This song was written about Steve Blacknell, Bush's first boyfriend according to the The Man With the Child in His Eyes Songfacts. Blacknell himself went on to have a successful career in music and TV as a presenter on various satellite channels.
The Man With the Child in His Eyes
Kate Bush Lyrics
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Before I go to sleep
And focus on the day that's been
I realize he's there
When I turn the light off
And turn over
Nobody knows about my man
They think he's lost on some horizon
To a man I've never known before
Telling me about the sea
Oh his love is to eternity
Ooh he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
Ooh he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
He's very understanding and he's so
Aware of all my situations
When I stay up late
He's always with me
What I feel when I hesitate
Oh I'm so worried about my love
They say no, No it won't last forever
And here I am again my girl
Wondering what on earth I am doing here
Maybe he doesn't love me
I just took a trip on my love for him
Ooh he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
Ooh he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
The lyrics to "The Man With the Child in His Eyes" by Kate Bush speak to the internal struggles and fantasies of love and companionship. The song begins with the singer hearing a man in her thoughts as she prepares to go to sleep. The man is a comforting presence in her life, and she realizes that he is always with her when she turns off the lights. The singer describes her feelings of privacy and personal investment in this man, while the world around her remains unaware of his existence.
As the song progresses, the singer speaks to the qualities that make this man important to her. He is understanding, aware of her personal situation, and supportive of her emotional ups and downs. These attributes lead her to doubt her love for him, as those around her suggest that it cannot last forever. Despite this doubt, the singer realizes that her love for this man has taken her on a journey. She feels as though she has taken a trip on her love for him, and this experience has left her feeling vulnerable but empowered.
"The Man With the Child in His Eyes" speaks to a universal experience of love and the human desire for companionship. The song's lyrics are deeply personal but relatable to anyone who has felt the intensity and uncertainty of love. The haunting melody and understated instrumentation of the song only emphasize its emotional resonance.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear him
I am aware of his presence
Before I go to sleep
Every night before sleeping, I am conscious of his presence
And focus on the day that's been
I recollect over the day that has gone and repeatedly become conscious of his presence
I realize he's there
I come to the realization he has been present with me whole day
When I turn the light off
I perceive him by my side even when it is dark in my room
And turn over
I sense his presence beside me even when I change sides while sleeping
Nobody knows about my man
I have kept his presence a secret from everybody around me
They think he's lost on some horizon
People think he is no longer in my life
And suddenly I find myself listening
I am surprised to notice myself listening to a man I have never heard before
To a man I've never known before
I sense an unknown man by my side
Telling me about the sea
He starts to speak up about the sea
Oh his love is to eternity
He speaks of his love being ever-lasting
He's very understanding and he's so
He has a lot of compassion and empathy
Aware of all my situations
He understands my essence and every situation in my life
When I stay up late
Whenever I stay awake till late, I am aware of his presence as if he is right beside me
He's always with me
I feel his presence with me 24x7
What I feel when I hesitate
Whenever I am stuck in a dilemma, my mind wanders to him
Oh I'm so worried about my love
I am anxious about my love for him
They say no, No it won't last forever
Others think our bond will have to end someday
And here I am again my girl
I am struck in the same feeling again
Wondering what on earth I am doing here
I wonder if I am wasting my time waiting for someone who might not love me back
Maybe he doesn't love me
I ponder over the possibility of him not loving me
I just took a trip on my love for him
I allowed myself to fall for him without any caution
Ooh he's here again
I feel his presence again
The man with the child in his eyes
He has the innocence and purity of a child
Ooh he's here again
His presence is yet again making me feel conscious of my love for him
The man with the child in his eyes
He has an innocent love that is pure and free from any adult complexities
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KATE BUSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nickzinhamgjfs
LYRICS:
I hear him, before I go to sleep
And focus on the day that's been
I realise he's there
When I turn the light off and turn over
Nobody knows about my man
They think he's lost on some horizon
And suddenly I find myself
Listening to a man I've never known before
Telling me about the sea
All his love is 'til eternity
Ooh, he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
Ooh, he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
He's very understanding
And he's so aware of all my situations
When I stay up late
He's always waiting, but I feel him hesitate
Oh, I'm so worried about my love
They say, "No, no, it won't last forever!"
And here I am again, my girl
Wondering what on Earth I'm doing here
Maybe he doesn't love me
I just took a trip on my love for him
Ooh, he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
Ooh, he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
@diezuschauerin2507
I hear him
Before I go to sleep
And focus on the day that's been
I realize he's there
When I turn the light off
And turn over
Nobody knows about my man
They think he's lost on some horizon
And suddenly I find myself listening
To a man I've never known before
Telling me about the sea
Oh his love is to eternity
Ooh he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
Ooh he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
He's very understanding and he's so
Aware of all my situations
When I stay up late
He's always with me
What I feel when I hesitate
Oh I'm so worried about my love
They say no, No it won't last forever
And here I am again my girl
Wondering what on earth I am doing here
Maybe he doesn't love me
I just took a trip on my love for him
Ooh he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
Ooh he's here again
The man with the child in his eyes
@wolfenstein6676
As a punk rocker back in the 1970's, Kate, I'd lie in my bed at night with my transistor radio, listening to all the new punk tracks being released worldwide. Then, one night, one of the radio presenters said this, "There's this new girl who's appeared on the scene, I don't know how to describe her, her name is Kate Bush and this track is called 'Wuthering Heights'...
Well, it's 2023 and the old punk rocker still loves you to this day, dear lady :) .
@Skank_and_Gutterboy
Hell yes. I'm rather ashamed that I never knew anything of Kate Bush until I dated a girl in 1989 who was into Kate Bush. I've been a fan (as in fanatic) in every sense of the word since.
@barfuss2007
I love this song too, this is my favorite band, perhaps unknown for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx43V-mjwMc&list=PLTy_faJYWta-JyfoD4pMk9zW23IkFkhCO
@ernstdombrowski8618
In the seventies i was in Brighton and on the peer i have heard for the first time that song and i was totally flashed!
@pekkahagglund2381
I am.
@ernstdombrowski8618
Me too!
@Christine-ry1qq
People need to stop asking if anyone is still listening
We never stopped!
This is our Kate .. why would we ??
@DavidMander-rs4uk
Are you still listening then?! 🤔😂
@Soulspark811
❤❤❤
@dominicportelli7468
Haven't listened for a few years. Why? WOW!!!