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.
SUNSET
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a sea of honey
A sky of honey
Whose shadow, long and low
Is slipping out of wet clothes?
And changes into
The most beautiful
Iridescent blue
Who knows who wrote that song of Summer
That blackbirds sing at dusk
This is a song of color
Where sands sing in crimson, red and rust
Then climb into bed and turn to dust
Every sleepy light
Must say goodbye
To day before it dies
In a sea of honey
A sky of honey
Keep us close to your heart
So if the skies turn dark
We may live on in
Comets and stars
Who knows who wrote that song of Summer
That blackbirds sing at dusk
This is a song of color
Where sands sing in crimson, red and rust
Then climb into bed and turn to dust
Who knows who wrote that song of Summer
That blackbirds sing at dusk
This is a song of color
Where sands sing in crimson, red and rust
Then climb into bed and turn to dust
Oh sing of summer and a sunset
And sing for us, so that we may remember
The day writes the words right across the sky
They all go all the way up to the top of the night
Kate Bush’s song Sunset delves into the idea of transience and the fleeting nature of existence. The lyrics speak of honeycomb, a sky of honey and a sea of honey with shadows slipping out of wet clothes and changing into iridescent blue. These images are used allegorically to signify the beauty of life and how it transforms over time. The lyrics also ponder the origin of the song of summer that blackbirds sing at dusk, which is presented as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of life. The imagery of sands that sing in crimson, red and rust evoke the concept of life and death, and how everything must eventually come to an end and “turn to dust”.
The repetition of the chorus throughout the song adds to the overarching sense of impermanence and encourages the listener to appreciate the beauty of life while it lasts. Kate Bush also refers to the night sky and how the day writes its words across it, “all the way up to the top of the night”. This portrays the idea of interconnectedness and how everything is part of a bigger picture, whilst acknowledging the inevitability of change.
Overall, Sunset is a contemplative and thought-provoking song that invites us to reflect on the fleeting nature of life and appreciate the moments we have.
Line by Line Meaning
Could be honeycomb
The sunset looks like it could be made of honeycomb.
In a sea of honey
The entire sky is filled with warm oranges and yellows that resemble a sea of honey.
A sky of honey
The sky is so beautiful during sunset that it looks like a painting of honey and gold.
Whose shadow, long and low
As the sun sets, the shadows are long and low, making everything appear elongated.
Is slipping out of wet clothes?
As the sun sets, it appears as though the world is changing from day clothes to night clothes.
And changes into
The world undergoes a beautiful transformation during sunset, changing from day to night.
The most beautiful
The colors of the sunset are absolutely stunning, with shades of pink, purple, and blue.
Iridescent blue
There are shades of blue in the sunset that seem to shimmer and glow, creating an iridescent effect.
Who knows who wrote that song of Summer
There is a beautiful song in the air during summer sunset, and it's unclear where it comes from or who created it.
That blackbirds sing at dusk
The birds sing a sweet melody as the sun sets, creating a beautiful soundtrack to the end of the day.
This is a song of color
The sunset is like a symphony of colors, with each hue blending together in perfect harmony.
Where sands sing in crimson, red and rust
The sand appears to change color during the sunset, turning shades of red, pink, and rust.
Then climb into bed and turn to dust
The day comes to an end, just like the sand, and turns back into dust.
Every sleepy light
As the day ends and the sun sets, every light begins to get tired and fades away.
Must say goodbye
Everything, including the light, must say goodbye to the day as it comes to a close.
To day before it dies
The sun is like a living thing that eventually dies out, marking the end of the day.
Keep us close to your heart
The beauty of the sunset is so powerful that it stays with us long after the sun has gone down.
So if the skies turn dark
Even when life becomes difficult, we can remember the beauty of the sunset and find hope.
We may live on in
The memories of the sunset can help us hold on to the beauty in life and keep us going.
Comets and stars
Even when everything seems dark, there are still beautiful things in the world, like comets and stars.
Oh sing of summer and a sunset
The sunset is so beautiful that it deserves to be sung about, especially during the summertime.
And sing for us, so that we may remember
By singing about the sunset, we can remember its beauty and hold onto it in our memories.
The day writes the words right across the sky
The sunset is like a painting, with the different colors blending together to create a beautiful picture across the sky.
They all go all the way up to the top of the night
The colors of the sunset extend all the way up into the night sky, creating a beautiful transition between day and night.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KATE BUSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind