Peter Gabriel Games without Frontiers Lyrics

[@rosyorose1061]

"Games Without Frontiers" is a song written and recorded by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It was released on his 1980 self-titled solo album and features Kate Bush on backing vocals. The song's lyrics are interpreted as a commentary on war and international diplomacy being like children's games

[@oitzingerpeter]

The song's title comes from a European game show, Jeux Sans Frontières, that featured teams competing for prizes in outlandish games of skill while frequently dressed in bizarre costumes. The British version of the show was called It's a Knockout, a phrase that also appears in the song. The teams represented towns and cities from each country, so the games had an inevitable element of nationalism. While some games were simple races, others allowed one team to obstruct another.

[@EEVENEEVEN-vb5qy]

Thank you

[@PDGX]

Really?? This excellent song is about (or inspired by) a reality TV game show? I was hoping it was about something much deeper

[@moonstar68jr]

Sounds a bit like the Hunger Games

[@FlamingIbis]

That's great! The first similar TV series I watched was about German villages competing in outlandish competitions while dressed in humorous (well, folklore-inspired) costumes. It was extremely entertaining. The producer referenced the town of Cologne in the closing credits. From the show, you wouldn't know Germany was split into East & West.

[@FlamingIbis]

@@PDGX I had to look up this line, to uncover the context: «Adolf builds a bonfire, Enrico plays with it». I got this on Wikipedia: Enrico Francisci (1884-1943 ) was a decorated Italian war hero and Fascist. He died in battle. Francisci was manning the artillery, when he was decapitated by a tank shell.

[@KalahariSurf]

I love this song. The way Gabriel almost spits out some of the lyrics, so fitting for the lyrics.

[@nzuri25]

Love this song. Peter Gabriel is a Genius!

[@nisus8]

Absolutely loved the producers of "The Americans" using this track in the closing moments of this recent season's finale -- very appropriate, concerning the subject matter, and a classic, to boot.

[@thegeneral19]

Every song they used was brilliant

[@fredcrinson2715]

I feel bad for necro´ing a 7 year old comment but, I just recently discovered this series and am already three seasons deep. This song is a gem! Very relevant even today.

[@jerrybozilov1910]

Timeless Classic - Great Song !!

[@reecetilley585]

Absolutely Heavenly Song

[@peskylogicchillinsky6007Futube]

This is such a good song. Even when I was a kid this was a good song.

[@TheVanLandon]

its people like you who restore my faith in humanity :)

[@melodiehill3579]

There is an immense amount of play on words in here. Very intense once you connect to that!!

[@kimjuneau4707]

melodie hill very

[@lauraflaherty3215]

melodie hill yes.

[@norakat]

🤔

[@anthonyescalante3604]

What does the song mean and what is the message

[@333MrMack]

At 2:36 he said, "whisling tunes we piss on the goons in the jungle"!

[@jayrobinson7316]

It’s true

[@gfessify]

caught that myself

[@peddersowen425]

@Crispy Bizkit original lyrics adapted to 'kissing baboons' for the single version

[@animeaddict247]

this song is a clearly genious way of informing america and the world that we have a problem and need to tend to it. the problem - us

[@Apocalypticsunshine]

Yes emotion that pierces into the sooouuuuuul and heart

[@Nickdfresh]

I had this song running through my head while in basic (Army) training in the late 80s and early 90s...

[@matttheories8257]

This song gives me life.

[@reecetilley585]

The cops are coming, dont run.

[@Hellwyck]

Are you 6 or a hipster girl?

[@jand3163]

Love this song, reminds me of growing up in the west of England, we had all the freedom in the world to play out on the moors and in the woods.

[@mrquackadoodlemoo]

i love this song! old music rocks!!!

[@MasterWitchDoctor]

I had my mother who spoke french fluently translate this for me when it was released in 1981. "Juex sans frontier" is exactly right according to her. It's a french slang going back to World War 1, along with se le gare "that's the war". This song has a very strong anti-war over tone which is typical of anyone who's ever lived through one. If you don't get it next time turn up the volume to full blast.

[@FlamingIbis]

And to that I say: «En garde, mousquetaire !» (Jerry Mouse).

[@FlamingIbis]

«C'est la guerre!» (Also from Tom & Jerry).

[@maxiegrobner9018]

Last song I heard in America before I left for Europe for two years. Best time of my life.

[@Ysckemia]

i used to watch this show when i was a kid, it was fun :D (i mean in the 80's) in france we have also a national version, "Intervilles". it takes place in big cities of France, and there's only two teams (from two different cities) at a time facing each other.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

One of Peter Gabriel's best. A catchy song.

[@XarlizzleX]

This song is about the different wars, ww1 ww2 and the cold wars, the names represent the different countries and what they did (adolf, or germany, builds a bonfire) the jeux sans frontieres is indeed an old game show in which participants would represent their various countries in ridiculous events

[@justmebecky5937]

Ahhh one. And One two four. Love it.

[@SandraSilva-gj5kb]

Masterpiece! 👏👏👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️It is a prophecy.

[@mrquackadoodlemoo]

i play this song everytime one of our troops die in this war. war is not a game. people need to realize that!

[@lolaprietofilgueira1507]

Me Encanta Peter Gabriel y el grupo Genesis, Una de las MEJORES COMBINACIONES DE LA HISTORIA DE LA MÚSICA.

[@BABYWOLF--1966]

Mi tambien mi amiga

[@Autumnfallgal]

The album version of this song was banned by the BBC so a more PC version was released for radio with the line, "We're kissing baboons in the jungle" for both the first and second verse. However on the original/album version, the line was most definitely, "We piss on the goons in the jungle." When this was played in the USA in 1980, it included the original line. I know this to be a fact, because it was often discussed as inappropriate. I was also 13, in 1980 that is.

[@johnnywad7728]

Thank you my brother and I were debating whether it said " piss on the goons" or not. Thanks for clearing that up. I always heard piss on the goons. I'm old enough to remember 8 tracks,and still remember where the tracks changed in a song to this day lol.

[@markfizz2012]

Except it's not "goons" He's referring to the atrocities the Belgian army committed in the Congo

[@fruitcake4t]

all those years i thought she was singing "she's so popular"

[@BillMan5000]

Same.

[@hobbette2452]

or "she so funky, yeah" lol

[@dolliesdieyes5590]

"She's so fucking old". I always wondered.

[@heinmrichvandergraaf3456]

Same, what the hell is he saying

[@jamesjackson5418]

Me too!

[@dr.lyleevans6915]

“She’s so f*ckin’ good” lol (I know, it’s “Jeux sans frontiers”, French for “games without frontier”, the name of the song. It’s based off of an old European game show).

[@DavidEvans_dle]

It's amazing that when this song is played at a party, ppl always try to dance to it.

[@vlaanderen100]

She s so fabulous

[@MrChobbaWonga08]

the guy didnt even need to add a description thats how good it is

[@oitzingerpeter]

The end of the first verse refers to Hitler and Enrico Fermi: "Suki plays with Leo, Sacha plays with Brit; Adolf builds a bonfire, Enrico plays with it." Hitler started World War II in Europe, while Fermi's nuclear reactor enabled the nuclear weapons which contributed to the end of the war in Japan. Additionally, Sacha is a Russian nickname for Alexandr, while Brit refers to Great Britain which allied with Russia during WWII.

[@Hellwyck]

Well done, we know.

[@Each21]

JEUX SANS FRONTIERES.

[@Vicki-stfc]

I used to think it was "She's so popular!" Wrong again!! Silly me!!

[@acombatwombat9148]

Each21 or French for games without frontiers

[@ev9814]

I thought he said 'she saw from the air' aged 8.

[@rosieasmrwhispererzephier7021]

Each21 to me I thought they were saying She’s so Fuckin Gay haha but that’s just me mis hearing the lyrics haha 😂🤣

[@antonyreavey2587]

She's so funkier, lol

[@RacoonSports]

as a kid I heard, "she's so pop-u-lar" Who'd know I'd end up a huge Kate fan years later

[@Sparkina]

It wasn't till recently that I learned that the lady singing the French chorus was none other than Katie B.!

[@Floating_Lotus]

Not sure Katy B was even born yet. This song is old lol 😁

[@Sparkina]

@@Floating_Lotus Katie B is Kate Bush and that IS Kate Bush

[@Floating_Lotus]

Oh haha 😁 Thank's for clearing that up lol

[@satronpaint8463]

She's so confident She's so happy now She's so funkier She's so popular She saw poppy there Jeux sans frontieres She saw help me there What else did you hear?

[@dolliesdieyes5590]

"She's so fucking old". I heard that for years...

[@susannevolkmar2149]

She's so far below

[@captainknuckles9919]

5 glasses of bourbon later.....*playing at max volume* currently...

[@Krysten55]

This song sounds so cool.

[@spaghettirocks]

i used to LOVE THIS SONG and i still do now

[@trespasserswill7052]

Echoes of Mitch Hedberg. I love it

[@dragonsong1023]

This was edited lyrics in video . Here are lyrics from Azlyrics.com "Games Without Frontiers" Jeux sans frontières [3x] Hans plays with Lotte, Lotte plays with Jane Jane plays with Willi, Willi is happy again Suki plays with Leo, Sacha plays with Britt Adolf builds a bonfire, Enrico plays with it Whistling tunes we hide in the dunes by the seaside Whistling tunes we're kissing baboons in the jungle It's a knockout [2x] If looks could kill, They probably will In games without frontiers War without tears Games without frontiers War without tears Jeux sans frontières [3x] Andre has a red flag, Chiang Ching's is blue They all have hills to fly them on except for Lin Tai Yu Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games Hiding out in tree-tops shouting out rude names Whistling tunes we hide in the dunes by the seaside Whistling tunes we piss on the goons in the jungle It's a knockout [2x] If looks could kill, They probably will In games without frontiers War without tears Games without frontiers War without tears Jeux sans frontières

[@chordateify]

Thank you for posting the lyrics to the non-children's TV show version.

[@markfizz2012]

Except it's not "goons"

[@BrandonWestbrook1993]

So like I'm having a mid life crisis right now... Everything I've ever known was a lie! My whole life I've thought they were saying "she's so funky yeah" in fact that's what I typed in to find this song...

[@Jason-kg4rs]

No it was she's a fool I. Love....lol that's what we thought when we were kids

[@potatoalpacas6114]

JEUX SANS FRONTIERES

[@TheSanti4go]

this sounds so good....and its from 1980 !!!....wonder why the 80´s had to have so cheese keyboard sounds if they could have this cool and quality sound.

[@moonstar68jr]

This version is remastered lol.

[@KalahariSurf]

lol. "Most people think it's "she's so popular" but it's "jeux sans frontieres" - French for "Games without Frontiers". That was the name of the TV program that the song was named after

[@upsidedahead]

Peter Gabril... nice touch

[@jesse8654]

0:16 “she’s so pop-u-lair!”

[@4oust]

great great track

[@TripleZ89]

Holy crap I thought I was the only one hearing that!! XD Thanks for the clearing up!

[@purplezep1886]

Your right! Second verse is "we piss on the goons in the jungle" In the 70's I use to cruise around in a black chevy monte carlo love to crank this song, Remember when you could have the road to yourself. Now everyone and there sister are on the road!

[@philipshirk2228]

The French lyrics are: Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières

[@zombiesRshmexy]

@45gunner Ahahaha! That's what I was singing last night!!! Awesome.... :)

[@stacybrownlee7921]

Welcome home, Pete! 💙😇💙

[@me0on0utube]

u forgot the "Jeux Sans Fronteires" part in the song

[@kriskross63]

me0on0utube you mean „she‘s so funky now“?

[@philthewhip6786]

@@kriskross63 u just responded 8 and half years after this comment 🤣

[@philthewhip6786]

@@kriskross63 and it is indeed "Jeux sans frontières"

[@kriskross63]

@@philthewhip6786 I know, I know... well, let's say: it might have been INTENDED to be „she‘s so funky now“...;)

[@mariea82]

kriskross63 😂 I thought it was “she’s so popular”

[@robthorne6365]

Take me back now!

[@reecetilley585]

*Time machine activated*

[@thebarron5408]

When putting lyrics to a song. 1. Put all the lyrics in. 2. Put in the right lyrics. 3. Use spell check.

[@reecetilley585]

4. Accidentally confess something while singing the song

[@blakekerr9313]

use spell check... I suppose The Barron is your name, I think not you pompous article... spell check your existence you ''up your own arse prick''...

[@yandan7010]

Meeyow

[@hillwilliam036]

Best cold war song ever.

[@thedavidfreeman]

Thank you.

[@wozzer2727]

2:37 is whistling tunes we piss on the goons in the jungle.

[@quiksix25]

I get nervous when a lyric video misspells Peter Gabriel 😄

[@rouxnikki]

I don't think someone who relentlessly supports Amnesty International is a racist. Totally agree with you RICHIEVOX

[@gambit7775]

@richievox the show was called Jeus sans Frontieres outside of Britian, just so that you know.

[@cheryleroberts]

Great song

[@lseifer]

The line at 2:35 should read "whistling tunes we piss on the goons in the jungle" Normally I wouldn't really care if the lyric was wrong or not, but this is an anti-racism song, where racist phrases (which I think this is one that was used in the past) are exposed. It's more to protect the integrity of the song Thanks for the upload though, love this song :)

[@LogoAttitude]

the instrumental version of this song could be used whenever a movie needs exotic-sounding music

[@zoeymay545]

Who ever made this thank u

[@slane_design]

So, is Jeux Sans Frontières what the backup singers keep repeating? I always thought they sang "she's so frontier"

[@simplemusician5950]

wow, I always thought she was saying "she's so popular" what a revelation haha

[@BABYWOLF--1966]

She's so popular 😂😂😂😂

[@luclauzon2605]

Since my 12 yrs old i was sur she said "she's so popular" but Now i know its "jeux sans frontiere" Sorry for my anglish im french canadian.

[@kiroakimada2775]

Luc Lauzon "Anglish". Yup.

[@GailSandii]

Luc Lauzon so did i Luc.

[@GailSandii]

Robert Grant UK me too 👍

[@randytwomoons3134]

This what wikipedia says the song is referring to. Totally make sense to me now .. "The song's title refers to Jeux Sans Frontières, a long-running TV show broadcast in several European countries, in which teams of residents representing a town or city in one of the participating countries would compete in games of skill while frequently dressed in bizarre costumes. While some games were simple races, others allowed one team to obstruct another. The British version was titled It's a Knockout, which Gabriel references in the lyrics".

[@jbevan4411]

Luc Lauzon you need not apologise. It makes more sense

[@MorrisseyOner]

Yes it is, I found that out later. I was saying that's what I USED to think it said. There's not a lot of french spoken down here in Texas

[@MrKenny1878]

Great Tune What.

[@jbevan4411]

Mind blown away

[@RichXbox360]

This was on Radio 2 the other day, hence me looking it up now.

[@zacharynorton7337]

This song always reminded me of the ads for Flintstones Vitamins. The whistling

[@BABYWOLF--1966]

FOR 40 YEARS I THOUGHT THAT THE LYRICS SAID SHE'S SO POPULAR 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@msh6865]

I remember this song being featured in a episode of Miami Vice.

[@jacksonlynch5125]

Hey, can someone post the lyrics to this song? It’s so good!

[@remains_BS]

First of all it's in the video, second of all google it?

[@jetlawless4460]

I think they are in German

[@thunderlovenkraft1648]

@@jetlawless4460 French spots.

[@alanna8983]

@@remains_BS no they aren't! The opening chorus is not in the lyrics.

[@moonstar68jr]

@@alanna8983 and some are wrong

[@smackie0522]

@shelleyinthecity not quite, it was changed to 'kissing baboons' to be radio friendly.

[@kh-19636]

Very profound.

[@robschannel4512]

Its about a game show.

[@julierice100]

@shnabiv I thought the second time was PISS ON BABOONS IN THE JUNGLE................what is the chorus....please.....

[@smackie0522]

@AlexaAndPinkie the title is from a game show, and so is the part where he says it's a knockout. but the song itself is not about a game show.

[@anasazijames3809]

"Jeux sans frontieres" >>French translated into English>>, "Games without Frontiers."

[@stevehenry9826]

Thank you!

[@SnakeladyGreta]

@Marilyn5Manson103 Nope, it's Jeux sans frontières. :) I've been listening to this song since *I* was a kid! Dang, I'm old! ;)

[@patoelbuenoss]

Fucking awesome

[@Krysten55]

Lol. I've already heard this today! XD

[@tickedoffnow]

AMAZING SONG

[@mcopolochelsea]

@RacoonSports Just asking you know its really Jeux Sans Frontieres right? which is french for GAmes without Frontiers. Just checking lol

[@shellyzepeda]

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️love♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@cassiestevens8382]

This says it all.

[@ChuChu353]

FWIW... the background vocalist singing this line throughout the song is Kate Bush

[@neorich59]

@sebetchristelle I believe it's the wonderful Kate Bush saying this. I also believe that "Jeux sans frontieres." was what the French used to call a game with teams from various Western European nations..in Britain we called it "It's A Knockout." ;O)

[@Thinker669]

@savonette22731 I thought it sounded like "She's so funky now"

[@ioannisdospatis487]

Αριστούργημα!

[@Vict0r1984]

I don't think he was racist, but I think that he really says "we piss on the goons in the jungle". This whole song ridicules world politics as childish games of war, and almost every single name has an historical significance, so I think the two verses after the whistling do as well!

[@melodiehill3579]

she's so popular!!!!

[@moebeing1190]

I thought it was, "she's so fun-key-er".

[@jamesdavis5729]

Try: Jeux Sans Frontieres

[@GailSandii]

melodie hill me too melodie.

[@smasher6655]

james davis YOY ARE FUCKING RIGHT !!!! After 3 years I finally found it AHAHAHAHAH TABARNAAAAAKKKKK 😂😂😂

[@paultheelf9154]

Peter Gabril! PETER GABRIL!

[@Ewan6001]

Does anyone know what the song is about?

[@marklewis4024]

+Ewan McGregor This is just my guess... and if I remember it was subtitled "war without tears". I **think** it a song about wars... the children's names are countries... the references to them wearing costumes meaning military uniforms... playing silly games being fighting/combat... etc. It would be interesting if it were explained though, I could be wrong but that's just my interpretation.

[@gturner38]

+Mark Lewis It's a song about senseless war, but is actually also presenting it in reference to an old European game show called "Jeux Sans Frontieres" (Games Without Frontiers) which was also known in Britain as "It's A Knockout." The show featured teams from different countries putting on silly clothes and competing against each other.

[@Ewan6001]

nice

[@marcustaylor664]

+gturner38 thanks for the info

[@cmott6730]

+gturner38 do they say "shes so popular"?

[@kellypasquarella428]

this song is about the World Wars each name they use represents a contree and they all are freinds untill one makes a move like adolf making a fire the fire is an army and enrico is a aly or genrail see games without frontiers War without tears

[@smackie0522]

oh and to the uploader, the lyrics at the beginning are "jeux sans frontieres" (games without frontiers) : )

[@theister]

"Jeux sans frontier." is french meaning: games without frontiers. It sounds quite a bit to me (anglo) as "She's so popular."

[@brandoncorona9312]

I always thout he said "she's so funky now." LOL