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.
Stranded at the Moonbase
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just a pinpoint in space,
In a century of planetary storms,
Stranded at the moonbase,
The air is getting low.
The air is getting low.
I've seen many strange things,
From shooting stars to Stars 'n' Stripes
Thought I'd caught a glimpse of golden wings.
The air is getting low,
The air is getting low,
The air is getting low,
The air is getting low.
I got the vision of a big white dove.
I've heard the creaking of the pearly gates above.
I'm wond'ring why the big white dove
Is keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting,
Keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting,
Keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting.
Looking way down below me,
The worlds are all awhirl-whirly.
Won't you come along beside?
This place waits for company.
The air is getting low.
The air is getting low.
I leave my limbs behind me.
As I'm being lifted
Out into the, into the
Spiritual boom-boom abyss.
The air is getting low.
The air is getting low.
The air is getting low.
The air is getting low.
I got the vision of a big white dove.
I've heard the creaking of the pearly gates above.
I'm wond'ring why the big white dove
Is keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting,
Keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting,
Keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting.
Kate Bush's "Stranded at the Moonbase" is a haunting and melancholic song that speaks to the loneliness of space travel and the longing for human connection. Through its lyrics, we are transported to a distant future where the singer finds herself stranded somewhere in the galaxy. She observes the world around her, describing it as a "pinpoint in space" and a "century of planetary storms." As she muses on her isolation, she notices that the air is getting low, amplifying the sense of urgency and desperation.
The second verse brings us to the roof-window, where she has seen many strange things. From shooting stars to flags, she is contemplating her existence, wondering if she had caught a glimpse of golden wings. The chorus repeats the line "The air is getting low," heightening the tension and the listener's sense of anxiety. The third verse finds her looking down from above, observing the whirling world beneath and inviting someone to join her, maybe to ease her loneliness. The fourth and final verse of the song speaks to the spiritual, with her leaving her limbs behind, being lifted out into the abyss by a "big white dove." As the song concludes, we are left wondering what will happen next and whether she will ever find the human connection that she longs for.
Overall, "Stranded at the Moonbase" speaks to the human condition and our desire for meaningful connections. It also explores the sense of loneliness and isolation that many of us feel, especially when we are in unfamiliar or challenging situations. Kate Bush's lyrics capture this feeling perfectly, and the song is a poignant reminder of the power of introspection and reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
A long way up in light-years,
The moonbase is located an incredibly far distance from Earth in terms of light-years.
Just a pinpoint in space,
The moonbase is a small speck in the vast expanse of outer space.
In a century of planetary storms,
Despite the storms that occur on other planets, the moonbase remains unaffected by them due to its isolation.
Stranded at the moonbase,
The artist is stuck at the moonbase with no way to leave.
The air is getting low.
There is a limited supply of air at the moonbase, which is running low.
Looking out at the roof-window,
The singer is observing the view of space through a window on the roof of the moonbase.
I've seen many strange things,
The singer has witnessed various unusual phenomena during their time at the moonbase.
From shooting stars to Stars 'n' Stripes
The artist has seen a range of celestial events, as well as the American flag on previous moon landing missions.
Thought I'd caught a glimpse of golden wings.
The artist believes they may have seen an angelic being with wings of gold.
Looking way down below me,
The artist is gazing down at the planets and space below them.
The worlds are all awhirl-whirly.
The planets and space appear to be in a constant state of motion and flux.
Won't you come along beside?
The artist is asking someone to join them at the moonbase for companionship.
This place waits for company.
The moonbase is a lonely, isolated location that would benefit from having other people around.
I leave my limbs behind me.
The singer is transcending their physical form, leaving their body behind.
As I'm being lifted
The singer is ascending to a higher, spiritual realm.
Out into the, into the
The artist is transitioning from one state of being to another.
Spiritual boom-boom abyss.
The artist is journeying into the unknown depths of the spiritual realm.
I'm wond'ring why the big white dove
The singer is questioning the role of a white dove they have seen in their spiritual journey.
Is keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting,
The singer is impatient for the white dove to reveal its purpose to them.
Keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting,
The artist is growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of communication from the white dove.
Keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting.
The artist is experiencing a prolonged period of uncertainty and waiting for answers.
Contributed by Caleb T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MissTudorRose
Even though this is just an unreleased early demo, this is actually one of my favorite songs by Kate. So haunting and ethereally beautiful. It makes me think of Laika, the dog sent into space in Sputnik 2. Your videos are absolutely amazing. The visuals always manage to capture the mood of Kate's music and fit as perfectly as though they were official.
Hey, it’s Joe
It’s lovely! I can only imagine how much that she’s worked on that will never see the light of day!🤩🤩🤩🤩
pateris
A KB discarded demo is better than most musician's masterpieces…
kirbyloz
How precious to hear a “new” Kate Bush song. Perfection. 😘
138boris
She must've been about 16 when this was recorded.
Theatrical genius in the making💖
Ash Wanders
I love how this video brings a song now quite old into the future
Amanda Spiby
I love Kate Bush..timeless..fascinating..never a disappointment...❤
Ed Newbery-King
Superb - wonderful to hear Kate in her youth and to be reminded of her visual genius and beauty ❤️✨
mauricio castanheira
Kate Bush is adorable. She is a fantastic woman and artist. I love Kate Bush forever....
M Dibzahab
It is so nice that these early recordings survived!