Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

General Comment*major spoilers for book*

For everyone saying that the song is just based on the end of the book, I hate to say it but it's not.
It jumps back and forth a bit but starts off at childhood 'Out on the wiley, windy moors We'd roll and fall in green'. Then progresses through the story of Heathcliff leaving and Cathy when she falls for Edgar, after talking to Nelly of her dream 'Bad dreams in the night.
They told me I was going to lose the fight'. (the fight being trying to keep both Heathcliff and Edgar, which nearly killed her)

The chorus happens at the beginning of the book, but because of the narration it actually happens after the main part of the story (if that makes sense).
Cathy never comes directly to Heathcliff but instead to Lockwood who is staying in her childhood room, after wandering the moors as a ghost for twenty years. Heathcliff was the one who wanted her to appear to him, so he wouldn't be abandoned and soulless, free to join her in death. Though it takes the whole book to tell their story, Heathcliff does actually die soon after she comes to the window as a ghost after having waited twenty years to know that she hadn't just left him in the 'dark abyss'.
'Ooh, it gets dark! It gets lonely,
On the other side from you.' could be both about when she's chosen to marry Edgar (Heathcliff's opposite) and also when they're separated by death.
As for the line 'Cruel Heathcliff, my one dream,
My only master. ' I really like it but in a way it's not true. Though Heathcliff was often the main factor in her choices and she was ruled by her love for him, Cathy was also caught by her desire for society and that's sorta why she chose Edgar. Edgar also became a master to her, not in the same way, but she never could choose between them, even in death (the locks of hair in the locket, buried between them).

Anyway, that was rather long but I felt the need to say it. Love the song, in case I didn't mention that :)

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  @BeeAnchor
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  I think Heathcliff was her only master. Yes, she wanted money and good society, but she wanted it for Heathcliff and her. She planned to get Edgar money for them. She never made any choice. She was Heathcliff's and he was hers from the beginning.

  Flag blueskyarchiveon November 22, 2013  

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  @BeeAnchor Great analysis. Just some further obervations to shed more light on what was an enchanting, mystical but totally inscrutible song when I first heard it as a naive 9 year old. The 'rolling and falling in green' hints at the sexual passion between Heathcliff and Cathy. This was purposely avoided in the original film because of censorship issues but it is hinted at in the novel. I think it adds another dimension and deeper understanding of their love...

  Flag rhyson October 05, 2015  

General CommentThis song has stuck with me since seeing Kate perform it on Top of the Pops on a Thursday in 1978. A 19 year old performing live whilst dancing in a ballet style itself was mesmerising.. It was one of the perfromances that came from left field at the time - completely different and unique against a backdrop of punk rock and disco. A song about a famous British Novel - who would think of that being a success. The record company were against the idea of the song and she apparently cried until they agreed. It of course went to number 1 after 2 weeks. The video for this fits the song - she dances in a hippy style outfit in a field around the edge of the forest. For a 19 year to write, sing, dance and play on the song and co-produce was and still is an extraordinary feat. A truly one-off in terms of vocal ability, charm and artistic ability.

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  @CharmingMan

General CommentWell I would think it's pretty obvious that this song is about Wuthering Heights (der) Listening to this song prompted me to read Wuthering Heights but so far it's confusing the hell out of me.

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  @PunKinDrubliC

General CommentWuthering Heights can be a confusing novel at times, but this song actually helps to clear things up slightly.

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  @GirlInformMe

General CommentEmily Bronte was born on 30 July 1818.

Kate Bush was born exactly 140 years later, 30 July 1958.

Coincidence?

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  @robcbishop
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  wow interresting note, I suspected she felt/feels very close to Emily Brontë from her intro hommage in "Wow".

  Flag pat255on October 09, 2013  

General CommentThis song is so beautiful. It's about this painful, impossible love that is shared by Cathy and Heathcliff. Cathy trys to posses him, but their love is bound for tradgedy from the beginning, and she dies and haunts him till he joins her. It promted me to read the book aswell, and i failed the first time, but i made another attempt and really enjoyed it the second time.

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  @KFurber
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  thank you

  Flag elliecedarcrofton August 10, 2011  

General CommentLovely song :)

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  @Pey

General CommentI think Kate wrote Wuthering Heights based on the ending of the novel. The part when Catherine Earnshaw comes back for Heathcliff's soul. I think I'm not sure, but Catherine dies and comes back as some kind of ghost, and breaks heathcliff's window with her hands. She comes back for his soul so they can spend eternal life with each other. Wow now thats possesive. Overall this song is one of my fav Kate songs. Its gorgeous and stunning.

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  @winterycappy

General Commentthis is the most beautiful song i hve heard, and i have never read the book or heard of it (well id heard of it but nothing of the plot) what a beautiful voice and you can feel her emotions just thro her voice even without knowing any backgroun dknowledge

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  @regardemylasheskgm

General CommentThis was the first song i ever heard by Kate and my first impressions were obviously complete wonderment as a result of her extremely high voice! After i got over how wonderfully unique and strange she seemed, i discovered how artistic and talented she was. I am a huge Kate Bush fan and love all of her work, but the way she almost became Cathy in this song was just so clever. She brought the character to life and portrayed her perfectly both in the video, and also vocally.

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  @Lici