Hounds of Love
Kate Bush Lyrics
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It's coming
When I was a child
Running in the night
Afraid of what might be
Hiding in the dark
And of what was following me
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Now hounds of love are hunting
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
I've always been a coward
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
And I don't know what's good for me
Oh, here I go
It's coming for me through the trees
Oh, help me someone
Help me please
Take my shoes off
And throw them in the lake
And I'll be
Two steps on the water
I found a fox
Caught by dogs
He let me take him in my hands
His little heart
It beats so fast
And I'm ashamed of running away
From nothing real
I just can't deal with this
I'm still afraid to be there
Doo-doo-doo-doo
Among your hounds of love
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
And feel your arms surround me
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
I've always been a coward
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
I never know what's good for me
Oh, here I go
Don't let me go
Hold me down
It's coming for me through the trees
Oh, help me darling
Help me please
Take my shoes off
And throw them in the lake
And I'll be
Two steps on the water
Doo-doo-doo-doo
I don't know what's good for me
I don't know what's good for me
I need lo-lo-lo-lo-love, yeah
Your, yeah, your
Your love
Doo-doo
And take your shoes off
And throw them in the lake
Do you know what I really need?
Do you know what I really need?
I need lo-lo-lo-lo-love, yeah
The song "Hounds of Love" by Kate Bush tells the story of a person who is haunted by fear, constantly running away from an unseen force chasing them. The opening lines "It's in the trees, it's coming" creates an eerie and ominous atmosphere, suggesting that danger is lurking in the darkness. The song goes back and forth between the fear of being hunted, and the desire to surrender to the arms of a lover, as the lyrics ask for companionship and love to help them face their fears. The lines "I've always been a coward, and I don't know what's good for me" acknowledges the singer's lack of courage but seeks the help of someone to overcome their fears.
The chorus lyrics "Hounds of love are hunting" is a metaphor for the rush of falling in love and the fear of losing oneself in its intensity. The singer is torn between the fear of being hunted by love or giving in to it. The last part of the song suggests a surrender to love, as the singer drops their shoes and surrenders to the water, literally "two steps on the water," as if accepting a new way of life in which love leads the way.
Line by Line Meaning
It's in the trees
The source of my fear is lurking in the woods
It's coming
It's slowly moving towards me
When I was a child
Reminiscing about my past experiences
Running in the night
Fleeing in the darkness
Afraid of what might be
Terrified of the unknown
Hiding in the dark
Concealing myself in shadowy places
Hiding in the street
Ducking and avoiding in public places
And of what was following me
Also scared of the imminent danger chasing me
Now hounds of love are hunting
My desires are in pursuit of me
I've always been a coward
I'm usually a fearful person
And I don't know what's good for me
I'm clueless about what's beneficial for me
Oh, here I go
I'm about to face my fears again
It's coming for me through the trees
The danger is approaching me from the woods
Oh, help me someone
Asking another person for assistance
Help me please
Pleading for help to overcome my terror
Take my shoes off
Letting go of my inhibitions
And throw them in the lake
Disposing of what holds me down
And I'll be
I'll feel liberated
Two steps on the water
I'll accomplish something impossible, like defying gravity
I found a fox
I discovered a cunning animal
Caught by dogs
Preyed upon by other creatures
He let me take him in my hands
The fox allowed me to handle it
His little heart
The animal's tiny heartbeat
It beats so fast
Is it frightened too?
And I'm ashamed of running away
I feel embarrassed for turning my back on things that scare me
From nothing real
There's no actual threat in my fear
I just can't deal with this
I'm weak against this phobia
I'm still afraid to be there
Still shaky at the thought of facing my fear again
Among your hounds of love
Within the grasp of your intense feelings
And feel your arms surround me
Embracing the love that's about to overwhelm me
I never know what's good for me
I'm indecisive when it comes to my well-being
Don't let me go
Asking someone to hold onto me
Hold me down
Keeping me in one place
Doo-doo-doo-doo
I don't know what's good for me
Reiterating my uncertainty
I need lo-lo-lo-lo-love, yeah
Craving for affection
Your, yeah, your
Referring to a specific person's love
Your love
Affection from that special somebody
And take your shoes off
Encouraging someone else to let go of their inhibitions
Do you know what I really need?
Pondering what is truly necessary for me
I need lo-lo-lo-lo-love, yeah
Reiterating my desire for love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kate Bush
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Cami-xv8ls
The line "I've always been a coward, and never know what's good for me" always gets me.
@claywoman
me too ❤
@commonsense571
Here I go ..
@Hammerton32
a brilliant song, from the propulsive drumline to the vocals and the lyrics. One of Kate's finest.
@Billinois78
I like it when artists are actually artists, and not tools. This woman is an artist.
@rjjcms1
100%.
@deborahhughes6923
So right!
@zachhodges4657
Right? She gives me big Zappa energy
@jessicafeeney3996
💯
@hayleyhatcher3586
A real musicians