Kashka From Baghdad
Kate Bush Lyrics
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With another man
But no-one knows who
Old friends never call there
Some wonder if life's inside at all
If there's life inside at all
But we know the lady who rents the room
She catches them calling à la lune
[Chorus:]
At night they're seen
Laughing, loving
They know the way
To be happy
They never go for walks
Maybe it's because the moon's not bright enough
There's light in love you see
I watch their shadows
Tall and slim in the window opposite
I long to be with them
'Coz when all the alley-cats come out
You can hear music from Kashka's house
[Chorus:]
In Kate Bush's song "Kashka from Baghdad," she sings about a woman named Kashka who is rumored to be living in sin with another man, but no one knows who. The old friends never visit her, and some even wonder if there is any life inside her house at all. However, Kate Bush knows the lady who rents the room to Kashka and her lover. The lady catches them calling out in the moonlight, and she sees them happy together at night, laughing and loving.
Despite the rumors and the lack of company, Kashka and her lover seem content with each other. They do not go for walks, perhaps because the moon is not bright enough, but they find their light in love. Kate Bush watches their shadows in the window opposite, longing to be with them. She hears music coming from their house when all the alley-cats come out.
The song conveys a sense of curiosity, intrigue, and even envy towards Kashka and her lover, who seem to have found happiness despite societal norms and judgments. The choice of words, such as "sin," "life inside," and "alley-cats," paint a vivid picture of a repressed society, and how Kashka and her lover are trapped in this society but find solace in each other's company.
Line by Line Meaning
Kashka from Baghdad lives in sin they say
People believe that Kashka from Baghdad is living in sin with another man.
With another man
She is engaged in a relationship with an unnamed man.
But no-one knows who
The identity of the man in question is unknown to everyone.
Old friends never call there
People who were once friends with Kashka have stopped visiting her place.
Some wonder if life's inside at all
There are those who have doubts about whether anyone is living in her house.
If there's life inside at all
There is uncertainty as to whether anyone is alive in the house.
But we know the lady who rents the room
Although other people are hesitant, the singer knows the woman who rents a room to Kashka.
She catches them calling à la lune
She has overheard them speaking while enjoying the moonlit night.
[Chorus:] At night they're seen Laughing, loving They know the way To be happy
At night, they are observed laughing and loving, proving that they know how to achieve happiness.
They never go for walks
They never go out for walks together.
Maybe it's because the moon's not bright enough
Perhaps they prefer to stay indoors because the moon is not bright enough.
There's light in love you see
Love brings light into their life.
I watch their shadows
The singer observes the shadows of the couple.
Tall and slim in the window opposite
The duo looks thin and tall through the opposite window.
I long to be with them
The singer desires to spend time with them.
'Coz when all the alley-cats come out You can hear music from Kashka's house
Music emanates from Kashka's house when the stray cats come out at night.
[Chorus:]
Reiteration of the earlier chorus.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kate Bush
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind