Music and British Identity: Kate Bush

Primary members: Kate Bush and various personnel
Band Biography
Albums of focus: Hounds of Love (1985)
Background information: Barry Walters's essay, "Kate Bush: Hounds of Love"
Songs for study:

From Hounds of Love (1985):
  1. "Running Up that Hill (A Deal with God)"
  2. "Hounds of Love"
  3. "The Big Sky"
  4. "Mother Stands for Comfort"
  5. "Cloudbusting"
  6. "And Dream of Sheep"
  7. "Under Ice"
  8. "Waking the Witch"
  9. "Watching You without Me"
  10. "Jig of Life"
  11. "Hello Earth"
  12. "The Morning Fog"

 

"I was trying to say that, really, a man and a woman can't understand each other because we are a man and a woman. And if we could actually swap each other's roles, if we could actually be in each other's place for a while, I think we'd both be very surprised! [Laughs] And I think it would lead to a greater understanding. And really the only way I could think it could be done was either... you know, I thought a deal with the devil, you know. And I thought, 'well, no, why not a deal with God!' You know, because in a way it's so much more powerful the whole idea of asking God to make a deal with you. You see, for me it is still called "Deal With God", that was its title. But we were told that if we kept this title that it would not be played in any of the religious countries, Italy wouldn't play it, France wouldn't play it, and Australia wouldn't play it! Ireland wouldn't play it, and that generally we might get it blacked purely because it had God in the title."
-- Kate Bush, interview with Richard Skinner, 26 January 1992

It doesn't hurt me
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you want to know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
Do you want to hear about the deal that I'm making?
You, it's you and me

And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
Be running up that road
Be running up that hill
Be running up that building
See if I only could, oh

You don't want to hurt me
But see how deep the bullet lies
Unaware I'm tearing you asunder
Ooh, there is thunder in our hearts

Is there so much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
You, it's you and me
It's you and me, won't be unhappy

And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
Be running up that road
Be running up that hill
Be running up that building
Say, if I only could, oh

You
It's you and me
It's you and me, won't be unhappy

Oh come on, baby
Oh come on, darling
Let me steal this moment from you now
Oh come on, angel
Come on, come on, darling
Let's exchange the experience, oh

And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
I'd be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems

Say, if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
I'd be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems

So if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
I'd be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems

Say, if I only could
I'd be running up that hill
With no problems

 

It's in the trees
It's coming

When I was a child
Running in the night
Afraid of what might be

Hiding in the dark
Hiding in the street
And of what was following me

Now hounds of love are hunting
I've always been a coward
And I don't know what's good for me

Here I go
It's coming for me through the trees
Help me someone
Help me please

 

Take my shoes off
And throw them in the lake
And I'll be
Two steps on the water

I found a fox
Caught by dogs
He let me take him in my hands

His little heart
It beats so fast
And I'm ashamed of running away

From nothing real
I just can't deal with this
But I'm still afraid to be there

Among your hounds of love
And feel your arms surround me
I've always been a coward
And never know what's good for me

Oh here I go
Don't let me…

They look down
At the ground
Missing
But I never go in now

I'm looking at the big sky
I'm looking at the big sky now
I'm looking at the big sky
You never really understood me
You never really tried

That cloud, that cloud
Looks like Ireland
C'mon and blow it a kiss now
But quick

'Cause its changing in the big sky
Its changing in the big sky now
Were looking at the big sky
You never understood me
You never really tried

This cloud, this cloud
Says Noah
C'mon and build me an ark
And if you're coming, jump
'Cause were leaving with the big sky
Were leaving with the big sky
Were leaving with the big sky
Were looking at the
Were looking at the
And we pause for the jets
Hup, hup, in the big sky

 

Were leaving with the big sky
You want my reply?
What was the question?
I was looking at the big sky

Were looking at the
Tell 'em, sisters
Rolling over like a great big cloud
Rolling over with the big sky
Rolling over like a great big cloud
Rolling over with the big sky
Rolling over like a great big cloud
Rolling over with the big sky
Rolling over like a great big cloud
Rolling over with the big sky

Rolling over like a great big cloud
Rolling over with the big sky
Rolling over like a great big cloud
Rolling over with the big sky
Rolling over like a great big cloud
Rolling over with the big sky
Rolling over like a great big cloud
Rolling over with the big sky
Rolling over like a great big cloud
Rolling over with the big sky
Rolling over like a great big cloud
Rolling over with the big sky

 

She knows that I've been doing something wrong
But she won't say anything
She thinks that I was with my friends yesterday
But she won't mind me lying
Because

Mother stands for comfort
Mother will hide the murderer

It breaks the cage, and fear escapes and takes possession
Just like a crowd rioting inside
(Make me do this, make me do that, make me do this, make me do that)
Am I the cat that takes the bird
To her the hunted, not the hunter?

Mother stands for comfort
Mother will hide the murderer
Mother hides the madman
Mother will stay mum

Mother stands for comfort
Mother will stay mum
Stands for comfort

 

I still dream of Orgonon
I wake up crying
You're making rain
And you're just in reach
When you and sleep escape me

You're like my yo-yo
That glowed in the dark
What made it special
Made it dangerous
So I bury it
And forget

But every time it rains
You're here in my head
Like the sun coming out
Ooh, I just know that something good is gonna happen
I don't know when
But just saying it could even make it happen

On top of the world
Looking over the edge
You could see them coming
You looked too small
In their big black car
To be a threat to the men in power

I hid my yo-yo
In the garden
I can't hide you
From the government
Oh, God, Daddy
I won't forget

'Cause every time it rains
You're here in my head
Like the sun coming out
Ooh, I just know that something good is gonna happen
I don't know when
But just saying it could even make it happen

And every time it rains
You're here in my head
Like the sun coming out
Like your son's coming out
Ooh, I just know that something good is going to happen
And I don't know when
But just saying it could even make it happen

Ooh, just saying it could even make it happen

We've been cloudbusting daddy

Your son's coming out
Your son's coming out

 


Little light shining
Little light will guide them to me
My face is all lit up
My face is all lit up
If they find me racing white horses
They'll not take me for a buoy

Let me be weak, let me sleep and dream of sheep
Oh I'll wake up to any sound of engines
Every gull a seeking craft
I can't keep my eyes open
Wish I had my radio
I'd tune into some friendly voices

Talking 'bout stupid things
I can't be left to my imagination
Let me be weak, let me sleep and dream of sheep
Ooh, their breath is warm
And they smell like sleep
And they say they take me home
Like poppies, heavy with seed
They take me deeper and deeper

It's wonderful
Everywhere, so white
The river has frozen over
Not a soul on the ice
Only me skating fast
I'm speeding past trees
Leaving little lines in the ice
Cotting out, little lines in the ice
Splitting, splitting sound
Silver heels spitting, spitting snow

There's something moving under
Under the ice moving
Under ice through water
Trying to
It's me
Get out of the cold water
It's me
Something
It's me
Someone, help them

 

Wake up
A good morning, ma'am
Your early morning call
You must wake up
Wake up
Wake up, man!
Wake up, child!
Pay attention!
Come on, wake up!
Wake up, love!
We should make the night
But see your little lights alive
Stop that lying and sleeping in bed, get up!
(Ma needs a shower, get out of bed)
Little light
Can you not see that little light up there?
Where?
There!
Where?
Over here
You still in bed?
Wake up, sleepy head!
We are of the going water and the gone
We are of water in the Holy Land of water
Don't you know you've kept him waiting
Look who's here to see you!

Listen to me, listen to me, baby!
Listen, baby, help me!
Baby, help me, help me!
Listen to me, talk to me!

You won't burn (red, red roses)
You won't bleed (pinks and posies)
Confess to me, girl (red, red roses, go down)

Spiritus Sanctus in nomine
Spiritus Sanctus in nomine
Spiritus Sanctus in nomine
Spiritus Sanctus in nomine

Poor little thing (red, red roses)
The blackbird (pinks and posies)
Wings in the water (red, red roses)
Go down (go down)
(Pinks and posies)

Deus et dei domino inferno
Deus et dei domino inferno
Deus et dei domino inferno
Deus et dei domino inferno

What is it, child?

Bless me, father, bless me father, for I have sinned

Help me, listen to me, listen to me, tell me (red, red roses)
Help me, baby, don't go (red, red ro)

I question your innocence
She's a witch
(Help this blackbird, there's a stone around my leg)
Ha, damn you, woman
(Help this blackbird, there's a stone around my leg)
What say you, good people
(Guilty, guilty, guilty)
Well, are you responsible for your actions?
(This blackbird)
Not guilty (help this blackbird)
Wake up the witch

Get out of the waves!
Get out of the water!

 

You can't hear me
You can't hear me
You can't hear what I'm saying
You can't hear what I'm saying to you

You watch the clock
Move the slow hand
I should have been home
Hours ago
But I'm not here
But I'm not here

You can't hear me
You can't hear me
You can't feel me
Here in the room with you now
You can't hear what I'm saying
You don't hear what I'm saying, do you?

Can't let you know
What's been happening
There's a ghost in our home
Just watching you without me
I'm not here
(You don't hear me)
But I'm not here (you can't hear me)
But I'm not here (you don't hear what I'm saying)

Don't ignore, don't ignore me
Let me?
Don't ignore, don't ignore me
Let me?
Don't ignore, don't ignore me
Let me?
We see you here

You don't hear me come in
Help me, baby! help me, baby! talk to me! listen to me
Listen to me! talk to me! help
(You can't hear me)
Listen, baby! listen to me, baby! help me, help me, baby
Talk to me! talk to me! please, baby, talk to me
(You can't hear me)
You won't hear me leaving

 

 

Hello, old lady
I know your face well
I know it well

She says
I'll be sitting in your mirror
Now is the place where the crossroads meet
Will you look into the future?

Never, never say goodbye
To my part of your life
No, no, no, no, no
Oh, oh, oh

Let me live
She said
C'mon and let me live, girl
She said
C'mon and let me live, girl
(C'mon and let me live)

This moment in time
(She said)
It doesn't belong to you
(She said)
It belongs to me

And to your little boy and to your little girl
And the one hand clapping
Where on your palm is my little line
When you're written in mine
As an old memory?

Never, never say goodbye
To my part of your life
Oh no, no, no, no, no
Never, never, never
Never, never let me go

She said
C'mon and let me live, girl
(C'mon and let me live)
She said
C'mon and let me live, girl
(C'mon and let me live)

I put this moment here
I put this moment here
I put this moment
Over here
Over here

Can't you see where memories are kept bright?
Tripping on the water like a laughing girl
Time in her eyes is spawning past life
One with the ocean and the woman unfurled
Holding all the love that waits for you here
Catch us now for I am your future

A kiss on the wind and we'll make the land
Come over here to where When lingers
Waiting in this empty world
Waiting for Then, when the lifespray cools
For Now does ride in on the curl of the wave
And you will dance with me in the sunlit pools

We are of the going water and the gone
We are of water in the holy land of water
And all that's to come runs in
With the thrust on the strand

Hello earth
Hello earth

With just one hand held up high
I can blot you out
Out of sight

Peek-a-boo,
Peek-a-boo, little earth
With just my heart and my mind
I can be driving
Driving home
And you asleep
On the seat

I get out of my car
Step into the night
And look up at the sky
And there's something bright
Traveling fast
Look at it go
Look at it go

Hello earth
Hello earth

Watching storms
Start to form
Over America
Can't do anything
Just watch them swing
With the wind out to sea

All you sailors
(Get out of the waves, get out of the water)
All life-savers,
(Get out of the waves, get out of the water)
All you cruisers,
(Get out of the waves, get out of the water)
All you fishermen
Head for home

Go to sleep, little earth
I was there at the birth
Out of the cloudburst
The head of the tempest
Murderer
Murder of calm
Why did I go?
Why did I go?

Tiefer, tiefer
Irgendwo in der tiefe
Gibt es ein licht

Go to sleep little earth

 

The light
Begin to bleed
Begin to breathe
Begin to speak
D'you know what?
I love you better now

I am falling
Like a stone
Like a storm
Being born again
Into the sweet morning fog

D'you know what?
The love you better now

I'm falling
And I'd love to hold you know
I'll kiss the ground
I'll tell my mother

I'll tell my father
I'll tell my loved one
I'll tell my brothers
How much I love them