The Infant Kiss
Kate Bush Lyrics
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I tuck him in tight.
But things are not right.
What is this? An infant kiss
That sends my body tingling?
I've never fallen for
A little boy before.
No control.
Just a kid and just at school.
Back home they'd call me dirty.
His little hand is on my heart.
He's got me where it hurts me.
Knock, knock. Who's there in this baby?
You know how to work me.
All my barriers are going.
It's starting to show.
Let go. Let go. Let go.
I cannot sit and let
Something happen I'll regret.
Ooh, he scares me!
There's a man behind those eyes.
I catch him when I'm bending.
Ooh, how he frightens me
When they whisper privately.
("Don't Let Go!")
Windy-wailey blows me.
Words of caress on their lips
That speak of adult love.
I want to smack but I hold back.
I only want to touch.
But I must stay and find a way
To stop before it gets too much!
All my barriers are going.
It's starting to show.
Let go. Let go. Let go.
(Don't let go!)
In Kate Bush's "The Infant Kiss," there is an unsettling realization of a woman's attraction to a young boy she has been caring for. Initially, she is just doing her job, tucking in the child and ensuring he is comfortable. However, as she leans in to kiss the boy goodnight, she experiences a physical response, and there is an acknowledgement of how unusual and wrong this is because she's never fallen for anyone this young before.
Kate Bush's vivid lyrics describe her character's struggle with these newfound feelings. The woman is aware of the shameful nature of her desires, of how wrong it is to have them. At the same time, there's a sense of confusion and aching in her admission. She's scared because of the turmoil he creates in her, and yet she can't help but be drawn to him.
Ultimately, this song is about the conflict between a person's innermost desires and social norms. It is about acknowledging the complexity and contradictions of our feelings towards people and the repercussions of acting on them. The woman's struggles are a representative of the truth that human desires can be powerful and we need to examine their worth carefully.
Line by Line Meaning
Say good night-night
The singer is wishing good night to someone, presumably a child
I tuck him in tight.
The singer is making sure the person is tucked in tightly before going to bed
But things are not right.
The singer senses that something is not quite right
What is this? An infant kiss
The artist is questioning their attraction to someone who is much younger than them
That sends my body tingling?
The artist is experiencing physical sensations as a result of this attraction
I've never fallen for
The singer has never experienced this type of attraction before
A little boy before.
The object of the singer's attraction is a young boy and this is a new experience for the singer
No control.
The artist feels like they have no control over their thoughts and feelings
Just a kid and just at school.
The object of the artist's attraction is just a child who is still in school
Back home they'd call me dirty.
The artist has a history of being judged harshly by others in their community
His little hand is on my heart.
The object of the singer's attraction is touching the singer's chest
He's got me where it hurts me.
The artist is unable to resist the object of their attraction, even though they know it's wrong
Knock, knock. Who's there in this baby?
The singer is acknowledging that the child is innocent and doesn't understand the implications of their actions
You know how to work me.
The singer is acknowledging that the child is manipulating them in some way
All my barriers are going.
The singer's defenses are breaking down
It's starting to show.
The artist's feelings are becoming more obvious
Let go. Let go. Let go.
The artist is trying to resist their attraction
I cannot sit and let
The singer is acknowledging that they need to take action to stop what's happening
Something happen I'll regret.
The singer knows that their attraction is wrong and they will regret their actions if they don't stop
Ooh, he scares me!
The artist is afraid of the implications of their attraction and the potential consequences
There's a man behind those eyes.
The artist is acknowledging that the child is not just a child, but is growing into a man
I catch him when I'm bending.
The artist is noticing the child's physical features and is affected by them
Ooh, how he frightens me
The singer is afraid of the intensity of their feelings and the power the child holds over them
When they whisper privately.
The artist is aware that others may know or suspect what's happening and are talking about it privately
("Don't Let Go!")
The singer is reminding themselves that they need to stop what's happening before it's too late
Windy-wailey blows me.
This is a nonsensical phrase that may indicate the singer is feeling disoriented or confused
Words of caress on their lips
People are talking or whispering about physical intimacy in a way that the singer finds troubling
That speak of adult love.
The artist is aware that the child cannot understand what's happening and that this is not truly love
I want to smack but I hold back.
The artist is aware that harming the child is not a solution and that they need to control themselves
I only want to touch.
The singer's attraction is primarily physical, not emotional or romantic
But I must stay and find a way
The singer feels trapped and is trying to find a way out of the situation
To stop before it gets too much!
The artist is aware that they need to take action before the situation becomes worse than it already is
(Don't let go!)
This is a reiteration of the artist's desire to stop themselves from acting on their attraction
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KATE BUSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind