I think this is one of Kate Bush's most misunderstood songs. Listen to the lyrics VS. the music. This is a song about a woman being chronically abused while desperately trying to maintain. Her calm assurances that everything would be fine if you just stayed out of her business are at first set against nice calm music (although she slips in an early hint "WHERE angels fear to tread" - the WHERE is a hysterical shriek), but as her voice gradually becomes more desperate, the background music becomes more violent, incorporating violent percussion and shrieks. "Every day and night I pray" takes on a second meaning by the end, as she is no longer singing it as part of the rest of the sentence of (that you will stay away). It is the perfect expression of a woman trapped in an abusive relationship and the psychological double-bind of pretending everything is OK while desperately needing the violence to stop. "Let the pendulum swing" is followed by the sound of crashing symbols. Listen to it with this in mind. I think you will be amazed at the subtlety and also the horror. Kate is good at using layers to express the kind terror that sneaks up on you. Just like in The Fog - where the lyrics are innocuous but the music is ominous.
pandorawombat: Not exactly. In Kate's own words: "It's about a relationship being a very finely balanced thing that can be easily thrown off by a third party. The whole thing really came from a line in 'The Godfather', during some family argument, when Marlon Brando says, "Don't interfere, it's between a man and a woman." It's exploring the idea of trying to keep a relationship together, how outside forces can break into it... Rubbish really, but I quite like the cello." (Len Brown, 'In The Realm Of The Senses'. NME (UK), 7 October 1989) "It is perhaps about how you actually have that choice sometimes, whether to interfere or not. You know, there's this tendency to want to leap in and take over and control: "Oh, I know best!"; when I think a relationship is a very delicate balance: it's very easily tipped, and then needs to be refound again." (Steve Sutherland, 'The Language Of Love'. Melody Maker (UK), 21 October 1989)
Never heard of any of her songs, but I was reading an article where this was inspired by the movie, “The Godfather”. I guess I will have to go back and read the entire article to see why
With her hand in his hand They were both happy again You started taking sides They started arguing He said it was her fault She said it wasn't at all But the truth lies somewhere in the middle Where angels fear to tread you go rushing in Well I had to tell you then And now I'm telling you again Stay out of this You must not interfere Don't you see this is Between a man and a woman? Every day and night I pray And pray that you will stay away forever It's so hard for love to stay together With the modern Western pressures I don't want to say it But I had to tell you then And now I'm telling you again Stay out of this Oh, I know you mean to help me And I know you've good intentions But stay out of this This isn't your problem Do not interfere, you are not needed here Let the pendulum swing Between a man and a woman Don't you see you're in the way Between a man and a woman Every day and night I pray Let the pendulum swing Between a man and a woman Between a man and a woman
In a Godfather 1 deleted scene it was Marlon Brando aka Don Vito who told Sonny not to interfere as Connie going downstairs crying of having a marital argument with her husband Carlo
Ι made it :) and I m thrilled you liked it! thank you. Don't you think Mary Steenbergen looks so much like Kate? I was spooked when I first saw this movie.
Indeed, the resemblance is striking and I believe that Kate Bush would've done something like that herself, perhaps even naming the charecter Fake Bush :D :)
