Night Of The Swallow
Kate Bush · This Woman's Work Anthology 1978 - 1990 [1999]
Looks just like your face on the moon, to me.
And I won't let you do
What you want to do.
It's funny how, even now,
You're laughing.
I won't let you do it.
If you go, I'll let the law know,
And they'll head you off when you touch the ground.
Ooh, please, don't go through with this.
I don't like the sound of it.
It's funny how, even now,
You're miles away.
I won't let you do it.
I won't let you do it.
I won't let you go through with it.
"Meet them over at Dover.
I'll just pilot the motor,
Take them over the water
"With a hired plane,
And no names mentioned.
Tonight's the night of the flight.
Before you know,
I'll be over the water
"Like a swallow.
There's no risk.
I'll whisk them up in no moonlight.
And though pigs can fly,
They'll never find us
Posing as the night,
And I'm home before the morning."
In Malta, catch a swallow,
For all of the guilty--to set them free.
Wings fill the window,
And they beat and bleed.
They hold the sky on the other side
Of BORDERlines.
"Meet them over at Dover.
I'll just pilot the motor,
Take them over the water,
Like a swallow flying to Malta,
"With a hired plane,
And no names mentioned.
Tonight's the night of the flight.
Before you know,
I'll be over the water
Like a swallow.
"There's no risk.
I'll whisk them up in no moonlight.
And though pigs can fly,
They'll never find us
Posing as the night,
And I'm home before the morning.
"Give me a break!
Ooh, let me try!
Give me something to show
For my miserable life!
Give me something to take!
Would you break even my wings,
Just like a swallow?
"Let me--let me go
With a hired plane,
And no names mentioned.
Tonight's the night of the flight.
Before you know,
I'll be over the water
Like a swallow.
("Let me--let me go!")
"There's no risk.
I'll whisk them up in no moonlight.
And though pigs can fly,
They'll never find us
Posing as the night,
And I'm home before the morning.
("Let me--let me go!")
"With a hired plane,
And no names mentioned.
Tonight's the night of the flight.
Before you know,
I'll be over the water
Like a swallow.
("Let me--let me go!")
"There's no risk.
I'll whisk them up in no moonlight.
And though pigs can fly,
They'll never find us
Posing as the night,
And I'm home before the morning--"
But you're not a swallow!
Night Of The Swallow
Night Of The Swallow stands as a haunting song in Kate Bush's expansive discography, showcasing her signature blend of theatricality and emotional depth. Recorded during a prolific period of her career, the track reflects her unique ability to weave narrative storytelling with intricate musical arrangements. As part of her celebrated body of work, the song demonstrates the artist's evolution beyond her initial chart successes, exploring darker, more atmospheric textures that would come to define her later albums. Bush's distinctive vocal delivery and imaginative composition style create an immersive listening experience that resonates with fans of art rock and progressive pop. This recording remains a testament to her enduring influence on the genre, highlighting her capacity to craft memorable melodies that linger long after the final note fades.