Hide and Seek (Howard Jones song)

"Hide and Seek" is a song by English musician Howard Jones, released in February 1984 as the third single from his debut studio album, Human's Lib. It reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. Musically, the song is darker than other songs by Jones, featuring an eerie gothic-tinged sound that is comparable to dark ambient.

The B-sides, "Tao Te Ching" and "China Dance", are both instrumentals. All tracks were written by Jones.

Jones performed a solo acoustic version of the song at the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert. The track reached the top 5 in many countries including Ireland and has been covered by many artists, including a version by the band Gregorian on their fourth Masters of Chant album.

The theme of the song, is the story of the origin of the universe according to Buddhist, Advaita Vedanta (Hinduism) and other Eastern ontological philosophies. The original being manifests the universe and then 'loses' him/herself (Jones uses both, to defeat the duality of gender) in the creation, as part of a game of hide and seek, with the goal of life being to discover that one is nothing other than the original primordial being.

A re-recorded, longer version of the song was released on the album Perform.00 in 2000.

Track listing

 * 7″
 * 1) "Hide & Seek" – 4:49
 * 2) "Tao Te Ching" – 3:52


 * 12″
 * 1) "Hide & Seek" (long version) – 8:30
 * 2) "Tao Te Ching" – 3:52
 * 3) "China Dance" – 3:50


 * UK limited edition 10″
 * 1) "Hide & Seek" (concert version)
 * 2) "Hide & Seek" – 4:49
 * 3) "Tao Te Ching" – 3:52


 * UK limited edition 7″ square shaped picture disc
 * 1) "Hide & Seek" (long version) – 8:30
 * 2) "Tao Te Ching" – 3:52
 * 3) "China Dance" – 3:50