Breathing
Bush (Kate) Lyrics
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Gets inside
Through her skin
I've been out before
But this time it's much safer in
Last night in the sky
Such a bright light
But my instincts tell me to keep
Breathing
(Out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing
Breathing my mother in
Breathing my beloved in
Breathing
Breathing her nicotine
Breathing
Breathing the fall-out in
Out in, out in, out in, out in
We've lost our chance
We're the first and the last, ooh
After the blast
Chips of plutonium
Are twinkling in every lung
I love my
Beloved, ooh
All and everywhere
Only the fools blew it
You and me
Knew life itself is
Breathing
(Out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing
Breathing my mother in
Breathing my beloved in
Breathing
Breathing her nicotine
Breathing
Breathing the fall-out in
Out in, out in, out in, out in
Out in, out in, out in, out
(Out, out, out)
(What are we going to do without)
Ooh please!
(What are we going to do without)
Let me breathe!
(What are we going to do without)
Ooh, breath in
(We are all going to die without)
Leave me something to breathe!
(What are we going to do without)
Oh, leave me something to breathe!
(We are all going to die without)
Oh, God, please leave us something to breathe!
(What are we going to do without)
Oh, life is
In "Breathing," Kate Bush provides an unflinching and poignant commentary on the danger of nuclear warfare and the potential destruction of humanity which results from this. Through the lyrics, Bush depicts an eerie but realistic picture of a post-apocalyptic world where individuals are faced with the devastating consequences of nuclear war. She describes the experience of breathing in air that is contaminated with radioactive particles, expressing a sense of desperation and hopelessness as people are forced to accept their fates.
In the first verse, Bush conveys a sense of dread as she speaks of how even the outside can get inside through one's skin. She has been "out" before, but this time, she is safer in, thus highlighting the severity of the danger that one faces in the outside world. In the line "My radar sends me danger," Bush points out that individuals can sense the danger of nuclear war, but their instincts tell them to keep breathing, alluding to the fact that humans can do little to prevent the destruction of their own existence.
As the song progresses, Bush continues to highlight the overwhelming despair that results from a nuclear war, where their chance for survival is scarce. In the lines "Chips of plutonium/Are twinkling in every lung," Bush depicts the horror of nuclear fallout where even the air that one breathes is infected by radioactive elements. However, amidst all of the chaos, love remains, with the singer describing the comfort that one gets from breathing their beloved or mother in, even though they know it is killing them.
In conclusion, "Breathing" is a haunting yet poignant song that speaks to the pain and suffering that nuclear war can cause. Its lyrics convey the sense of despair, horror, and hopelessness that humanity would encounter if such a war broke out.
Line by Line Meaning
Outside
The external world
Gets inside
Has the ability to permeate the barrier of her physical body
Through her skin
Through the organ that covers the surface of her body
I've been out before
The artist was exposed to the external world previously
But this time it's much safer in
It feels safer to retreat within oneself this time
Last night in the sky
An event that occurred in the night sky recently
Such a bright light
A powerful and illuminating light
My radar send me danger
A warning signal from an instrument designed to detect threats
But my instincts tell me to keep
Despite warnings, the artist has an inherent feeling to persist
Breathing
The act of inhaling and exhaling air
(Out, in, out, in, out, in)
The physical process of breathing in a rhythmic pattern
Breathing my mother in
Inhaling the breath of one's mother
Breathing my beloved in
Inhaling the breath of the singer's beloved
Breathing her nicotine
Inhaling the smoke from nicotine, likely from a cigarette
Breathing the fall-out in
Inhaling the aftermath of a nuclear explosion
We've lost our chance
The opportunity to prevent something has passed
We're the first and the last, ooh
The artist and their generation are both the beginning and the end of humanity
After the blast
Referring to a nuclear explosion
Chips of plutonium
Small pieces of a highly radioactive metal
Are twinkling in every lung
Indicating that the harmful particles from the explosion have been inhaled by all
I love my
The artist's affection for someone or something
Beloved, ooh
The person or thing that the artist loves
All and everywhere
A declaration that their love includes all things and others
Only the fools blew it
Implies that those responsible for the disastrous situation were foolish and careless
You and me
The singer and the listener or another person
Knew life itself is
Understood the fundamental nature of existence
Ooh please!
An exclamation of desperation
Let me breathe!
A plea to be allowed to continue living and inhaling air
Ooh, breath in
An instruction to the self or others to inhale deeply
Leave me something to breathe!
A request for the means to continue inhaling air
Oh, God, please leave us something to breathe!
A plea for divine intervention in order for humanity to survive
Oh, life is
A statement about the nature of existence
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KATE BUSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steve Ender
Outside
Gets inside
Through her skin
I've been out before
But this time it's much safer in
Last night in the sky
Such a bright light
My radar send me danger
But my instincts tell me to keep
Breathing
(Out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing
Breathing my mother in
Breathing my beloved in
Breathing
Breathing her nicotine
Breathing
Breathing the fall-out in
Out in, out in, out in, out in
We've lost our chance
We're the first and the last, ooh
After the blast
Chips of plutonium
Are twinkling in every lung
I love my
Beloved, ooh
All and everywhere
Only the fools blew it
You and me
Knew life itself is
Breathing
(Out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing
Breathing my mother in
Breathing my beloved in
Breathing
Breathing her nicotine
Breathing
Breathing the fall-out in
Out in, out in, out in, out in
Out in, out in, out in, out
(Out, out, out)
Ooh please!
(What are we going to do without)
Let me breathe!
(What are we going to do without)
Ooh, breath in
(We are all going to die without)
Leave me something to breathe!
(What are we going to do without)
Oh, leave me something to breathe!
(We are all going to die without)
Oh, God, please leave us something to breathe!
(What are we going to do without)
Oh, life is
Source: LyricFind
Just a random shyness
Lyrics:-
Outside gets inside
Ooh-ooh, through her skin
I've been out before
But this time it's much safer in
Last night in the sky
Ooh-ooh, such a bright light
My radar send me danger
But my instincts tell me to keep
Breathing (out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing, breathing my mother in (out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing my beloved in (out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing, breathing her nicotine (out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing, breathing the fall (out, in, out, in, out, in)
Out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in
We've lost our chance
We're the first and last, ooh
After the blast, chips of plutonium
Are twinkling in every lung
I love my beloved, ooh
All and everywhere
Only the fools blew it
You and me knew life itself is
Breathing (out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing, breathing my mother in (out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing my beloved in (out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing, breathing her nicotine (out, in, out, in, out, in)
Breathing, breathing the fall (out, in, out, in, out, in)
Out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in
Out, in, out, in, out, in, out
Out, out, out, out
Difference between a small nuclear explosion
And a large one by a very simple method
The calling card of a nuclear bomb is the blinding flash
That is far more dazzling than any light on earth
Brighter even than the sun itself
And it is by the duration of this flash
That we are able to determine the size of the weapon (what are we going to do without?)
After the flash a fireball can be seen to rise
Sucking up under it the debris, dust and living things
Around the area of the explosion
And as this ascends, it soon becomes recognizable
As the familiar mushroom cloud
As a demonstration of the flash duration test
Let's try and count the number of seconds for the flash
Emitted by a very small bomb then a more substantial, medium sized bomb
And finally, one of our very powerful high yield bombs
What are we going to do without? (Ooh, please)
What are we going to do without? (Oh, let me breathe)
What are we going to do without? (Ooh, quick, breathe in deep)
We are all going to die without (oh, leave me something to breathe)
What are we going to do without? (Oh, leave me something to breathe)
We are all going to die without (oh God, please leave us something to breathe)
What are we going to do without? (Oh, life is)
franck varona
[Verse 1]
Outside gets inside
Through her skin
I've been out before
But this time it's much safer in
[Verse 2]
Last night in the sky
Such a bright light
My radar send me danger
But my instincts tell me to keep
[Chorus]
Breathing
Out, in, out, in, out, in
Breathing, breathing my mother in
Breathing my beloved in
Breathing, breathing her nicotine
Breathing, breathing the fallout in
Out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in
[Verse 3]
We've lost our chance
We're the first and the last, ooh
After the blast
Chips of Plutonium are twinkling in every lung
[Verse 4]
I love my beloved, ooh
All and everywhere
Only the fools blew it
You and me knew life itself is
[Chorus]
Breathing
Out, in, out, in, out, in
Breathing, breathing my mother in
Breathing my beloved in
Breathing, breathing her nicotine
Breathing, breathing the fallout in
Out in, out in, out in, out in
Out in, out in, out in, out...
Out... out... out... out... out...
[Bridge]
"In point of fact it is possible to tell the difference between a small nuclear explosion and a large one by a very simple method
The calling card of a nuclear bomb is the blinding flash that
Is far more dazzling than any light on earth - brighter even than the sun itself - and it is by the duration of this flash that we are able to determine the size of the weapon..."
What are we going to do without..?
"After the flash a fireball can be seen to rise, sucking up under it the debris, dust and living things around the area of the explosion and as this ascends, it soon becomes recognisable as the familiar 'mushroom cloud'. As a demonstration of the flash duration test, let's try and count the number of seconds for the flash emitted by a very small bomb; then a more substantial, medium-sized bomb; and finally, one of our very powerful 'high-yield' bombs."
[Outro]
What are we going to do without...
Ooh, please!
What are we going to do without..?
Let me breathe!
What are we going to do without..?
Ooh, quick!
We are all going to die without...
Breathe in deep!
What are we going to do without..?
Oh, leave me something to breathe!
We are all going to die without...
Oh, leave me something to breathe!
What are we going to do without..?
Oh, God, please leave us something to breathe!
We are all going to die without...
Oh, life is...
Sam Jackson
Just realised that this is a song about a pregnant woman in a nuclear attack/blast. It’s about the baby’s point of view. It’s so dark and haunting and yet still so amazing!!!
Heyo!
Oh wow! I never thought of that
Old Vegan Gal
She was so far ahead of her time. Consider that Chernobyl happened 6 years after she recorded this song. We, of that generation, were the first to be constantly confronted with instant death or slow radiation poisoning from fallout. Basically, annihilation on a global scale. It was a genuine and existential fear. In the future, especially the distant future, archeologists will know the dividing line of when a human died based on their remains; prior to, or after, Chernobyl...it's in all of us now...forever.
Adela Tománková
Reminds me of the baby from Barefoot Gen!
Heidi Hans
Its about smoking whilst pregnant - " breathing, breathing your nicotine"
dancingduade
The fact that she was only 21 when this was written and released just shows the quality of the artist.
McSlobo
According to one documentary she had made 100 songs by the age of 15. Of those she played "40 to 50" to David Gilmour so it's probably not just a legend.
MagicPants
McSlobo yeah I remember reading about the process of them culling songs down for The Kick Inside. She had like 100 songs by the time she recorded the first album lol
Pawn Hearts
dancingduade Best feamle prog artist
Fingers Crossed
I think all of her songs are to that quality tbf.