The Red Shoes
Kate Bush Lyrics
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I said "I'd love to dance like you"
She said "just take off my red shoes
Put them on and your dream'll come true
With no words, with no song
You can dance the dream with your body on
And this curve, is your smile
And this cross, is your heart
Oh it's gonna be the way you always thought it would be
But it's gonna be no illusion
Oh it's gonna be the way you always dreamt about it
But it's gonna be really happening to ya
Really happening to ya
Really happening to ya"
Oh the minute I put them on
I knew I had done something wrong
All her gifts for the dance had gone
It's the red shoes, they can't stop dancing
And this curve, is your smile
And this cross, is your heart
And this line, is your path
"Oh it's gonna be the way you always thought it would be
But it's gonna be no illusion
Oh it's gonna be the way you always dreamt about it
But it's gonna be really happening to ya"
She gotta dance, she gotta dance
And she can't stop 'till them shoes come off
These shoes do, a kind of voodoo
They're gonna make her dance 'till her legs fall off
Feel your hair come tumbling down
Feel your feet start kissing the ground
Feel your arms are opening out
And see your eyes are lifted to God
With no words, with no song
I'm gonna dance the dream
And make the dream come true
I'm gonna dance the dream
And make the dream come true
She gotta dance, she gotta dance
And she can't stop 'till them shoes come off
These shoes do, a kind of voodoo
They're gonna make her dance 'till her legs fall off
Call a doctor, call a priest
They're gonna whip her up like a helicopter
Really happening to ya
Really happening to ya
You gotta dance
The song "The Red Shoes" by Kate Bush is rich in imagery and symbolism, as it explores the idea of the power of art to possess and transform us. The lyrics recount a conversation between two women, one of whom is a seasoned performer, and the other an admirer who wants to learn to dance like her. The older dancer suggests that the secret to her success lies in a pair of red shoes, which she invites the younger woman to try on. Once she does so, she finds herself unable to stop dancing, as the shoes take over her body and she becomes possessed by their power.
The lyrics are rife with metaphors that suggest the transformative and even spiritual nature of art. The idea of the "curve" as the dancer's smile, the "cross" as her heart, and the "line" as her path suggest that art is not just a physical activity, but a deeply personal and existential one. Similarly, the imagery of hair tumbling down, feet kissing the ground, and arms opening out suggest a state of ecstatic transcendence that is often associated with artistic or religious experiences. The song suggests that the power of art is not just about skill or technique, but about a willingness to be vulnerable and open to the transformative power of creativity.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh she move like the Diva do
The woman dances gracefully and confidently like any skilled diva performer
I said "I'd love to dance like you"
The singer is expressing admiration for the woman's dancing abilities
She said "just take off my red shoes
Put them on and your dream'll come true
The woman suggests that by wearing her red shoes, the singer's desire to dance like her will be fulfilled
With no words, with no song
You can dance the dream with your body on
Dancing doesn't always have to involve music or lyrics; one can express themselves through movement alone
And this curve, is your smile
And this cross, is your heart
And this line, is your path
Dancing is a reflection of the dancer's inner self and journey
Oh the minute I put them on
I knew I had done something wrong
All her gifts for the dance had gone
It's the red shoes, they can't stop dancing
The singer realizes that wearing the woman's shoes was a mistake as they have taken away her own gifts for dancing and caused her to dance uncontrollably
It's gonna be the way you always thought it would be
But it's gonna be no illusion
The singer's dream of dancing like the woman will come true, but it will be a real experience rather than a fantasy
She gotta dance, she gotta dance
And she can't stop 'till them shoes come off
These shoes do, a kind of voodoo
They're gonna make her dance 'till her legs fall off
The shoes have a magical power that forces the artist to dance non-stop until she can remove them
Feel your hair come tumbling down
Feel your feet start kissing the ground
Feel your arms are opening out
And see your eyes are lifted to God
The act of dancing fills the artist with joy and a sense of spiritual connection
I'm gonna dance the dream
And make the dream come true
The artist is determined to fulfill her dream of dancing without the aid of the cursed red shoes
Call a doctor, call a priest
They're gonna whip her up like a helicopter
The singer's uncontrollable dancing has become a cause for alarm, and drastic measures may need to be taken to stop her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Catherine Bush
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
30noir
The Red Shoes was the first Kate Bush album I ever bought, when it was in the charts. She was like no other artist out there. An amazing and original artist.
AndreaLuise Candido
lesson 1. never steal WhaTever
of Ladys like me
TO maKE dreams come -True
dangerous AcT
Glyn Hart
Wow fantastic
Graham Forshaw
Kate Bush you are the best of all best musical artist ever to walk the Earth.
Keep on producing this sort of Music and you will never go wrong.
Long live KATE BUSH.
AA C R
Our queen ♥️
Laura Gibbs
I love the way each one her songs tells a story. Incredible.
Lisa Whitefern
Don't let anyone steal your smile, your heart, and your path. .
Headie Doll
@AndreaLuise Candido it's art. The ability to be able interpret a song is your own vision. My mother wouldn't let me watch music videos for this exact reason. And I'm happy for it. No one is going to tell me what a song is about to me. (Including the artist) Oh, and the original film The Red Shoes 1948 is one of my favorites ever.
AndreaLuise Candido
of whaT do you speak of :D
Niglet Jigaboo
That’s what happens as soon as you get married