Re: Tearing (Me) Asunder

[pdc@acorn.net (pDaleCampbell)]

Hello,

On Mon, 06 Oct 1997 20:58:47 -0600, "cuadra@sirius.com"
<cuadra@sirius.com> wrote:

> Although I'm fairly new to the internet, I really enjoyed reading this
> newsgroup. Most of the discussion is intelligent and thoughtful
Glad to have you with us!

> (in contrast
> to some of the motorcycle newsgroups that I've perused).
Newsgroups are an alternate reality (r.m.g is VERY different from
most (unmoderated) newsgroups, since it's not really unmoderated
-- Thanks, Bill!).

> My first exposure to Kate were the last 30 seconds of the "Runing Up That
> Hill" video circa 1986. If I recall correctly the video made references to
> Chinese theatre, specifically revolutionary Chinese theatre. In any case, I
> missed the name of the artist and it wasn't until a year later that my
> sister lent me her "Hounds of Love" album.
I was captivated by seeing her original appearance on SNL, doing
"The Man with the Child in His Eyes".

> What a find! Even though I grew up on the early 80s San Francisco punk
> scene, I set aside a part of my musical heart for KB's evocative and
> romantic music. 
> 
> There is one question (or rumor) that has bothered me for some time. An
> unscrupulous person I once knew told me that "The Man with the Child in His
> Eyes" is about an incestuous (and consensual) relationship KB had with her
> father. From what I can gather, the lyrics don't seem to support this. It's
> also evident that KB reveres her family in a healthy and constructive way,
> so there appears to be no basis to the rumor.
> 
> Does anyone have any thoughts or insights? Say it isn't so, Joe (or Jane)!

This person was confusing this most excellent song with "The Kick
Inside", which is (I assume) completely non-autobiographical.
TKI is based on a traditional song (that I've never even heard)
called "The Ballad of Lucy Wan" (The _Home_Demo_ version of TKI
even includes a reference to "Lucy's story").  In TKI, the girl
is "leaving" because of the shame of becoming pregnant by an
incestuous affair with her BROTHER.

     "This kicking here inside makes me leave you behind
      No more under the quilt to keep you warm
      Your sister I was born..."

Fare thee well!

KT - - - - - - S - - - - R - - - - I - - - - - - KT
"It is this that                      pDaleCampbell
 brings us together."                 pdc@acorn.net
KT - - - - -   u m o p   a p ! s d n   - - - - - KT