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.
Where Are the Lionhearts
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"You're a little lost on the fall.
You fall for all the men
You shouldn't fall for all at all. "
Ooh, I know she knows, but still I go on,
Well, I'm a fool.
Climbing up the ladders
On the rocks,
On the rocks,
On the rocks,
On the rocks...
Joan of Arc walks into my mirror,
A burning sword.
I'd like to cry.
I look into her eyes.
I see she's seen the long days and night.
"Ooh," she says,
"The games are still the same, I see,
But they've changed the names now.
Are all Lionhearts put in parks, apart? "
Lionhearts in the asylums,
Lionhearts tossed at sea,
Lionhearts who've lived their lives, like Arthur.
Lionhearts in cathedrals,
Lionhearts at mournings,
Lionhearts in every seed
But they're sown
On the rocks,
On the rocks,
On the rocks,
On the rocks...
Somebody I couldn't see
Tied me up and put me away,
Here on the rocks,
Here on the rocks,
Here on the rocks...
In Kate Bush's song Where Are the Lionhearts, the lyrics describe the feeling of being lost and falling for people who are not good for you. The singer is aware that destiny knows what is best for them and tells them not to fall for the wrong people. However, the singer continues to make the same mistake despite knowing the consequences. The lyrics then shift to the image of Joan of Arc, who appears in the singer's mirror wielding a burning sword. The image is symbolic of the singer's desire to cry and express their emotions but is unable to do so. Joan of Arc acknowledges the struggle of the singer and notes that things seemed to have changed but remain the same at the same time.
The chorus brings in the idea of Lionhearts who are trapped, disregarded and overlooked, but who exist in every corner. The Lionhearts are represented in different ways such as those in asylums or thrown away at sea, but also those who have lived their lives like Arthur or those seen in cathedrals, funerals, or in every seed that is sown. Despite their existence, they are forgotten and are only found on the rocks. The song has a melancholic tone, capturing the feeling of the sense of being lost and overlooked despite being present.
Line by Line Meaning
Destiny took me in her arms and told me:
I felt like destiny was guiding me and telling me that I'm lost and easily falling for men who are not good for me.
"You're a little lost on the fall.
Destiny is telling me that I'm going through a rough patch or a fall in life, and I'm feeling lost in it.
You fall for all the men
I tend to fall for men who are not right for me, and I keep making the same mistake again and again.
You shouldn't fall for all at all. "
Destiny is trying to advise me that I should not keep getting involved with men who are not good for me.
Ooh, I know she knows, but still I go on,
I'm aware of my mistake, but I still end up repeating it again and again.
Well, I'm a fool.
I feel like a fool for not being able to learn from my mistakes.
Climbing up the ladders
I feel like I'm making progress and moving up in life.
To slide down the adders
But suddenly, I feel like I'm falling back down again, maybe due to a wrong turn in life.
On the rocks,
I feel stuck and unable to move forward.
On the rocks,
I feel like I'm hitting a dead end or facing obstacles.
On the rocks,
I feel like I'm stranded and lost.
On the rocks...
I feel like I'm in a place of despair and hopelessness.
Joan of Arc walks into my mirror,
I feel like this historical figure of Joan of Arc is trying to tell me something and appears in front of me in my reflection.
A burning sword.
Her appearance is intimidating and forceful due to the image of her holding a burning sword.
I'd like to cry.
My emotions are overwhelming, and I feel like crying in response to Joan's appearance.
I look into her eyes.
I'm staring into the eyes of Joan and trying to understand the message she's trying to convey to me.
I see she's seen the long days and night.
I realize that Joan, too, has been through tough times and can relate to my struggles.
"Ooh," she says,
Joan speaks to me, and I'm all ears, trying to understand her guidance.
"The games are still the same, I see,
Joan is telling me that the problems and troubles I'm facing are the same as those faced by people in the past, and they haven't changed much despite time.
But they've changed the names now.
Joan is pointing out that although the problems are the same, they're now masked or disguised by new names or terminologies.
Are all Lionhearts put in parks, apart? "
Joan is asking if individuals with courage and bravery, like Lionhearts, are now being marginalized or pushed aside by society.
Lionhearts in the asylums,
I feel like individuals who exhibit bravery and courage, like Lionhearts, are now being institutionalized or institutionalized mentally and physically.
Lionhearts tossed at sea,
I feel like Lionhearts are now being discarded or forgotten, or maybe even found in unexpected places.
Lionhearts who've lived their lives, like Arthur.
I feel like Lionhearts might be individuals who have achieved great feats or accomplished great things in their lifetime, like King Arthur of legend.
Lionhearts in cathedrals,
I feel like Lionhearts might be individuals who are seen as pure and holy or have a spiritual nature, like church figures.
Lionhearts at mournings,
I feel like Lionhearts might be symbols of grief or sadness, like figures of remembrance at funerals or wakes.
Lionhearts in every seed
I feel like Lionhearts are everywhere and can be found in unexpected places or individuals.
But they're sown
Despite their presence, Lionhearts are still not given the recognition they deserve.
On the rocks,
I feel like the presence of Lionhearts remains unnoticed or disregarded.
On the rocks,
Lionhearts are still struggling and not given proper attention, despite their presence.
On the rocks,
I feel like Lionhearts are facing obstacles and unable to move forward in their lives or reach their potential.
On the rocks...
The presence of Lionhearts remains unseen and unheard, and they continue to struggle without proper recognition.
Somebody I couldn't see
I feel like there might be individuals who are manipulating my life or causing me harm, but I can't see them or identify them.
Tied me up and put me away,
These unidentified individuals might be restricting me and preventing me from achieving my full potential or living my life to the fullest.
Here on the rocks,
I feel like I'm still stuck and unable to break free from the obstacles in my life.
Here on the rocks,
I feel like Lionhearts and people like me are still facing the same issues that society has failed to address.
Here on the rocks...
All the struggles and obstacles continue to pile up, and I feel like I'm lost and unable to move forward in life.
Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@flo15jo
What an outpouring of talent when so young, like a dam bursting. The sheer scale is amazing. Some of us would be happy for a couple of good ideas per lifetime ..... whatever Kate is doing now, she has surely earned our gratitude for what she has already achieved.
@johnconstantinemarinakiski8128
My favorite Kate b/side or unreleased song. Haunting yet tender. Gorgeous. What a legend!
@leonardobrien
I think it's sad KB never released an album of just her, the piano, and songs in this vein : (
@richardr1455
Une de mes chansons préférées de Kate... Envoûtante...
@nellies
This is so pretty! Her demos are so beautiful.
@kateprawn
This is my favourite demo - great alternative pictures!!
@greebo7857
Kate bush demos?? for once the youtube algorithm is doing me a favour. Loving it.
@somegirl558
The lioness yawning at the end is such a cutie!
@occultpriestess
Yay! Kate is #1! A Good Day for all.
@VideoTalesV
AHAHA the lions are so funny