"How would a brain come up with this material?" As a Kate Bush fan, I ask myself that question every single day! This more than talent, it's simply genius.
In the UK we used to watch all those old American movies from the 1930s-1950s on TV such as Each Dawn I die, The Big Sleep, Brother Orchid etc. etc. Kate's lyrics say: "Both my partners act like actors. You are Bogart, he is George Raft; that leaves Cagney and me." Then a second voice interjects: "What about Edward G.?" lol. I dig that she seemingly saw these four classic gangster movie actors as a peerless foursome as did I. I love it!!!
Critics initially panned this song hard for being sloppy and unfocused. Kate’s ‘Mockney’ accent also drew lots of shade in the UK. My favorite review of the song came from Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys, who called it “Very weird…Obviously she’s trying to become LESS accessible.” 😂 Lyrics throughout the song give a wink-and-nod reference to a number of historical moments in the UK from the 1920’s to 1980 (the Strangeway(s), Gelignite, which was commonly used by the IRA, the Troubles, Thatcherism, etc.), and can be interpreted as a political critique of sorts.
Since Kate was bought up in "South London" or "Saaf London" she would be perfectly capable of coming up with a Mock Cockney accent, I know from personal experience since I come from the same part of London. Others have covered the subject of this song, which when released as a UK single was a complete failure in the charts, indeed it's Kate's worse performing UK single release, which I feel is a bit unfair, as I feel it's another Kate song that mixes up light and darkness. Anyway here's Kate's description as to the meaning: "It's about amateur robbers who have only done small things, and this is quite a big robbery that they've been planning for months, and when it actually starts happening, they start freaking out. They're really scared, and they're so aware of the fact that something could go wrong that they just freaked out, and paranoid and want to go home. (...) It's sort of all the films I've seen with robberies in, the crooks have always been incredibly in control and calm, and I always thought that if I ever did a robbery, I'd be really scared, you know, I'd be really worried. So I thought I'm sure that's a much more human point of view. (The Dreaming interview, CBAK 4011 CD)" The lyrics as follows: "Okay, remember Okay, remember That we have just allowed Half an hour To get in, do it, and get out The sense of adventure Is changing to danger The signal has been given I go in The crime begins My excitement Turns into fright All my words fade What am I gonna say? Mustn't give the game away We're waiting We're waiting We're waiting We got the job sussed This shop's shut for business The lookout has parked the car, But kept the engine running Three beeps means trouble's coming I hope you remember To treat the gelignite tenderly for me I'm having dreams about things Not going right Let's leave in plenty of time tonight Both my partners Act like actors: You are Bogart He is George Raft That leaves Cagney and me ("What about Edward G.?") We're waiting We're waiting We're waiting You blow the safe up Then all I know is I wake up Covered in rubble. One of the rabble Needs mummy ("What's all this then?") The government will never find the money ("What's all this then?") I've been here all day A star in strange ways Apart from a photograph They'll get nothing from me Not until they let me see my solicitor Ooh, I remember That rich, windy weather When you would carry me Pockets floating In the breeze Ooh, there goes a tenner Hey, look! There's a fiver There's a ten-shilling note Remember them? That's when we used to vote for him" Oh BTW the reference to "strange ways" this is a prison. Plus "What's all this then" is a Police Officer.
A song about a bungled robbery told from the point of view of one of the robbers. They compare themselves to old film gangsters, Bogart, Cagney, George Raft and Edward g. Robinson but they bungle the robbery and end up covered in rubble with money flying all around them. The music is kind of music hall, kind of jaunty cheeky chappie sounding which ties in with the mockney accent on some of the singing. Very theatrical and another story/character song. It was a total flop on release and her first single not to even get in to the Top 75. Neil Tennant reviewed it in Smash Hits (pre - PSB's) saying it was "very weird" but had a "haunting atmosphere".
Kate and her fake/mock cockney accent... her mockney accent, about a bank heist that all goes completely wrong a for a bunch of amateur crims who are completely out of their depth. This probably counts as light relief on "The Dreaming" - after this she gives us a run of 4 songs from "Pull Out the Pin" all the way through to the title track that is as good as anything that Kate has ever done (including any 4 songs from the iconic "Ninth Wave"). On her previous album in songs like Delius, The Wedding List, Violin and Breathing, Kate showed just what she could do with her voice. She is about to do so once again, but she is also going to show just how much her voice can endure, as she uses it not only as an instrument, but also as a weapon.
If only she knew that 1982 would be the last year of the £1 note being king and 1983 beckoned a coin and the death of said note. I think she would rethink this whole song. B for effort, F for foresight.
What a strange thing to say, handsolo1209. The opposite is true. The very impermanence of the currency format is actually referenced by her at the end of the song: "There's a ten-shilling note. Remember them? That's when we used to vote for him." That nod to antiquity surely gives Kate an A for foresight.
For a first listen I get your point of view, but this song actually is the weakest one on this album. But there must be a weakest one. And if this is it....
Fair enough, although for me the (relatively) weakest song on this album is Leave It Open. I love this song, with its collision of different styles - a ska-like feel, yet the horn section is more like a brass band!
"How would a brain come up with this material?" As a Kate Bush fan, I ask myself that question every single day! This more than talent, it's simply genius.
This is such a fun song.
I love how you love this. Come on, admit it, you're hooked! No one like her. No. One.
Literally unlike any other artist I've encountered. Just a musical genius of the highest order!
On of my two favorite singers… she’s amazing to me.
As someone else commented on the "Sat In Your Lap" reaction, Kate can be as comical as she can be dark.
This wasn't a hit back then.... yet it sounds fantastic❤
6:08 I said to a friend once that I would love to roam around inside Kate Bush's brain.
In the UK we used to watch all those old American movies from the 1930s-1950s on TV such as Each Dawn I die, The Big Sleep, Brother Orchid etc. etc. Kate's lyrics say: "Both my partners act like actors. You are Bogart, he is George Raft; that leaves Cagney and me." Then a second voice interjects: "What about Edward G.?" lol. I dig that she seemingly saw these four classic gangster movie actors as a peerless foursome as did I. I love it!!!
Both my partners
Act like actors
You are Bogart
He is George Raft
That leaves Cagney and me…
The song's bonkers in the best way.
Critics initially panned this song hard for being sloppy and unfocused. Kate’s ‘Mockney’ accent also drew lots of shade in the UK.
My favorite review of the song came from Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys, who called it “Very weird…Obviously she’s trying to become LESS accessible.” 😂
Lyrics throughout the song give a wink-and-nod reference to a number of historical moments in the UK from the 1920’s to 1980 (the Strangeway(s), Gelignite, which was commonly used by the IRA, the Troubles, Thatcherism, etc.), and can be interpreted as a political critique of sorts.
Kate being a 'Brit". LOL
Since Kate was bought up in "South London" or "Saaf London" she would be perfectly capable of coming up with a Mock Cockney accent, I know from personal experience since I come from the same part of London. Others have covered the subject of this song, which when released as a UK single was a complete failure in the charts, indeed it's Kate's worse performing UK single release, which I feel is a bit unfair, as I feel it's another Kate song that mixes up light and darkness.
Anyway here's Kate's description as to the meaning:
"It's about amateur robbers who have only done small things, and this is quite a big robbery that they've been planning for months, and when it actually starts happening, they start freaking out. They're really scared, and they're so aware of the fact that something could go wrong that they just freaked out, and paranoid and want to go home. (...) It's sort of all the films I've seen with robberies in, the crooks have always been incredibly in control and calm, and I always thought that if I ever did a robbery, I'd be really scared, you know, I'd be really worried. So I thought I'm sure that's a much more human point of view. (The Dreaming interview, CBAK 4011 CD)"
The lyrics as follows:
"Okay, remember
Okay, remember
That we have just allowed
Half an hour
To get in, do it, and get out
The sense of adventure
Is changing to danger
The signal has been given
I go in
The crime begins
My excitement
Turns into fright
All my words fade
What am I gonna say?
Mustn't give the game away
We're waiting
We're waiting
We're waiting
We got the job sussed
This shop's shut for business
The lookout has parked the car,
But kept the engine running
Three beeps means trouble's coming
I hope you remember
To treat the gelignite tenderly for me
I'm having dreams about things
Not going right
Let's leave in plenty of time tonight
Both my partners
Act like actors:
You are Bogart
He is George Raft
That leaves Cagney and me
("What about Edward G.?")
We're waiting
We're waiting
We're waiting
You blow the safe up
Then all I know is I wake up
Covered in rubble. One of the rabble
Needs mummy
("What's all this then?")
The government will never find the money
("What's all this then?")
I've been here all day
A star in strange ways
Apart from a photograph
They'll get nothing from me
Not until they let me see my solicitor
Ooh, I remember
That rich, windy weather
When you would carry me
Pockets floating
In the breeze
Ooh, there goes a tenner
Hey, look! There's a fiver
There's a ten-shilling note
Remember them?
That's when we used to vote for him"
Oh BTW the reference to "strange ways" this is a prison.
Plus "What's all this then" is a Police Officer.
Great reaction! I always thought "tenner" could also mean "a person who got 10 years of prison" ...
Nah. It's a ten pound note, and nothing else.
@@TheoZoffrok Same in Australia before we switched to decimal currency in 1966.
A song about a bungled robbery told from the point of view of one of the robbers. They compare themselves to old film gangsters, Bogart, Cagney, George Raft and Edward g. Robinson but they bungle the robbery and end up covered in rubble with money flying all around them. The music is kind of music hall, kind of jaunty cheeky chappie sounding which ties in with the mockney accent on some of the singing. Very theatrical and another story/character song. It was a total flop on release and her first single not to even get in to the Top 75. Neil Tennant reviewed it in Smash Hits (pre - PSB's) saying it was "very weird" but had a "haunting atmosphere".
Kate and her fake/mock cockney accent... her mockney accent, about a bank heist that all goes completely wrong a for a bunch of amateur crims who are completely out of their depth.
This probably counts as light relief on "The Dreaming" - after this she gives us a run of 4 songs from "Pull Out the Pin" all the way through to the title track that is as good as anything that Kate has ever done (including any 4 songs from the iconic "Ninth Wave").
On her previous album in songs like Delius, The Wedding List, Violin and Breathing, Kate showed just what she could do with her voice. She is about to do so once again, but she is also going to show just how much her voice can endure, as she uses it not only as an instrument, but also as a weapon.
If only she knew that 1982 would be the last year of the £1 note being king and 1983 beckoned a coin and the death of said note. I think she would rethink this whole song. B for effort, F for foresight.
What a strange thing to say, handsolo1209. The opposite is true. The very impermanence of the currency format is actually referenced by her at the end of the song: "There's a ten-shilling note. Remember them? That's when we used to vote for him." That nod to antiquity surely gives Kate an A for foresight.
For a first listen I get your point of view, but this song actually is the weakest one on this album. But there must be a weakest one. And if this is it....
Fair enough, although for me the (relatively) weakest song on this album is Leave It Open. I love this song, with its collision of different styles - a ska-like feel, yet the horn section is more like a brass band!
I disagree 😊 there's no album filler here😊