With my ego in my gut
My babbling mouth would wash it up
(But now I've started learning how)
I keep it shut

My door was never locked
Until one day a trigger come, cocking
(But now I've started learning how)
I keep it shut

Wide eyes would clean and dust
Things that decay, things that rust
(But now I've started learning how)
I keep 'em shut
I keep 'em shut

Harm is in us
Harm is in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
("Leave it open!")
Harm is in us, but power to arm

Narrow mind would persecute it
Die a little to get to it
(But now I've started learning how)
I leave it open

I kept it in a cage
Watched it weeping, but I made it stay
(But now I've started learning how)
I leave it open
I leave it open

Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm

Harm is in us
("Leave it open!")
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
("Leave it open!")
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Har in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us [Repeat: x6]
Harm in you and in me!

What you letting in?
Tell me what you're letting in.
Say what we're gonna let in!

"We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in."

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kate Bush's song "Leave It Open" are somewhat cryptic, but their overall theme appears to be about the complexities of vulnerability and self-protection. Throughout the song, Bush describes how she once kept her guard up, both emotionally and physically, but has now gained the strength and courage to open up and let the "weirdness" in.

The opening lines, "With my ego in my gut, my babbling mouth would wash it up," seem to suggest a tendency towards self-absorption and talking too much. However, Bush says that she has learned to keep her ego "shut," implying that she has become more humble and introspective. This idea is reinforced in the next stanza, where Bush says that she used to "clean and dust things that decay, things that rust," but now she keeps them "shut," meaning that she no longer tries to control or fix everything around her.

The third stanza, which features the repeated line "Harm is in us," suggests that Bush is acknowledging the darker elements of human nature, including the potential for violence and destruction. However, she alsos recognizes that there is also the "power to arm," meaning the ability to protect oneself or others. The rest of the song alternates between imagery of doors opening and closing, with Bush ultimately declaring that she will "leave it open" and let the "weirdness" in.

Overall, the lyrics of "Leave It Open" seem to be about the process of breaking down one's barriers and learning to trust oneself and others. Bush uses a variety of metaphors to convey this idea, including doors, cages, and cleaning supplies, but the central message remains the same: true strength comes not from shutting oneself off from the world, but from opening up and embracing all parts of oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

With my ego in my gut
My confidence and self-importance reside deep inside me

My babbling mouth would wash it up
My talkative nature used to make my ego more prominent

(But now I've started learning how)
However, I've begun to understand

I keep it shut
And keep my ego hidden instead of boasting about it

My door was never locked
I used to be open to everything and everyone

Until one day a trigger come, cocking
Until a situation that triggered me occurred

Wide eyes would clean and dust
I used to ignore the things that were decaying and rusty

Things that decay, things that rust
All the things that deteriorate with time

I keep 'em shut
I now choose to ignore those things

Harm is in us
We all have the potential to harm others and ourselves

Harm is in us, but power to arm
However, we also have the strength to protect ourselves from harm

("Leave it open!")
(Here the persona ask herself to leave the harm open instead of shielding oneself from it)

Narrow mind would persecute it
People with narrow thinking would criticize it and hate it

Die a little to get to it
They would even put themselves into danger to get close enough to it

I leave it open
But now I choose to leave that door open, to embrace the unknown thought it might pose threats

I kept it in a cage
My fear kept my ability to be open and embrace the uncertain in check

Watched it weeping, but I made it stay
I realized how much it hurt to keep my curious nature caged, but I still chose to keep it that way

("Leave it open!")
(Here, the persona reaffirms to herself that she needs to leave it open now)

Harm is in us
We all have the potential to harm others and ourselves

What you letting in?
The persona is asking others what they choose to embrace

Tell me what you're letting in.
She's encouraging people to speak up and share their decisions

Say what we're gonna let in!
She's reminding everyone to consciously choose what they allow into their lives

"We let the weirdness in."
The idea of strangeness is now embraced and will be allowed in

"We let the weirdness in."
The same sentiment

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