Waking the Witch by Kate Bush Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Layers of Myth and Modernity
Lyrics
Good morning, ma’am
Your early morning call
You must wake up
Wake up
Wake up, man
Wake up, child
Pay attention
Come on, wake up
Wake up, love
We should make the night
But see your little lights alive
Stop that lying (ma needs a shower, get out of bed)
And sleeping in bed, get up
Little light
Can you not see that little light up there?
Where?
There
Where?
Over here
You still in bed?
Wake up, sleepy head
We are of the going water and the gone
We are of water in the Holy Land of water
Don’t you know you’ve kept him waiting
Look who’s here to see you
You won’t burn (red, red roses)
You won’t bleed (pinks and posies)
Confess to me, girl (red, red roses, go down)
Spiritus Sanctus in nomine
Spiritus Sanctus in nomine
Spiritus Sanctus in nomine
Spiritus Sanctus in nomine
Poor little thing (red, red roses)
The blackbird (pinks and posies)
Wings in the water (red, red roses)
Go down (go down, pinks and posies)
Deus et dei domino inferno
Deus et dei domino inferno
Deus et dei domino inferno
Deus et dei domino inferno
What is it, child?
Bless me, father, bless me father, for I have sinned
Help me, listen to me, listen to me, tell me (red, red roses)
Help me, baby, don’t go (red, red ro-)
I question your innocence
She’s a witch (help this blackbird, there’s a stone around my leg)
Ha, damn you, woman
(Help this blackbird, there’s a stone around my leg)
What say you, good people (guilty, guilty, guilty)
Well, are you responsible for your actions? (This blackbird)
Not guilty (help this blackbird)
Wake up the witch
Get out of the waves
Get out of the water
Kate Bush, ever the sculptor of sound and story, weaves an intricate tapestry of symbolism and suggestion in her song ‘Waking the Witch.’ As a piece from her revered album ‘Hounds of Love,’ it delves deep into the human psyche, clothed in the garb of a surreal narrative. This analysis will attempt to peel back the layers of this complex and haunting track, revealing the rich themes of awakening, persecution, and the transcendence of time that Bush channels through her ethereal music.
Drawing from the historical context of witch trials and the more metaphysical aspects of consciousness, ‘Waking the Witch’ invites listeners into a multidimensional exploration of the human condition. With its startling shifts from soothing to jarring auditory experiences, the song mirrors the clash of tranquility and turmoil that characterizes our journey within the self and across history.
Summoning the Listener: The Call to Consciousness
Bush employs a recurring motif of awakening from the onset of ‘Waking the Witch.’ The gentle, rhythmic summoning ‘Wake up’ acts as more than just a literal request—it’s the spark of spiritual and intellectual stimulation. It contrasts the daily grind, breaking the monotony with a potent wake-up call to the deeper parts of our persona.
The various voices command attention—a chorus of demands that reflects the conflict between societal pressures and personal enlightenment. It’s an alarm ringing through the fog of routine, nudging the ‘sleeper’ in each of us to become an active participant in our destiny rather than a passive bystander.
A Dive into the Deep: Watery Graves and Spiritual Baptism
Metaphorically rich, the lyrics point to a submersion into a body of water as a near-sacral experience. ‘We are of the going water and the gone’ speaks to a cyclical existence, hinting at life, death, and possibly rebirth. It could also reference historical witch trials where water played a grim role in ‘proving’ innocence or guilt.
Bush’s invocation of the ‘Holy Land of water’ amplifies this meaning, alluding to both the destructive and purifying properties of water. The immersion into this element could symbolize a cleansing of past sins or a devastating inundation by false accusations and the weight of public opinion.
The Witch Hunt Resurrected: A Commentary on Judgment and Oppression
The imagery of persecution in ‘Waking the Witch’ is chillingly clear. As the lyrics shift from reflective to accusatory, Bush casts a light on the paranoia and hysteria that fueled witch hunts, making a broader comment on society’s eagerness to judge and punish the misunderstood—or simply, the different.
The judgment ‘She’s a witch’ and the plea ‘Help this blackbird, there’s a stone around my leg’ could reflect the modern woman’s struggles against archaic and restrictive stereotypes. This could be a metaphor for systemic patriarchy—exemplifying how women are still, figuratively, ‘waking the witch’ within themselves to combat ingrained discrimination.
Unveiling the Mystical: Hidden Meanings Amongst the Lyrics
The repeated incantations, ‘Spiritus Sanctus in nomine’ and ‘Deus et dei domino inferno,’ juxtapose the sacred with the profane. This chant transmutes the language of sanctity into a macabre soundtrack for an inquisition, emphasizing the blurred lines between holiness and evil that our histories and stories often reveal.
On a deeper level, these lines could imply an internal battle between good and evil, evoking questions about morality, faith, and true nature. It paints the image of an internal witch trial where one’s actions and thoughts are constantly analyzed and questioned in the context of a society’s moral compass.
Memorable Lines: The Poetic Haunting of ‘Red, Red Roses’
The track’s refrain of ‘red, red roses’ interlaced with ‘pinks and posies’ haunts the listener with its lyrical beauty and potential symbolism. It brings to mind the historical language of flowers, where ‘red roses’ often symbolize love or martyrdom, and ‘pinks and posies’ could represent innocence or a charm against evil.
Bush’s poetic repetition serves as a lamentation that cycles through the song, possibly mourning the loss of purity and love in the face of oppression. These phrases echo in the mind, illustrating how memory and music can intertwine to create a lasting emotional resonance that speaks to experiences beyond their initial context.
