One more step to the top of the city
Where just a couple of pigeons are living
Up on the angel's shoulders

I don't know if I'm closer to Heaven but
It looks like Hell down there
These streets have never been paved with gold
Welcome to the loneliest city in the world
It's no good for you baby
It's no good for you now
Keep looking up for the ladder

I don't know if you'll love me for it
But I don't think we should suffer this
There's just one thing we can do about it

Take me up to the top of the city
Take me up to the top of the city
Take me up to the top of the city
And put me up on the angel's shoulders

See how that building there is nearly built
There's a big fire over on the north of the city
I see you walking down the street with her
I see your lights going on and off
She's no good for you baby
She's no good for you now
Look I'm here with the ladder

I don't know if you love me or not
But I don't think we should ever suffer
There's just one thing we can do about this

Take me up to the top of the city
Take me up to the top of the city
Up to the highest point of the city
One more step to the top of the city
Put me up on the angel's shoulders

And I don't mind if it's dangerous
I don't mind if it's raining
Take me to the top of the city

And put me up on the angel's shoulders
Take me to the top of the city
Mmm yes, one more step to the top of the city
And put me up on the angel's shoulders

Overall Meaning

"Top of the City" is a song where Kate Bush sings of wanting to escape from the loneliness and misery of the city to a place high above it all. She wants to be taken to the top of the city where she can overlook everything and be free of the pain she's gone through there. Throughout the song, she repeats the phrase “Take me up to the top of the city” as she wants to be put on top of the angel’s shoulders, which, symbolically, represents the savior's help.

The verses describe the city as a tough place for people to live, with Hell-like conditions and a pervasive feeling of loneliness. Kate compares herself to a pigeon, a creature associated with urban environments, but unlike others, wants to escape its clutches. She finds solace in the idea that “up on the angel's shoulders” she will be able to see the city's misery and all its problems.

As the song progresses, Kate warns a lover of sticking with someone who is no good for him, but is unsure if he returns her affections. However, she is determined to help him get out of the city and escape its pitfalls by taking him with her to the top of the city. The message in "Top of the City" is that sometimes, it takes an escape to see the world from a different perspective and to find a way out of a difficult situation.

Line by Line Meaning

One more step to the top of the city
We are almost at the top, just one more step to take

Where just a couple of pigeons are living
There are only a few birds living at this height

Up on the angel's shoulders
We will be standing on the tall angel sculpture

I don't know if I'm closer to Heaven but
I don't know if this is how we get closer to Heaven, but

It looks like Hell down there
The streets below look like the place where Hell exists

These streets have never been paved with gold
The roads are not made of gold, as they say

Welcome to the loneliest city in the world
This city is known for its loneliness

It's no good for you baby
This city is not good for you, my love

It's no good for you now
It's not good for you to stay here anymore

Keep looking up for the ladder
Keep looking for a way to escape from this place

I don't know if you'll love me for it
I don't know if you will love me for this suggestion

But I don't think we should suffer this
But I don't think we should continue to endure this place

There's just one thing we can do about it
We only have one option to get out of this city

Take me up to the top of the city
Take me to the highest point of the city

And put me up on the angel's shoulders
Place me on the tall statue of an angel

See how that building there is nearly built
Look at that building, it's almost completed

There's a big fire over on the north of the city
A large fire is taking place in the north of the city

I see you walking down the street with her
I see you walking around this city with another woman

I see your lights going on and off
I can see your lights turning on and off as if there is a problem

She's no good for you baby
That woman is not good for you, my love

She's no good for you now
She can't help you in your current situation

Look I'm here with the ladder
I'm here with a way out of this place, let's leave together

I don't know if you love me or not
I don't know if you still have feelings for me

But I don't think we should ever suffer
But I don't think we should suffer anymore

Take me up to the top of the city
Take me to the highest point of the city

Up to the highest point of the city
Let's go up to the highest point of the city

And put me up on the angel's shoulders
And let's stand on the tall statue of an angel

And I don't mind if it's dangerous
I don't care if it's risky or perilous

I don't mind if it's raining
I don't care if it's pouring rain outside

Mmm yes, one more step to the top of the city
Yes, we are almost there, one more step left!

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