Peekaboo by Siouxsie and the Banshees Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Spectacle of the Seen and Unseen
Lyrics
Slinking into dark stalls
Shapeless and slumped in bath chairs
Furtive eyes peep out of holes
She has many guises
She’ll do what you want her to
Playing dead and sweet submission
Cracks the whip deadpan on cue
Peek-a-boo
Peek-a-boo
Peek-a-boo
Peek-a-boo
Reeking like a pigsty
Peeling back and gagging free
Flaccid ego in your hand
Chokes on dry tears, can you understand?
She’s jeering at the shadows
Sneering behind a smile
Lunge and thrust to pout and pucker
Into the face of the beguiled
Peek-a-boo
Peek-a-boo
Peek-a-boo (Golly jeepers)
Peek-a-boo (Where’d you get those peepers?)
Peek-a-boo (Peepshow, creepshow)
Peek-a-boo (Where did you get those eyes?)
Strobe lights pump and flicker
Dry lips crack out for more
“Come bite on this rag doll, baby!
That’s right now hit the floor”
They’re sneaking out the back door
She gets up from all fours
Rhinestone fools and silver dollars
Curdle into bitter tears
Peek-a-boo
Peek-a-boo
Peek-a-boo
Peek-a-boo
Peek-a-boo (Golly jeepers)
Peek-a-boo (Where’d you get those peepers?)
Peek-a-boo (Peepshow, creepshow)
Peek-a-boo (Where did you get those eyes?)
Peek-a-boo (Golly jeepers)
Peek-a-boo (Where’d you get those peepers?)
Peek-a-boo (Peepshow, creepshow)
Peek-a-boo (Where did you get those eyes?)
Peek-a-boo (Golly jeepers)
Peek-a-boo (Where’d you get those peepers?)
Peek-a-boo (Peepshow, creepshow)
Peek-a-boo (Where did you get those eyes?)
Where did you get those eyes?
Where did you get those eyes?
Siouxsie and the Banshees have long stood as provocateurs of the post-punk movement, their music a vibrant tapestry of sound and enigma. Among their entrancing repertoire, ‘Peekaboo’ emerges as an audacious display of aesthetic and sonic experimentation which pulls the listener into a mesmerizing waltz with the hidden corners of the psyche.
Through the carnival-esque whirl of ‘Peekaboo,’ Siouxsie Sioux and her banshees craft an aural landscape that is as jubilant as it is jarring, where playful mischief melds with sinister undercurrents. This track, off the critically acclaimed album ‘Peepshow’, balances on the knife-edge of avant-garde and accessibility, compelling the audience to ponder the multifaceted nature of observation and the observed.
The Performer Behind the Curtain
Within the winding verses of ‘Peekaboo’, a distinct motif emerges: the duality of performance. Siouxsie’s eerily invocative verses speak to a shape-shifting entity, ‘She has many guises,’ suggesting a chameleonic performer seducing the audience with calculated vulnerability. It’s this layering of personas that captivates the listener, enticing one into a dance where identities are both revealed and concealed.
The concept of ‘Playing dead and sweet submission / Cracks the whip deadpan on cue’ illustrates the performative nature of societal roles, exerting control whilst feigned helplessness. This dichotomy exposes the power dynamics often at play in human interactions, where what one perceives may only be a masquerade choreographed for the viewer’s gaze.
A Gaze Turned Inward: The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Peering beyond the shroud of entertainment, ‘Peekaboo’ delves into the intricate dance of observer and observed. The lyrics construct a narrative that encompasses the act of watching and being watched, ‘Furtive eyes peep out of holes,’ a line which evokes imagery of voyeurism and the feeling of being scrutinized under society’s unforgiving lens.
The song’s titular refrain, ‘Peek-a-boo,’ is a playful signifier that hints at deeper, more disquieting truths. This childlike game of visibility and disappearance becomes a metaphor for our public and private selves — the faces we show to the world and those we hide. Through this, the Banshees invite us to contemplate the facets of our identity we reveal and the secrets we keep, shrouded in shadow.
Decoding the Memorable Lines: ‘Where did you get those eyes?’
The haunting repetition of ‘Where did you get those eyes?’ serves to anchor the song’s hypnotic quality. It is a question that resonates on multiple levels, both as an innocent expression of amazement and a more probing inquiry into the origins of one’s perspective. The eyes, as windows to the soul, become emblematic of the influences and experiences that shape our worldview.
However, in the context of ‘Peekaboo,’ this line also conjures an atmosphere of unease. It is a plea for transparency and understanding that echoes throughout the song, resonating with the plea for authenticity in a world that prizes the superficial, and challenging the listener to confront the ‘peepshow, creepshow’ nature of reality.
The Siren’s Call: Rhyme and Rhythm as Hypnosis
The rhythmic backbone of ‘Peekaboo’ is as integral to its meaning as the lyrics themselves. The syncopated beats and stuttering staccato of the accompaniment capture the frantic energy of a mind in tumult. The oscillation between the grotesque and the gorgeous in the instrumental arrangement amplifies the sensation of a mind caught between exhilaration and trepidation.
Siouxsie’s usage of rhyme, particularly with phrases such as ‘Reeking like a pigsty / Peeling back and gagging free,’ serves not only to entice but also to disturb the senses. The interplay of the visceral and the vulnerable melds into an intoxicating spell that both ensnares and liberates the listener, echoing the thematic elements of concealment and revelation.
The Lasting Echo: ‘Peekaboo’s’ Enduring Influence
Decades after its release, the reverberations of ‘Peekaboo’ continue to be felt within the music industry and popular culture. Its innovative use of reverse samples and avant-garde soundscaping pioneered techniques that would later become commonplace. The banshees encapsulated a moment in time while simultaneously sculpting a piece of art that would transcend it.
The legacy of ‘Peekaboo’ is a testament to the power of music to challenge, provoke, and transcend traditional boundaries. Its themes resonate with the timeless human quest for understanding oneself and others in a world where appearances are often deceiving. As new generations encounter the mystique of Siouxsie and the Banshees, ‘Peekaboo’ lives on as a culturally rich, thought-provoking exploration of identity, performance, and the human gaze.
