign mind
Never welcome
In the land of the blind
You may look like we do
Talk like we do
But you know how it is

You're not one of us
Not one of us
No you're not one of us
Not one of us
Not one of us
No you're not one of us

There's safety in numbers
When you learn to divide
How can we be in
If there is no outside
All shades of opinion
Feed an open mind
But your values are twisted
Let us help you unwind
You may look like we do
Talk like we do
-But you know how it is

You're not one of us
Not one of us
No you're not one of us
Comments (47)add comment

Had to give Peter a 10 been a huge fan since the early Genesis days!  Saw the Lamb Lies on Broadway and seen Peter three times since ..  Never gets old... 
 justin4kick wrote:
I saw a documentary last night about the effect of exclusion on humans. It actually causes a brain reaction similar to physical pain. We are genetically programmed as herd animals.
 

i suspect Pack would be a more accurate term than Herd.
Man oh man. 1980 was 40 years ago.
Was 19 , living in Manhattan and into the
Pretenders and Blondie.
John Lennon was killed in December.
Finished school and moved to Seattle.
Had no idea who Peter Gabriel was, but I've heard 
this song since then.
I'm sure his body of work is far more remarkable
than I know.  Thanks for helping me catch up RP.

Happy Bday..    PG, growing up....
Thanks for digging up a deeper track.  : )
Not sure the tour name but I saw PG in Cleveland in 1993.  It was such an amazing show and definitely top 5 for me.  I will say that there was something magical about it.  the concert and interaction with the audience was otherworldly.  I will never forget it.
Innovation at its finest back in the 80's..
complete album without any cymbals, interesting !
 Steely_D wrote:

Sorry, but nope. He crowd surfed, for sure, and I got to hold him up as he walked into the audience on our armrests (crowdsurfing if there were no chairs).

But for Biko, after that hyperkinetic show (SHOCK! THE MONKEY!) he came to the front of the stage and stood rock still out of respect for Steven Biko. The man is dead. The man is dead. 
 

If we're all talking about the same tour (82-83), it was during Lay Your Hands on Me that he'd surf. 
Wow, never thought I'd hear this played anywhere outside of my home (and few close friends), way to go Bill!

How can we in, if there is no outside?
Haven't heard this for a long time. Thank you RP. It can still stand being wound up to 12!
never gets old. Loved when Peter was weird!
 thewiseking wrote:
just brilliant. Bravo Peter. This has got to be his pinnacle.
 
This album may not have had the success and accolades of his later works, but to me, this was his best album.
I love PG so much, but his Wikipedia photo makes him look like a British Col. Sanders. 
I have a clean vinyl copy of this record.  Very good music ..  both sides
Been listening to this since I was about 11, and sadly at 45 it's as pertinent as ever. Love or hate his music (I love it), you can't deny his music is perceptive and is delivered in a creative and genuine way that doesn't make it preachy or handwringing. 
7 -> 5 
 Tomasni wrote:
Not Peter Gabriels best.
Rating for me only 7
 

Yes.
No - 7 is way too good.
Timely.
Not Peter Gabriels best.
Rating for me only 7
 Ben_D_Wire wrote:

It's Jerry Marotta playing on this track, but other tracks on this album are none other than Phil Collins.

I actually saw Peter and his band playing this live back in the day, and they were fantastic. I can still remember the raw emotion of "Biko" when the whole audience sang along to it while he did a bit of crowd surfing! I've still got that track on 12" 45rpm vinyl somewhere ...
 
Interesting also, that there isn't any type of cymbals or hi-hat played anywhere on the album... (And btw, it's Robert Fripp, not Peter Fripp, hehe)
Bill, what is your obsession with Peter Gabriel? How many times a day must you play him?
Wow, this could be Stephen Miller's theme song...
 {#Yes}Bert7 wrote:
I cannot ever remember any radio station playing this, and the whole album is stellar...{#Bananajam}
 

As soon as it started, I realized I had never heard this one before on RP.  Glad to have it here!!!  And it seems so timely, given the attitude right now toward immigrants -- not just here in the U.S. but across Europe as well.
I cannot ever remember any radio station playing this, and the whole album is stellar...{#Bananajam}
just brilliant. Bravo Peter. This has got to be his pinnacle.
"It's only water in a stranger's tear."  One of the best opening lines in all of rock music.  This pretty obscure song is one of those signs that Bill has it right in the stuff he plays.  
 Ben_D_Wire wrote:

It's Jerry Marotta playing on this track, but other tracks on this album are none other than Phil Collins.

I actually saw Peter and his band playing this live back in the day, and they were fantastic. I can still remember the raw emotion of "Biko" when the whole audience sang along to it while he did a bit of crowd surfing! I've still got that track on 12" 45rpm vinyl somewhere ...

 
Sorry, but nope. He crowd surfed, for sure, and I got to hold him up as he walked into the audience on our armrests (crowdsurfing if there were no chairs).

But for Biko, after that hyperkinetic show (SHOCK! THE MONKEY!) he came to the front of the stage and stood rock still out of respect for Steven Biko. The man is dead. The man is dead. 
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
Not sure who the drummer is but a group consisting of Peter Gabriel on vocals and Peter Fripp on guitars - epic!

 
It's Jerry Marotta playing on this track, but other tracks on this album are none other than Phil Collins.

I actually saw Peter and his band playing this live back in the day, and they were fantastic. I can still remember the raw emotion of "Biko" when the whole audience sang along to it while he did a bit of crowd surfing! I've still got that track on 12" 45rpm vinyl somewhere ...
Not sure who the drummer is but a group consisting of Peter Gabriel on vocals and Peter Fripp on guitars - epic!
 justin4kick wrote:
I saw a documentary last night about the effect of exclusion on humans. It actually causes a brain reaction similar to physical pain. We are genetically programmed as herd animals.

 
And the sad thing is as much as technology connects us, it has a bigger impact on separating us. We have startle responses to abrupt disconnections (especially when we're young), and non-stop interruptions of phones, texts, emails, etc has a direct impact on our focused and present attention with others. When a parent is distracted, they create insecure attachment in their children, and insecure attachment basically impacts and often causes every mental health issue there is. 
perhaps a little commentary going about immigration news... 
Great example of why PG is worth listening, actually listening, to.  Sad that people don't and then rate it anyway.  Beautiful song musically and lyrically.
Agree that this is one of PG's best.....great Robert Fripp guitar work on this song. 
good leg-lift music from the 80's
 shakylegs wrote:
Haven't heard this in about 20 years.
 
More like 35+ for me!
 justin4kick wrote:
I saw a documentary last night about the effect of exclusion on humans. It actually causes a brain reaction similar to physical pain. We are genetically programmed as herd animals.

 
More like pack animals.
I saw a documentary last night about the effect of exclusion on humans. It actually causes a brain reaction similar to physical pain. We are genetically programmed as herd animals.
 ccallaway25 wrote:
one of the best albums PG has made!

 
I always thought this was his best album - opinions vary, obviously.
First play! Still many nuggets from the past in the mine!
well done again bill/becca!
looking so forward for more such pleasant reminders of the past

stellar album from pg - how about family snapshot from this work? 
one of the best albums PG has made!
This is pure genius and I dare say, timely.
I had this LP. {#Cheesygrin}
First time? Wow. Nice. I had this on vinyl (probably still do somewhere). 
Haven't heard this in about 20 years.