Oh thou, who givest sustenance to the universe
From whom all things proceed
To whom all things return
Unveil to us the face of the true spiritual sun
Hidden by a disk of golden light
That we may know the truth
And do our whole duty
As we journey to thy sacred feet

Well I said
"Lily, Oh Lily I don't feel safe
I feel that life has blown a great big hole through me"
And she said
"Child, you must protect yourself
I'll show you how with fire"

Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire

I said
"Lily, Oh Lily I'm so afraid
I fear I am walking in the Veil of Darkness"
And she said
"Child, take what I say
With a pinch of salt
And protect yourself with fire"

Gabriel before me
Raphael behind me
Michael to my right
Uriel on my left side
In the circle of fire


Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery, edited by hersoftestsoul

Lily Lyrics as written by Kate Bush

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Lily song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +3
    My Opinion

    I believe Lily could be Lillith...

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith

    Kyoukichion June 26, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is actually based on The Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram..

    "Before me Raphael; Behind me Gabriel; On my right hand, Michael; On my left hand, Auriel; For about me flames the Pentagram, And in the Column shines the Six-rayed Star."

    Bonavoxon June 20, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Does anyone know who Lily is? In the album, the spoken part is just credited as 'Lily'. I wonder what her relationship with Kate is?

    ambrielon September 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't know who the woman that plays Lily is, but she also appears in the music video for this song in Kate's short film, "The Line, The Cross & The Curve"..amazingly kooky stuff!

    mollyphillips69on January 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Song written by Kate Bush. Originally released on her seventh album The Red Shoes. The song is devoted to Lily Cornford, a noted spiritual healer in London with whom Bush became close friends in the 1990s. “She was one of those very rare people who are intelligent, intuitive and kind,” Kate has said of Cornford, who believed in mental colour healing—a process whereby patients would be restored to health by seeing various hues. “I was really moved by Lily and impressed with her strength and knowledge, so it led to a song - which she thought was hilarious.” Info found on another site.

    Martincubeon August 29, 2022   Link

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