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.
December Will Be Magic Again
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a husky to the ice
While Bing Crosby sings White Christmas. He makes you feel nice.
December will be magic again.
Old Saint Nicholas up the chimney,
Just a-popping up in my memory.
Ooh, dropping down in my parachute,
Upon the black-soot icicled roofs,
Oh, and see how I fall.
See how I fall
("Fall!") [backwards]
Like the snow.
Come to cover the lovers.
(Cover the lovers,
But don't you wake them up.)
Come to sparkle the dark up.
(Sparkle the dark up,
With just a touch of make-up.)
Come to cover the muck up.
(Cover the muck up,
Oh, with a little luck.)
December will be magic again.
Light the canDLe-lights
To conjure Mr. Wilde
Into the Silent Night.
Oh, it's quiet inside,
Here in Oscar's mind.
December will be magic again.
Don't miss the brightest star.
Kiss under mistletoe.
I want to hear you laugh.
Don't let the mystery go now.
Oh, dropping down in my parachute,
The white city, she is so beautiful
Upon the black-soot icicled roofs,
Oh, and see how I fall.
See how I fall
("Fall!") [backwards]
Like the snow.
Come to cover the lovers.
(Cover the lovers,
But don't you wake them up.)
Come to sparkle the dark up.
(Sparkle the dark up,
With just a touch of make-up.)
Come to cover the muck up
(Cover the muck up,
Oh, with a little luck.)
Oh, I'm coming to cover the lovers.
Oh, and I'm coming to sparkle the dark up.
Oh, and I'm coming to cover the muck up.
"December Will Be Magic Again" is a festive song that encapsulates the warmth and joy of the Christmas season. The lyrics describe the magic of winter, with references to Bing Crosby's classic "White Christmas," Old Saint Nicholas, and the beauty of snow covering rooftops. The song is a celebration of love and the holiday season – the perfect time to snuggle up with a loved one by the fire.
One interpretation of the lyrics is that Kate Bush is reflecting on the nostalgia and memories of past Christmases, with references to Old Saint Nicholas and falling snow conjuring up images of childhood wonder. The line "Light the canDLe-lights to conjure Mr. Wilde into the Silent Night" is a reference to Irish playwright Oscar Wilde and suggests that the magic of the holiday season is not just about material gifts, but also the warmth and comfort of loved ones.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Come to cover the lovers, come to sparkle the dark up, come to cover the muck up." This could be interpreted as an invitation to embrace the magic and wonder of the holiday season, to forget the worries and woes of everyday life, and to celebrate love and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
December will be magic again.
The singer anticipates that the month of December will be full of wonder and joy.
Take a husky to the ice
The singer suggests taking a husky dog for a walk on a frozen lake or river.
While Bing Crosby sings White Christmas. He makes you feel nice.
Listening to Bing Crosby's rendition of White Christmas puts you in a pleasant mood.
Old Saint Nicholas up the chimney, Just a-popping up in my memory.
Memories of Santa Claus coming down the chimney resurface in the singer's mind.
Ooh, dropping down in my parachute, The white city, she is so beautiful Upon the black-soot icicled roofs, Oh, and see how I fall. See how I fall ("Fall!") [backwards] Like the snow.
The singer imagines parachuting down into a city covered in snow and admires the contrast of the sparkling white against the dirty, sooty rooftops. She then mimics the sound of falling backwards like snow.
Come to cover the lovers. (Cover the lovers, But don't you wake them up.) Come to sparkle the dark up. (Sparkle the dark up, With just a touch of make-up.) Come to cover the muck up. (Cover the muck up, Oh, with a little luck.)
The snow is personified as a covering that comes to hide and enhance the darkness and dirtiness of the world.
Light the canDLe-lights To conjure Mr. Wilde Into the Silent Night. Oh, it's quiet inside, Here in Oscar's mind.
The singer suggests lighting candles to evoke the spirit of Oscar Wilde during the silent night and reflect on his thoughts and ideas.
Don't miss the brightest star. Kiss under mistletoe. I want to hear you laugh. Don't let the mystery go now.
The singer encourages embracing traditions like kissing under the mistletoe and finding joy in life's mysteries.
Oh, I'm coming to cover the lovers. Oh, and I'm coming to sparkle the dark up. Oh, and I'm coming to cover the muck up.
The snow is personified again as a force that is coming to enhance and beautify the world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kate Bush
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamescollings1834
The only bad thing about this song is that its not played on the Christmas list on Radios. Should get more recognition.
@bpage4132
Yes, I definitely agree with you.
@DAWJ73
Listen to BBC2 Radio in december, there you will hear it.
@Flash2k111
@@DAWJ73 Ken loves to wheel this one out.
@mitchelcrawford1376
So true.👍🎅
@andrewgott1485
It’s a beautiful song
@slayed8951
it’s absolutely criminal this isn’t on spotify.
@slayed8951
@@nellies would be a christmas miracle!!!
@plan4life
Yep, just searched for this. Couldn’t believe it wasn’t on Spotify.
@wolfgangstewart2404
It’s criminal it doesn’t get played, though I’m kinda glad cos I’d probably get sick of it.