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

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

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