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.
Frightened Eyes
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From a friend's house,
And all these people are looking at me.
They're gazing out windows,
In any English country gardens.
But as gazes meet,
Vacancy shows on screen.
The latent hysteria:
"Why is she looking at me?"
And as I drift from one to one I can see
They're all like me.
They've all got frightened eyes
Saying what they're thinking,
What they are doing tonight.
They've all got frightened eyes,
Saying, "Leave me alone,
I'm perfectly safe here inside.
Please don't surprise me."
Expressionless.
Everyone here loves cheap wine--
We all know good taste,
We just get too busy trying to find
The right games to play.
Impatient, aren't we all?
Watching the time trip by.
And all these people are looking at me.
They're gazing out windows.
They're burning up in there.
And as I drift from one to one I can see
They're all like me.
They've all got frightened eyes
Saying what they're thinking,
What they are doing tonight.
They've all got frightened eyes,
Saying, "Leave me alone,
I'm perfectly safe here inside.
Please don't surprise me."
The lyrics of Kate's Bush's "Frightened Eyes" depict the sense of alienation and fear that comes with being in crowded spaces. The singer narrates her experience of travelling on a bus from a friend's house where she notices everyone on the bus staring out of the window with vacant gazes, looking at the English country gardens. As soon as their stares meet, they look away, filled with latent hysteria, not wanting to be noticed or surprised.
As the singer shifts her focus from one person to another, she realizes that they are all like her, feeling scared and vulnerable. The people on the bus seem to be consumed with passing time, trying to fill the void with cheap wine and the right games to play. The chorus of the song emphasizes on how everyone on the bus has frightened eyes, scared to interact with each other, and looking for safety and refuge inside.
Overall, "Frightened Eyes" sheds light on the human struggle with social anxiety, fear, and loneliness. It beautifully captures the moment when we feel claustrophobic in a crowded place but too intimidated to step out and connect. The song acts as an ode to our insecurities and makes us realize that fear is universal.
Line by Line Meaning
Just travelling on a bus
I am on a bus ride.
From a friend's house,
I left a friend’s house before embarking the journey.
And all these people are looking at me.
People on the bus stare at me.
They're gazing out windows,
They're looking out of the windows.
In any English country gardens.
The place they can see from the windows is an English countryside.
But as gazes meet,
When I look back, and our eyes meet,
Vacancy shows on screen.
There's a blank expression in their eyes.
But I feel inside
Internally I feel,
The latent hysteria:
I am silently panicked:
"Why is she looking at me?"
“Why are they looking at me?” I think.
And as I drift from one to one I can see
As I look from one person to another, I realize
They're all like me.
Everyone on the bus is the same as me.
They've all got frightened eyes
All of them have scared expressions.
Saying what they're thinking,
Communicating what they're pondering,
What they are doing tonight.
And what they are planning to do later.
Saying, "Leave me alone,
They plea for solitude,
I'm perfectly safe here inside.
As they feel safe in the bus.
Please don't surprise me."
Asking not to shock them.
Expressionless.
Everyone has a dazed face.
Everyone here loves cheap wine--
The people on the bus enjoy inexpensive alcohol-
We all know good taste,
Although we appreciate the finer taste,
We just get too busy trying to find
We always get sidetracked as we search
The right games to play.
To decide which games to play.
Impatient, aren't we all?
Isn't everyone on the bus restless?
Watching the time trip by.
As they wait for time to pass.
And all these people are looking at me.
All of the people waiting alongside me are still looking at me.
They're gazing out windows.
All of them looking at the rural view outside.
They're burning up in there.
It's sweltering inside the vehicle.
And as I drift from one to one I can see
As I wander through each of their eyes, I realize
They're all like me.
They all have the same feelings as me.
They've all got frightened eyes
Everyone's eyes portend fright,
Saying what they're thinking,
Foretelling their thoughts,
What they are doing tonight.
Disclosing their plans for the night to come.
Saying, "Leave me alone,
Pleading to be unaccompanied,
I'm perfectly safe here inside.
As they're feeling protected in the bus.
Please don't surprise me."
Requesting not to distress them.
Contributed by Hunter D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@undinelvstayalivefren8833
Just travelling on a bus
From a friend's house,
And all these people are looking at me.
They're gazing out windows,
In any English country gardens.
But as gazes meet,
Vacancy shows on screen.
But I feel inside
The latent hysteria:
"Why is she looking at me?"
And as I drift from one to one I can see
They're all like me.
They've all got frightened eyes
Saying what they're thinking,
What they are doing tonight.
They've all got frightened eyes,
Saying, "Leave me alone,
I'm perfectly safe here inside.
Please don't surprise me."
Expressionless.
Everyone here loves cheap wine
We all know good taste,
We just get too busy trying to find
The right games to play.
Impatient, aren't we all?
Watching the time trip by.
And all these people are looking at me.
They're gazing out windows.
They're burning up in there.
And as I drift from one to one I can see
They're all like me.
They've all got frightened eyes
Saying what they're thinking,
What they are doing tonight.
They've all got frightened eyes,
Saying, "Leave me alone,
I'm perfectly safe here inside.
Please don't surprise me."
@somegirl558
I literaly love each and every song she ever recorded. I hear her and instantly fall under a spell. What an honest great talent.
@kurtkschafer
Same!
@markjohnson4217
Imagine the treasure trove of unfinished pieces and songs that Kate still has in the vaults. She had over 200 when she was signed to EMI, they paired it down to the strongest 50 and then chose the ten or eleven for the debut album..
@undinelvstayalivefren8833
Just travelling on a bus
From a friend's house,
And all these people are looking at me.
They're gazing out windows,
In any English country gardens.
But as gazes meet,
Vacancy shows on screen.
But I feel inside
The latent hysteria:
"Why is she looking at me?"
And as I drift from one to one I can see
They're all like me.
They've all got frightened eyes
Saying what they're thinking,
What they are doing tonight.
They've all got frightened eyes,
Saying, "Leave me alone,
I'm perfectly safe here inside.
Please don't surprise me."
Expressionless.
Everyone here loves cheap wine
We all know good taste,
We just get too busy trying to find
The right games to play.
Impatient, aren't we all?
Watching the time trip by.
And all these people are looking at me.
They're gazing out windows.
They're burning up in there.
And as I drift from one to one I can see
They're all like me.
They've all got frightened eyes
Saying what they're thinking,
What they are doing tonight.
They've all got frightened eyes,
Saying, "Leave me alone,
I'm perfectly safe here inside.
Please don't surprise me."
@eloisagarcia3300
I click like to Kate Bush songs without even hearing them, after they end I know I wasn't wrong
@FranceGall4Ever
I do the same, haha
@BikiniDeathSquad
She was destined for greatness. Amazing, amazing songwriter and performer!
@Payne2view
You see, this is the sort of beautifully observed simple song we all to seldom get to hear. I'd rank this as one of the best Kate Bush songs and I've only just heard it.
@thedarksiderebel
Imagine writing a song this beautiful and it not even being the best thing you'll ever do
@carolball5764
I love this picture of Kate, she looks so young, innocent and by the look of her eyes has just been passed the Dutchie p'on the left hand side, lol... Gorgeous song too I might add...