(These lyrics were originally from Andrew Marvick's The Garden.)

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"The Kick Inside"

The Kick Inside
Written by Kate Bush

I've pulled down my lace and the chintz.

Oh, do you know you have the face of a genius?

I'll send your love to Zeus.

Oh, by the time you read this,

I'll be well in touch.

I'm giving it all in a moment or two.

I'm giving it all in a moment, for you.

I'm giving it all, giving it, giving it.

This kicking here inside

Makes me leave you behind.

No more under the quilt

To keep you warm.

Your sister I was born.

You must lose me like an arrow,

Shot into the killer storm.

You and me on the bobbing knee.

Didn't we cry at that old mythology he'd read!

I will come home again, but not until

The sun and the moon meet on yon hill.

I'm giving it all in a moment or two.

I'm giving it all in a moment, for you.

I'm giving it all, giving it, giving it.

This kicking here inside

Makes me leave you behind.

No more under the quilt

To keep you warm.

Your sister I was born.

You must lose me like an arrow,

Shot into the killer storm.

[This song is also known in an early demo version, perhaps dating from between 1973 and 1976, which features a few alternate lines:]

I've pulled down my lace and the chintz.

Oh, do you know? You have the face of a genius.

I'll send your love to Zeus.

Oh, by the time you read this,

I'll be well in touch.

I'm giving it all in a moment for you.

I'm giving it all in a moment or two.

I'm giving it all, giving it, giving it.

The kicking here inside

Makes me leave you behind.

No more under the quilt

To keep you warm.

Your sister I was born. Lose me.

You must lose me like an arrow,

Shot into the killer storm.

You and me on the bobbing knee--

Welling eyes from identifying with Lizzy Wan's story.

I will come home again, but not until

The sun and the moon meet on yon hill.

I'm giving it all in a moment for you.

I'm giving it all in a moment or two.

I'm giving it all, giving it, giving it, giving it, giving it!

The kicking here inside

Makes me leave you behind.

No more under the quilt

To keep you warm.

Your sister I was born. Lose me.

You must lose me like an arrow,

Shot into the killer storm.

©1978 EMI/Kate Bush

[Here are the words to the traditional ballad "Lizzie Wan", the inspiration for "The Kick Inside":]

The Ballad of Lizie Wan

(Version 1)

Lizie Wan sits in her father's bower-door,

Weeping and making a mane, [moan?]

And by there came her father dear:

"What ails thee, Lizie Wan?"

"I ail, and I ail, dear father," she said,

"And I'll tell you a reason for why;

There is a child between my twa sides,

Between my dear billy and I."

Now Lizie Wan sits at her father's bower-door,

Sighing and making a mane,

And by there came her brother dear:

"What ails thee, Lizie Wan?"

"I ail, I ail, dear brither," she said,

"And I'll tell you a reason for why;

There is a child between my twa sides,

Between you, dear billy, and I."

"And hast thou tald father and mother o that?

And hast thou tald sae o me?" [told so of me]

And he has drawn his gude braid sword, [good long sword]

That hang down by his knee.

And he has cutted aff Lizie Wan's head,

And her fair body in three,

And he's awa to his mother's bower,

And sair [sorely] aghast was he.

"What ails thee, what ails thee, Geordy Wan?

What ails thee sae fast to rin?

For I see by thy ill colour

Some fallow's [felon's?] deed thou hast done."

"Some fallow's deed I have done, mother,

And I pray you pardon me;

For I've cutted aff my greyhound's head;

He wadna rin for me."

"Thy greyhound's bluid was never sae red,

O my son Geordy Wan.

For I see by thy ill colour

Some fallow's deed thou hast done."

"Some fallow's deed I hae done, mother,

And I pray you pardon me;

For I hae cutted aff Lizie Wan's head

And her fair body in three."

"O what wilt thou do when thy father comes hame,

O my son Geordie Wan?"

"I'll set my foot in a bottomless boat,

And swim to the sea-ground."

"And when will thou come hame again,

O my son Geordy Wan?" [now pay attention this is the good part....]

"The sun and the moon shall dance on the green

That night when I come hame."

The Ballad of Lizie Wan

(Version 2)

Fair Lucy was sitting in her own cabin door,

Making her laments alone;

Who should come by but her own mother dear,

Saying, "What makes Fair Lucy mourn?"

"I have a cause for to grieve," she said,

"And a reason for to mourn;

For the babe that lies in the cradle asleep,

Dear mother, it is his own."

Fair Lucy was sitting in her own cabin door,

Making her laments alone;

Who should come by but her own brother dear,

Saying, "What makes Fair Lucy mourn?"

"I have a cause for to grieve," she said,

"And a reason for to mourn;

For the babe that lies in the cradle asleep,

Dear brother, it is your own."

He took her by the lily-white hand

And he led her into the woods;

What he did there, I never can declare,

But he spilt Fair Lucy's blood.

"O, what is that upon your frock,

My son, come tell to me."

"It is one drop of Fair Lucy's blood,

And that you plainly can see."

"What will your father say to you,

When he returns to me?"

"I shall step my foot on board a ship,

And my face he never shall see."

"What will you do with your three little babes,

My son, come tell to me?"

"I shall leave them here at my father's command,

For to keep him companee."

"What will you do with your pretty little wife,

My son, come tell to me?"

"She shall step her foot on board a ship,

And sail the ocean with me."

"What will you do with your houses and lands,

My son, come tell to me?"

"I shall leave them here at my father's command,

For to set my children free."

"When will you return again,

My son, come tell to me?" [still with me?]

"When the sun and the moon set on yonders green hill,

And I'm sure that never can be."

These are from "The Ballad Book" by MacEdward Leach.

Version 1 is from Scotland, version 2 from Vermont (!)

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