Down The Dolce Vita

Album: Peter Gabriel (first, car) (1977)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "La dolce vita" is Italian for "the sweet life." It refers to an indulgent lifestyle.

    The song is mostly dialogue between the characters Aeron and Gorham, who set out on a journey across the sea. The song was part of a larger concept Gabriel was developing based on a character called Mozo, which he thought might become a stage production. Mozo gets more of a showcase in "On The Air," a track from Gabriel's next album.

    These kind of songs with narrative that string together are typical of what Gabriel did with Genesis.
  • Gabriel and his producer, Bob Ezrin, used the London Symphony Orchestra on this track. It's one of the more elaborate productions in his catalog.

Comments: 2

  • Tabascoflowers from 62236Dolce Vita is capitalized, so it's an obvious name for the ship that the song continues to describe, and the un-named and undated perils the sailors and captain's struggle to survive.
  • Charlie from Nyc, Nygreat song by peter gabriel. listened to this a made me a die hard fan. one question, what does this song mean?
    see you all down the dolce vita.
    Charlie Muller Jr Bronx Ny.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular Music

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular MusicSong Writing

Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.