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The Painter's Link
Kate Bush Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's raining
What has become of my painting
All the colors are running

So all the colors run
So all the colors run
See what they've become
A wonderful sunset

Overall Meaning

Kate Bush's song The Painter's Link is a melancholic and introspective representation of the creative process of an artist. The opening lines, "It's raining, what has become of my painting, all the colors are running," imply a sense of disappointment and despair. The artist's work has been affected by circumstances beyond their control, a metaphor for life's unpredictable nature. Bush beautifully encapsulates the idea that as we go through life, we create something beautiful, only to watch it be eroded by time and external forces, and we are powerless to do anything about it.


The repeated lines "So all the colors run, see what they've become, a wonderful sunset" convey a sense of hope amid despair. A sunset is often viewed as a metaphorical representation of the end of something, which is what Bush implies in this song. As the painting is ruined by the rain, the colors run and merge, creating a new landscape. This gives the artist a new perspective on their creation and an appreciation for the beauty that emerges amidst destruction. Ultimately, the song is a reflection on the impermanence of everything, from art to life, and an acknowledgment that despite this, beauty can still flourish.


Line by Line Meaning

It's raining
The weather is currently rainy


What has become of my painting
What happened to my painting, what state is it currently in


All the colors are running
All the colors in the painting are bleeding or mixing together due to the rain


So all the colors run
The colors are running together, creating a new image


See what they've become
Observe the new image formed by the running colors


A wonderful sunset
The new image formed by the running colors resembles a beautiful sunset




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KATE BUSH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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