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.
Pick The Rare Flower
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That thing that is nurtured and loved.
It's quite an occasion.
It's driving me crazy.
I'm not allowed to touch on lust,
I've gotta get a hold of myself.
I mustn't admit it.
I don't see why I shouldn't,
I don't see why I shouldn't,
I don't see why I shouldn't
Pick the rare flower.
I don't see why I shouldn't,
Well, I don't see why I shouldn't,
I don't see why I shouldn't
Pick the rare flower.
Walking, in a Paradise or Eden,
Whoa, temptation
Give me one second to succumb.
It's calling me.
With a menacing whisper
Magic offer a-charming me
Why I've gotta get a hold of myself,
You see, but it ain't easy.
I don't see why I shouldn't,
I don't see why I shouldn't,
I don't see why I shouldn't
Pick the rare flower.
I don't see why I shouldn't,
I don't see why I shouldn't,
I don't see why I shouldn't
Pick the rare flower.
In Kate Bush's song Pick The Rare Flower, the lyrics reflect a struggle between morality and temptation. The sacred structure referred to in the beginning is likely a representation of the singer's own self, something that they have nurtured and loved. The occasion referred to is the temptation they feel to give in to their desires and pick the rare flower.
The singer acknowledges that they are not allowed to touch on lust and must maintain their self-control. They mustn't admit to their desires, even though they are unsure why they shouldn't act on them. As they continue to walk through paradise or Eden, they feel the pull of temptation calling to them with a menacing whisper. The magic offers charm and the singer finds it difficult to maintain their hold on their self-control.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I don't see why I shouldn't pick the rare flower", which represents the singer's internal conflict between their desire and their morality. Ultimately, the lyrics are a reflection on the difficulty of resisting temptation and upholding one's moral standards.
Line by Line Meaning
There's beauty in such a sacred structure, oh,
The singer is finding beauty in something that is held in high esteem and has been deeply cared for.
That thing that is nurtured and loved.
The beauty comes from the care that has been put into maintaining and loving this sacred structure.
It's quite an occasion.
The sight of this sacred and well-loved structure is significant and noteworthy.
It's driving me crazy.
The artist is so enamored of the beauty before them that they are losing their composure and self-control.
I'm not allowed to touch on lust,
The artist is aware of social taboos around expressing sexual desire and is trying to control their feelings accordingly.
I've gotta get a hold of myself.
The singer is telling themselves to regain control and not give in to their desires.
I mustn't admit it.
The singer knows that expressing their desires would be taboo and is trying to suppress them completely.
I don't see why I shouldn't,
Despite the social taboo and potentially negative consequences, the artist sees no compelling reason not to pursue what they want.
Pick the rare flower.
The 'rare flower' serves as a metaphor for the artist's desired object or experience, which they feel is worth pursuing despite the risks.
Walking, in a Paradise or Eden,
The artist feels as though they are in a perfect, blissful place, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden in the Bible.
Whoa, temptation
The singer is feeling the pull of temptation in their current state of bliss and desire for something more.
Give me one second to succumb.
The artist is struggling to maintain control and not give in to their desires, but they fear they may not be able to resist for very long.
It's calling me.
The temptation is becoming more powerful and urgent to the singer.
With a menacing whisper
The allure of the temptation is becoming darker and more dangerous to the singer.
Magic offer a-charming me
The temptation seems almost magical or mystical in its power to draw the singer in.
Why I've gotta get a hold of myself,
The artist is reminding themselves of the importance of maintaining control and not giving in to their desires.
You see, but it ain't easy.
Despite their best efforts, the artist is struggling to resist the pull of temptation and maintain control.
Contributed by Grace W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MagicPants
That piano part is impressive on its own. Singing and playing it at the same time is amazing. She is such a good pianist, which is something people don't really mention that much.
IAmPlaysWithSquirrel
She's a much better pianist than she gives herself credit for.
Cati Glüzmann
Kate has a very marked own style, And for an artist is so.important, I really love her
mauricio castanheira
She is absolutely adorable. Voyce magical, very very talented, inteligent and unic. I love kate bush forever...
Bats&Spiders,Sweety
She is Art.
Katie Irvine
I can't believe that there is actually some stuff by my herione that I havent't heard. Thankyou so much....this is very special to me:)
spangle69
This is a fantastic record!
Wanda Slice
oddly this is the first kate bush song i was introduced too
sjorsjimmie
love the rawness of the recording, but great clarity as if she is paying in the room next door, I wish.
Stink Fistula
First of all thank you. And if they haven't been released, they should be as I would snap it up in a heartbeat. Especially the unreleased material.