This Woman's Work
Greg Laswell (Kate Bush) Lyrics

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Pray God
You can cope
I stand outside this woman's work
This woman's world
Ooh
It's hard on the man
Now his part is over
Now starts the craft of the father

I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left

I should be crying but I just can't let it show
I should be hoping but I can't stop thinking
Of all the things I should've said that I never said
All the things we should've done that we never did
All the things I should've given but I didn't

Oh
My darling make it go
Make it go away
Give me these moments back
Give them back to me
Give me that little kiss
Give me your hand

I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left

I should be crying but I just can't let it show
I should be hoping but I can't stop thinking
Ooh
Of all the things we should've said that were never said
All the things we should've done that we never did
All the things that you needed from me
All the things that you wanted for me
All the things that I should've given but I didn't

Oh
Darling make it go

Make it go away now
Oh

Overall Meaning

The song "This Woman's Work" by Kate Bush (covered by Greg Laswell) is a poignant and emotional ballad that captures the pain and heartache of loss and missed opportunities. The lyrics are addressed to a woman who is experiencing a difficult and strenuous moment in her life, likely the process of childbirth. The first verse sets the scene: "I stand outside this woman's work / This woman's world / Ooh / It's hard on the man / Now his part is over / Now starts the craft of the father." The singer acknowledges that while the man's role in the process is over, the true work of raising and caring for a child has just begun.

The chorus repeats the singer's knowledge of the woman's resilience and strength: "I know you have a little life in you yet / I know you have a lot of strength left." The singer also reflects on their own regrets and the things that were left unsaid and undone: "All the things we should've said that we never said / All the things we should've done that we never did / All the things that you needed from me / All the things that you wanted for me / All the things that I should've given but I didn't." The final verses repeat the plea for the pain to go away and the desire to relive the missed moments: "Give me these moments back / Give them back to me / Give me that little kiss / Give me your hand."

Overall, the song captures the intense and complex emotions that come with significant life events and the profound impact that they can have on our relationships and selves.

Line by Line Meaning

Pray God
Let us hope that God helps us.

You can cope
I know that you have the strength to handle this.

I stand outside this woman's work
As an observer, I recognize the challenges of being a woman.

This woman's world
The world is a difficult place for women.

It's hard on the man
Men also face challenges in situations like these.

Now his part is over
The man's role in this is finished.

Now starts the craft of the father
Now begins the challenging responsibility of being a father.

I know you have a little life in you yet
You still have some fight left in you.

I know you have a lot of strength left
I have faith in your resilience.

I should be crying but I just can't let it show
I should be sad, but I am trying to stay strong for you.

I should be hoping but I can't stop thinking
I should have hope, but I can't stop worrying.