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.
It Hurts Me
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down among the ashes, away from old times--
Why must I self-indulge in memories?
I should be celebrating to a moving melody,
But it hurts me, it hurts me,
Honey, honey, it hurts me.
And I'm feeling like a waltz,
I was fiery but you put me out.
I was always one for loving and leaving.
I like to think I was immune to romance.
I should be laughing at some good old comedy.
Oh, but it hurts me, it hurts me.
Honey, honey, it hurts me.
And I'm feeling like a waltz -
If you laughed at me, I'd laugh too.
Waltz, don't you know that I'd be really breakin-ing.
L'amour--marche avec un etranger.
I shouldn't care, you're not my darling anymore,
But it hurts me, it hurts me,
Honey, honey, honey, honey.
And I'm feeling like a waltz,
Growing old, old, old, old, old
The opening lines of the song set the scene for the inner turmoil of the singer. She is moving away from old times, but memories keep coming back to her, making it hard for her to celebrate the present. The sadness she feels is described as a waltz - a slow, melancholy dance that's often associated with heartbreak. The repeated line "It hurts me, it hurts me, honey, honey, it hurts me" is the heart of the song - the singer is in pain, and there's a sense of longing and regret that permeates the whole song.
The second verse reveals that the singer has been hurt in love - she was once fiery and passionate, but someone put out her flame. She used to love and leave, but she thought she was immune to romance. Now, she feels like she should be laughing at a comedy, but she can't help but feel the pain. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is aging and growing old - "old, old, old, old, old" - which adds another layer of melancholy to the waltz-like melody.
Overall, "It Hurts Me" is a song about the pain of lost love and the difficulty of moving on. The waltz motif reinforces the sense of nostalgia and regret, and the repeated refrain of "it hurts me" underscores the emotional intensity of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Slipping past the chimney-pots, Down among the ashes, away from old times--
Moving away from the past and memories, but feeling stuck and unable to let go.
Why must I self-indulge in memories? I should be celebrating to a moving melody,
Questioning why she can't move on from the past and recognizing that she should be enjoying the present instead.
But it hurts me, it hurts me,Honey, honey, it hurts me. And I'm feeling like a waltz, Growing old, - old, old, old, old.
Despite her efforts, the pain of the memories still weighs heavy on her, and she feels like time is passing her by.
I was fiery but you put me out. I was always one for loving and leaving. I like to think I was immune to romance. I should be laughing at some good old comedy.
She used to be passionate and carefree, but a past relationship changed her. She tries to distract herself from her pain with humor.
If you laughed at me, I'd laugh too. Waltz, don't you know that I'd be really breakin-ing.
She's putting on a brave face, but inside, she's hurting more than anyone knows.
L'amour--marche avec un etranger. I shouldn't care, you're not my darling anymore,
Love walks with a stranger. She knows logically that she shouldn't care about someone who's no longer in her life, but she can't help but feel the pain.
But it hurts me, it hurts me, Honey, honey, honey, honey. And I'm feeling like a waltz, Growing old, old, old, old, old
She's repeating the same lines to emphasize how much the pain is affecting her, and also acknowledges that time continues to move forward without her.
Contributed by Lily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Persephone
Slipping past the chimney-pots,
Down among the ashes, away from old times--
Why must I self-indulge in memories?
I should be celebrating to a moving melody,
But it hurts me, it hurts me,
Honey, honey, it hurts me.
And I'm feeling like a waltz,
Growing old, - old, old, old, old.
I was fiery but you put me out.
I was always one for loving and leaving.
I like to think I was immune to romance.
I should be laughing at some good old comedy.
Oh, but it hurts me, it hurts me.
Honey, honey, it hurts me.
And I'm feeling like a waltz -
If you laughed at me, I'd laugh too.
Waltz, don't you know that I'd be really breakin-ing.
L'amour--marche avec un etranger.
I shouldn't care, you're not my darling anymore,
But it hurts me, it hurts me,
Honey, honey, honey, honey.
And I'm feeling like a waltz,
Growing old, old, old, old, old
mvellis
It's a mystery to me how a young teenager could write something like this. Stunning.
dabsy71
I thought I was a bit of a hard core Kate fan, but there's loads of stuff on hear that I've not heard before this being an excellent example...beautiful songs that she didn't really even use (i.e. not released as singles or even on album's). Can you imagine Tori Amos letting stuff like this just gather dust? No, I think it would be one of her most famous tracks.
Nellie S
This is so good, one of my favorite demos for sure. The lyrics sound so much more mature than her age when she wrote this! I love how you can hear a little bit of "Moving" in the piano.
Helen Doorly
Lovely song - never heard any of her demos.... so so amazing - always loved her
Lynnette Alexander
I just can't get enough and I am finding soooo many wonderful treasures here on youtube! I have this album on cassette that I got in the 90s. sigh I don't ever want it to end.
Ruiner10000000001
The messure of the lady. Allowing a tune this amazing to go unreleased? Just shows us how much she cares for the fans.
KxK96
That piano sounds like "Moving"
Minuka Rodrigo
in turn it sounds a lot like tiny dancer by elton john
Kevin Henry
the only pop prodigy ever. just incredible.
Alberto ;
you know someone is good when they write a song this incredible and don't even release it