Cloudbusting -- Kate Bush In Her Own Words

Between A Man and A Woman

It's about a relationship being a very finely balanced thing that can be easily thrown off by a third party. The whole thing really came from a line in The Godfather, during some family argument, when Marlon Brando says, ``Don't interfere, it's between a man and a woman.'' It's exploring the idea of trying to keep a relationship together, how outside forces can break into it... Rubbish really, but I quite like the cello. (1989, NME)

"Between a man and a woman'' is almost a soap opera situation, with you trying to drive off any external interference which might ruin the chances of a relationship's natural growth. It's like you're saying we live in a fast culture - fast food, fast-edit tv, disposable pop, disposable sex - and, if we don't get instant gratification, we're not interested. You seem angry and determined.

Well, that's nice, because when people ask me about this song, in terms of having to talk about it, it's rubbish. But yes, I think you're right, it is perhaps about how you actually have that choice sometimes, whether to interfere or not. You know, there's this tendency to want to leap in and take over and control: ``Oh, I know best!"; when I think a relationship is a very delicate balance: it's very easily tipped, and then needs to be refound again.'' (1989, Melody Maker)

What do you do when friends are splitting up before your very eyes?

Often it's not your problem. You have to do the right thing, whatever feels right. Modern relationships are plagued with these problems. (1989, Tracks)

That was, let's get a groove going at the piano, and a pretty straightforward Fairlight pattern. Then we got the drummer in, and I thought that maybe it was taking on a slightly Sixties feel - not that it is. So we got Alan [Murphy, level 42 guitarist] in to play guitar - who unfortunately wasn't credited - a printing error. He played some smashing guitar. Then I wanted to work with the cellist again, because I think the cello is such a beautiful instrument. I find it very male and female - not one or the other. He's actually the only player that I've ever written out music for. They're lucky if they get chord charts normally.

We were just playing around with a groove. We actually had a second verse that was similar to the first, and I thought it was really boring. I hated it, so it sat around for about six months. So I took it into a completely different section which worked much better. Just having that little bit on the front worked much better. Quite often I have to put things aside and think about them if they just haven't worked. If you leave a little time, it's surprising how often you can come back and turn it into something. (1989, International Musician)

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