"When I try to sleep at night I can only dream in red. The outside world is black and white with only one color dead." One of the greatest lines ever written in Rock.

...you can blow out a candle but you can't blow out the fire...

Greatest anti-apartheid song ever. This song really made me aware of S. African apartheid system at a time when it wasn't really talked about much. Paul Simon was another voice, talking about Africa.

„You can blow out a candle, But you can‘t blow out a Fire! ONCE the Flame will catch the Wind will blow it higher!“….. What a line!!!

The first 4 Gabriel albums are absolute gems. It's almost as though Peter was held back by his Genesis partners. This is a truly brilliant track not just for the African sounds but also the words to the song. Gabriel doesn't just write songs that sound good, he writes songs that are close to his heart.

I saw Peter in March 1980 at Newcastle City Hall. This album hadn't been released yet, although the single Games Without Frontiers had. So when he performed this song it was totally unexpected and spine-chillingly powerful. One of my most memorable moments out of the hundreds of gigs I've seen.

Speaking of the wind blowing it higher...here is a pregnant memory of that song. September '86, Cambridge's weather was fine. The city was awash in excitement, and it probably wasn't September, as it was Harvard's 350th anniversary, and everyone in the world was there, including an old friend I had invited up for the occasion. All was festive as we walked through Harvard Square, only to have our ears drawn to the sound of Biko cutting through the air, only sung by a woman. We followed the sound into what folks called the Harvard Yard to see Joan Baez wailing away to a crowd gathered in rows of chairs, canopied in umbrellas as the rain had begun to fall. Magic happens. And the word gets out. Even though the rain.

I am so happy to finally see someone post a reaction to this song. I should have known you would be the first one to react to it. Forty years later this song speaks of history, however, at the time it was not only a tribute to Steve Biko but a protest song as well. Apartheid was still the law in South Africa and Nelson Mandela was still in prison. This song turned many artist's attention to the injustices practiced by the South African government. I say this often, but you should check out a live version, such as the Amnesty International concert version, or the 1987 live in Greece version.

"He allowed Biko to speak through the music." I like that.

You can blow out a candle

Often the last encore song in his performances. The audience would chant, "Oh, Oh, Oh" with fists pumping the air and Peter would quietly leave the stage. Very moving.

FYI: if anyone wants to know more about Steven Biko I suggest you watch the movie "Cry Freedom". It features Denzel Washington as Steven Biko and the movie was directed by Sir Richard Attenborough.

He closed his set with this on the "Conspiracy of Hope" tour. It was a religious experience. We clapped the drumbeat and chanted the Oh, oh, ohs for twenty minutes until Sting came out. Being part of around 30,000 people chanting and clapping for twenty minutes is a very powerful thing. To this day I weep like a child whenever I hear this song. Words occasionally CAN change the world!

I saw Peter do this song live back in 1983. It was the last song of the concert. At the end when the band was chanting “oh oh ohhhh”, the band walked off and the crowd still chanted it for another minute. Also during the concert the band was playing the song Lay Your Hands On Me”. We were in an amphitheater and Peter came out into the audience, walking on the chair backs of the seats. He would put his hands on peoples shoulders to steady himself. He came between my friend Paul and me. He put his hands on our shoulders and I put my hands on his to steady him as he passed to the next row. A really cool concert.

I bought this LP when it came out in 80. I had never heard of Stephen Biko so it was eye-opening to a white 18 year old in the suburbs. Some have argued that music makes no difference in the world but I disagree. Incidentally; Trevor Rabin's (Yes) uncle was the attorney for Stephen Biko's family.

I breakdown everytime I hear this song. It breaks my heart and tears stream to think of what Stephen Biko stood for and why he was taken from us. The greatest song ever written that cries for justice.

Biko... such a strong song.

You can blow out a candle

Powerful song. It reminds us why Peter Gabriel is Peter Gabriel. If that makes sense.

Peter Gabriel. Legend. What a beautiful artist and human being.