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.
The Long And Winding Road
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me her
Lead me to you door
The wild and windy night
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here
Let me know the way
Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried
Any way you'll never know
The many ways I've tried
But still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door
But still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The Long and Winding Road by Kate Bush is a song about longing and searching for love. The song is full of vivid imagery and metaphors. The first verse talks about a road that leads to someone's door, but it never disappears. The road is a metaphor for the journey that one takes in search of love. The singer has seen this road before, and it always leads her to the door of the person she loves.
The second verse talks about a wild and windy night that has left a pool of tears. This verse is a metaphor for the emotions that the singer has experienced in her search for love. She has cried many times and has been alone, but she has tried many ways to find love.
The chorus repeats the phrase "but still they lead me back to the long winding road." This phrase represents the singer's determination to continue her search for love, despite the many obstacles she has faced. She pleads for the person she loves not to leave her waiting and to lead her to their door.
Overall, the song is a powerful representation of the human experience of longing for love, and the determination to continue searching for it, even in the face of challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
The long and winding road
A metaphorical description of the difficult, complicated, and unpredictable path that leads to the desired destination, which is the person's loved one.
That leads to your door
The goal or purpose of the journey is to reach the person's loved one, who represents safety, comfort, and love.
Will never disappear
Despite the obstacles and challenges of the journey, the goal remains constant, and the person is determined to reach their loved one through any means necessary.
I've seen that road before
The person has experienced the journey before, and it has been filled with ups and downs, but they are willing to try again to reach their loved one.
It always leads me here
The journey always leads the person back to their loved one, who is the reason for their persistence and determination.
Lead me to your door
The person is pleading with their loved one to show them the way to them, to help them overcome any barriers that may be holding them back from being together.
The wild and windy night
Another metaphor for the hardships and challenges of the journey, which can be overwhelming and unbearable at times.
That the rain washed away
The difficulties and pain of the journey can be temporary and can be washed away or forgotten with time, but the hope and desire to reach the loved one remains unwavering.
Has left a pool of tears
The journey has been emotionally draining and difficult, and the person has shed tears and suffered deeply while trying to reach their loved one.
Crying for the day
Despite the pain and sadness, the person has hope for a better future when they can finally be together with their loved one.
Why leave me standing here
The person is questioning why their loved one has not helped them or been there for them throughout the journey, despite their persistence and love.
Let me know the way
The person is asking their loved one to guide them and show them the way to be together, as they are lost and confused without their help.
Many times I've been alone
The person has felt isolated and lonely on their journey, as they have faced the challenges and hardships alone without the support of their loved one.
And many times I've cried
The journey has been emotionally exhausting and has brought the person to tears many times, but they have persisted and remained determined to reach their loved one.
Any way you'll never know
Despite the person's love and determination, their loved one will never understand the depth of their feelings or the extent of their struggles on the journey.
The many ways I've tried
The person has tried every possible avenue to reach their loved one, but nothing has worked, and they remain lost without them.
You left me standing here
The person feels abandoned and alone, as their loved one has not been there for them on their journey despite their love and persistence.
A long long time ago
The person has been on their journey for a very long time, and their hope and determination to reach their loved one have never wavered despite the challenges and hardships.
Don't leave me waiting here
The person is asking their loved one to come back to them and be there for them, as they have been waiting and struggling to reach them for too long.
Lead me to your door
The person is pleading with their loved one to help them find the way to be together, as they are lost and can't do it alone.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
An emotional cry for help and longing to be with their loved one, despite the challenges and hardships of the journey.
Contributed by Bailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
fedtho
This is extra-terrestrial... Kate singing The long and winding road with full orchestra in Japan in...1978. Unbelievable. This is a gem, THANK YOU. [...and never mind people having the nerve to talk about bad quality. Can't they see this SO OBVIOUSLY is a second or third generation copy??? And by the way, it DOES do Kate's voice justice, it's a little harder to make out what is going on around her ;-) ]
Jonathan Maunder
Even with the compromised quality of the audio this is still extremely beautiful.
Nicholas
Wow, what a beautiful voice Kate has, this is a great find, very rare are Kare Bush live performances.
Mirror Time
Absolutely amazing. Her voice is so perfect.
Dale W. Daemicke
Kate was/is mesmerizing. One of the most beautiful and talented women ever.
Edith the Dreamer
I love her so much, she means the world to me. Hearing her sing my all time favourite The Beatles song means a lot. Thank you xx
nowhereman
The Beatles, my favourite band, and Kate Bush, my favourite singer/songwriter.
Jose Filho
Muito bom ! Uma grande voz.
Justin Case
This one minute and fiftyone seconds is better than any music that was released in the last 15 to 20 years. Maybe even longer.
Kate is in her own league. Unreachable.
Rafael Glüzmann
IT GOES SO PERFECT WITH KATE