Catherine Bush, professionally known as Kate Bush, is an English singer, so… Read Full Bio ↴Catherine Bush, professionally known as Kate Bush, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, dancer and record producer. In 1978, aged 19, she topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks with her debut single "Wuthering Heights", becoming the first female artist to achieve a UK number one with a self-written song. Bush has since released 25 UK Top 40 singles, including the Top 10 hits "The Man with the Child in His Eyes", "Babooshka", "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)", "Don't Give Up" (a duet with Peter Gabriel) and "King of the Mountain". All 10 of her studio albums reached the UK Top 10, including the UK number one albums Never for Ever (1980), Hounds of Love (1985) and the compilation The Whole Story (1986). She was the first British solo female artist to top the UK album charts and the first female artist to enter the album chart at number one.

Bush began writing songs at 11. She was signed to EMI Records after Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour helped produce a demo tape. Her debut album, The Kick Inside, was released in 1978. Bush slowly gained artistic independence in album production and has produced all her studio albums since The Dreaming (1982). She took a hiatus between her seventh and eighth albums, The Red Shoes (1993) and Aerial (2005). Bush drew attention again in 2014 with her concert residency Before the Dawn, her first show since 1979's The Tour of Life.

The TV series "Stranger Things" used Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" in Season 4. As a result of the resurgence of interest, in 2022 the song reached #1 on the UK charts, 37 years after its initial release, and generated 100s of millions of streams.

Bush's eclectic and experimental musical style, unconventional lyrics, performances, and literary themes have influenced a diverse range of artists. She has been nominated for 13 British Phonographic Industry accolades, winning for Best British Female Artist in 1987, and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards. In 2002, Bush was recognized with an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. Bush was appointed a CBE in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to music. She was nominated three times for induction in the 2018, 2021, and 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Cussi Cussi
Kate Bush Lyrics

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Please
Don't be-e afraid of this
Coz' we don't move the way they do.
Surely you don't love them?
So why hide it away from me?

Please be easy you got it I haven't,
Somewhere in your "harmineenou, home-arneenou"

There's a room in a long form
Where you just play a tune
It gets us really stoned,

Really amazingly,
Cussi, Cussi, Cussi,
Cussi, Cussi, Cussi. Ah.

Don't let them in
When you see that secret smile.
Baby, don't let them in
When you feel the ribbons eye.

You get the wrong idea,
You'll get broken,
And you never let yourself go again with me.

And I've notice in your eyes
A sadness I don't like.
To recognise
You are feeling a heavy side of your ecstacy.

Now you're getting to me,
So that I can I hardly bear it.
So that I can I hardly bear it.
No no,
Don't get too deep.

Don't let them in
When you see that secret smile.
Baby, don't let them in
When you feel the ribbons eye.

You get the wrong idea,
You'll get broken,

And you never let yourself go again with me,
Properly.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kate Bush's song "Cussi Cussi" seem to be about a narrative where the singer is trying to convince her partner to open up to her without fear of judgment or shame. The first verse is about the couple's different ways of moving and their differences from the rest of the world. The singer is trying to encourage her partner not to hide their true self because she loves them and wants them to show her who they are.

The second verse moves onto the idea of the "secret smile" and the "ribbons eye" – which are metaphors for the pleasures that her partner denies themselves. She cautions her partner not to let shame have them give in to fear, because if they do, they may never allow themselves to experience true pleasure with her again. The final verse delves into the singer's concerns about her partner's emotional state. The cyclic repetition of "don't let them in" indicates that there is a sense of protecting oneself, and also a sense of wanting to protect the other from living in fear. The singer doesn't want her partner to get too deep into the heavy, sad side of the ecstasy that they are feeling, because she cares for them too much to see them hurt.

Overall, the song seems to be a reminder that we are all unique individuals who move differently in this world, and that we should never be ashamed of our true desires and pleasures. We should always strive to be true to ourselves and never give in to the fear of judgment or shame. We should also always take care of our partners and protect them from fear and harm while encouraging them to be themselves fully.

Line by Line Meaning

Please
A request for attention

Don't be-e afraid of this
Don't be scared of what I'm about to reveal

Coz' we don't move the way they do.
Our behavior is different from those around us

Surely you don't love them?
An inquiry to determine if there are other affectionate feelings

So why hide it away from me?
Asking why they keep such feelings a secret

Please be easy you got it I haven't,
Asking to take things slowly because of the singer's lack of experience

Somewhere in your "harmineenou, home-arneenou"
A reference to an unknown place or state of mind

There's a room in a long form
A metaphorical place in the person's mind

Where you just play a tune
Where the person's thoughts flow freely

It gets us really stoned,
The feeling of being high on emotion

Really amazingly,
An expression of wonder and astonishment

Cussi, Cussi, Cussi,
A nonsensical phrase, perhaps representing an altered state of mind

Don't let them in
A warning not to let others find out about the person's feelings

When you see that secret smile.
When revealing that smile that hides a secret

Baby, don't let them in
A term of endearment emphasizing the importance of keeping their secret between them

When you feel the ribbons eye.
When experiencing an intense rush of emotion

You get the wrong idea,
Misunderstanding their true intentions

You'll get broken,
A warning that it could lead to heartbreak

And you never let yourself go again with me.
If this secret is revealed, you may never trust the singer again

And I've notice in your eyes
The singer has perceived a certain sadness in the person's eyes

A sadness I don't like.
The singer is uncomfortable with the other person's sadness

To recognise
Acknowledging the sadness they are showing

You are feeling a heavy side of your ecstacy.
Despite being overwhelmed with joy, there is still an underlying sadness and heaviness

Now you're getting to me,
The person's feelings are starting to affect the singer

So that I can I hardly bear it.
The weight of the person's emotions is becoming unbearable for the singer

No no,
A pleading refusal

Don't get too deep.
Asking the person not to delve too deeply into their emotions

And you never let yourself go again with me,
Repeating the warning from earlier

Properly.
Taking precautions to make sure that no secrets are revealed

Contributed by Layla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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01Something Like a Song3:45

02Passing Through Air

03Humming

04You Were the Stars2:37

05The Gay Farewell2:27

PT2M31S

10Before the Fall5:48

11The Magician of Lublin2:11

12Under the Ivy

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Greebo

Please
Don't be-e afraid of this
Coz' we don't move the way they do
Surely you don't love them?
So why hide it away from me?

Please be easy you got it I haven't
[gap]
...oon,
It gets us really stoned

Really amazingly
Cussi, Cussi, Cussi
Cussi, Cussi, Cussi

Don't let them in
When you see that secret smile
Baby, don't let them in
When you feel the ribbons eye

You get the wrong idea
You'll get broken
And you never let yourself go again with me

And I've notice in your eyes
A sadness I don't like
To recognise
You are feeling a heavy side of your ecstacy

Now you're getting to me
So that I can hardly bear it
So that I can hardly bear it
No no
Don't get too deep

Don't let them in
When you see that secret smile
Baby, don't let them in
When you feel the ribbons eye

You get the wrong idea
You'll get broken
And you never let yourself go again with me
Properly

All comments from YouTube:

Sean McGarry

12y↑10

Sounds like something easily slipping into The Kick Inside, and wouldn't be out of place. Along with the treasure that is Atlantis, how many more unearthed early gems remain? If any of KB's team ever read such earthly drivel as this, please take note! We're the ones who willingly bought two gratefully received albums in 2011 (sublime by the way) and we'd love to have the chance to hear such important early recordings in some form...