Kate Bush — Watching You Without Me
Album: Before The DawnAvg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 2102
Length: 4:23
Plays (last 30 days): 0
share
tweet
("What's that?")
("It's four, five, six, seven...")
You can't hear me.
You can't hear me.
You can't hear what I'm saying.
You can't hear what I'm saying to you.
You watch the clock
Move the slow hand.
I should have been home
Hours ago,
But I'm not here.
But I'm not here.
You can't hear me.
You can't hear me.
You can't feel me
Here in the room with you now.
You can't hear what I'm saying.
You don't hear what I'm saying, do you?
Can't let you know
What's been happening.
There's a ghost in our home,
Just watching you without me.
I'm not here.
("You don't hear me.") [backwards]
But I'm not here.
(You can't hear me.)
But I'm not here.
(You don't hear what I'm saying.)
"Don't ignore, don't ignore me,
Let me...??"*
"Don't ignore, don't ignore me,
Let me...??"
"Don't ignore, don't ignore me,
Let me...??"
"We see you here." [backwards]
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
You don't hear me come in.
"Help me, baby! Help me, baby! Talk to me! Listen to me,
listen to me! Talk to me! Help--"
("You can't hear me.") [backwards]
"Listen, baby! Listen to me, baby! Help me, help me, baby!
Talk to me! Talk to me! Please, baby, talk to me!"
("You can't hear me.") [backwards]
You won't hear me leaving.
("It's four, five, six, seven...")
You can't hear me.
You can't hear me.
You can't hear what I'm saying.
You can't hear what I'm saying to you.
You watch the clock
Move the slow hand.
I should have been home
Hours ago,
But I'm not here.
But I'm not here.
You can't hear me.
You can't hear me.
You can't feel me
Here in the room with you now.
You can't hear what I'm saying.
You don't hear what I'm saying, do you?
Can't let you know
What's been happening.
There's a ghost in our home,
Just watching you without me.
I'm not here.
("You don't hear me.") [backwards]
But I'm not here.
(You can't hear me.)
But I'm not here.
(You don't hear what I'm saying.)
"Don't ignore, don't ignore me,
Let me...??"*
"Don't ignore, don't ignore me,
Let me...??"
"Don't ignore, don't ignore me,
Let me...??"
"We see you here." [backwards]
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
"We see you here."
You don't hear me come in.
"Help me, baby! Help me, baby! Talk to me! Listen to me,
listen to me! Talk to me! Help--"
("You can't hear me.") [backwards]
"Listen, baby! Listen to me, baby! Help me, help me, baby!
Talk to me! Talk to me! Please, baby, talk to me!"
("You can't hear me.") [backwards]
You won't hear me leaving.
Comments (91)add comment
One of my favourite songs from one of my favourite artists. Truly wonderful.
DanielHLloyd wrote:
If I may, you have to have a little context for the song to understand it. It is from a larger suite called "The Ninth Wave" where a woman is left floating at sea after her ship goes down during a storm. As her body slowly shuts down in the cold waters she loses consciousness and imagines herself gradually letting go of life. In this song she sees her family going on with life without her. It is pretty repetitive granted, but it is Kate at her conceptual best in the larger form of work. Hounds of Love is a terrific album.
Just noticing her name is spelled Catherine, yet goes by "Kate," why not "Cate"? Inquiry minds want to know! ;) Perhaps one of our English RP friends can share a cultural explanation..?
This song is most excellent, such a fabulous artist.
This song is most excellent, such a fabulous artist.
siqbal wrote:
She was inducted in Nov as part of the 2023 class fwiw.
With the amount of artists she's influenced how is she not in the Rock Hall of Fame?
She was inducted in Nov as part of the 2023 class fwiw.
siqbal wrote:
Wenner is a putz
With the amount of artists she's influenced how is she not in the Rock Hall of Fame? Clearly Wenner is not a Kate fan.
Wenner is a putz
Jelani wrote:
Mmm, bourbon . . . hope it's Eagle Rare, or Knob Creek, maybe? ; )
Hahahahahahahahahaha! My drink just came out my nose. Brilliant. But my nose is on fire with bourbon now!
Mmm, bourbon . . . hope it's Eagle Rare, or Knob Creek, maybe? ; )
DanielHLloyd wrote:
holy cr*p! that's really cool. she's so deep.
i had this playing in the background at work and just kept hearing hiccups. (which doesn't make sense, but maybe it does?)
If I may, you have to have a little context for the song to understand it. It is from a larger suite called "The Ninth Wave" where a woman is left floating at sea after her ship goes down during a storm. As her body slowly shuts down in the cold waters she loses consciousness and imagines herself gradually letting go of life. In this song she sees her family going on with life without her. It is pretty repetitive granted, but it is Kate at her conceptual best in the larger form of work. Hounds of Love is a terrific album.
holy cr*p! that's really cool. she's so deep.
i had this playing in the background at work and just kept hearing hiccups. (which doesn't make sense, but maybe it does?)
On_The_Beach wrote:
I'm sorry, we're going to have to kill you.
I'm sorry, we're going to have to kill you.
Another magnificent missive to us mere mortals from Planet Kate. Things are different there. Very different.
Flippin' CD player keeps skipping...
DanielHLloyd wrote:
Thanks, Dan.
If I may, you have to have a little context for the song to understand it. It is from a larger suite called "The Ninth Wave" where a woman is left floating at sea after her ship goes down during a storm. As her body slowly shuts down in the cold waters she loses consciousness and imagines herself gradually letting go of life. In this song she sees her family going on with life without her. It is pretty repetitive granted, but it is Kate at her conceptual best in the larger form of work. Hounds of Love is a terrific album.
Thanks, Dan.
Is that Tony Levin on bass?
Solid 8 for Kate. She's wonderful to hear and never fails to work her musical magic into my mind and body. I guess you could say I'm a fan. :-)
Goddess
With the amount of artists she's influenced how is she not in the Rock Hall of Fame? Clearly Wenner is not a Kate fan.
On_The_Beach wrote:
I'm sorry, we're going to have to kill you.
Hahahahahahahahahaha! My drink just came out my nose. Brilliant. But my nose is on fire with bourbon now!
I'm sorry, we're going to have to kill you.
Hahahahahahahahahaha! My drink just came out my nose. Brilliant. But my nose is on fire with bourbon now!
Easyrider wrote:
Glad your ass is somewhere else.
Perhaps you'd consider joining it?
It sounds like an energy-less Madonna to me... blah. Try getting a new battery for your hearing aid. LMAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Perhaps you'd consider joining it?
It sounds like an energy-less Madonna to me... blah.
Try getting a new battery for your hearing aid.
LMAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
There are many times BillG's mix destroys the mind. More please.
ChrisVIII wrote:
Try getting a new battery for your hearing aid.
It sounds like an energy-less Madonna to me... blah.
Try getting a new battery for your hearing aid.
Excellent!
The way she sings:
"You watch the clock
Move the slow hand."
is mostly a 10.
"You watch the clock
Move the slow hand."
is mostly a 10.
DanielHLloyd wrote:
The only live recording there is of Ninth Wave. Spine tingling. Won’t play embedded or be linkable here, but search for Vimeo 149904849.
If I may, you have to have a little context for the song to understand it. It is from a larger suite called "The Ninth Wave" where a woman is left floating at sea after her ship goes down during a storm. As her body slowly shuts down in the cold waters she loses consciousness and imagines herself gradually letting go of life. In this song she sees her family going on with life without her. It is pretty repetitive granted, but it is Kate at her conceptual best in the larger form of work. Hounds of Love is a terrific album.
The only live recording there is of Ninth Wave. Spine tingling. Won’t play embedded or be linkable here, but search for Vimeo 149904849.
Kate's music is ageless.
<< someone really went to some trouble to decipher the lyrics. On the album sleeve, the lyrics "don't ignore me" and "we see you here" and all the chopped up vocals aren't part of what's printed. I never knew she was saying "don't ignore me"... no matter though. A conceptually brilliant song end to end. I didn't know what it was about until the live album was released, but the feeling of it conveyed 100%.
Nice! ....great tune, ...great voice, ...very well recorded!
Webfoot wrote:
I just like all Kate!
Me too, and such delish percussions on this one.
I just like all Kate!
Me too, and such delish percussions on this one.
ckcotton wrote:
Fixed. Thanks, friend.
Just like all Kate Bush... utterly ... wonderful
Fixed. Thanks, friend.
On_The_Beach wrote:
You don't get out much do you?
You don't get out much do you?
Bill is this your favorite song? I just hear you play this one a lot. I just imagine when the voice is all cut up, echoing and sounding like absolute shit you're dancing around the room like a fucking bad man.
Really can't stand anything by Kate Bush, very grating stuff.
imo Kate Bush is much better than Kate Winslet 
Kate Bush is a goddess
Yeah! Take that, Haters.
DanielHLloyd wrote:
DanielHLloyd wrote:
If I may, you have to have a little context for the song to understand it. It is from a larger suite called "The Ninth Wave" where a woman is left floating at sea after her ship goes down during a storm. As her body slowly shuts down in the cold waters she loses consciousness and imagines herself gradually letting go of life. In this song she sees her family going on with life without her. It is pretty repetitive granted, but it is Kate at her conceptual best in the larger form of work. Hounds of Love is a terrific album.
Happy birthday Kate .
cmar wrote:
Kate Bush... Madonna?
Proclivities
They're good pals. They play mahjong together every Thursday.
like this? :
Kate Bush... Madonna?
Proclivities
They're good pals. They play mahjong together every Thursday.
like this? :
still outstanding some 35 years later.
Kate left us all behind and wondering, ages ago.
Musical for horny aliens
9
9
There's no one like Kate! Truly unique and lovely.
VV wrote:
So,, what you're saying here is that you hate this song,,,, right?
Hate, hate, hate this one. And I don't hate many songs on RP.
So,, what you're saying here is that you hate this song,,,, right?
ckcotton wrote:
I just like all Kate!
Just like all Kate Bush... utterly intolerable
I just like all Kate!
Steely_D wrote:
Her ghost, trying to reach her husband, sounds like a corrupted MP3.
The hell you say...
Her ghost, trying to reach her husband, sounds like a corrupted MP3.
The hell you say...
VV wrote:
So does losing consciousness sound like a corrupted mp3 file?
Her ghost, trying to reach her husband, sounds like a corrupted MP3.
So does losing consciousness sound like a corrupted mp3 file?
Her ghost, trying to reach her husband, sounds like a corrupted MP3.
Just like all Kate Bush... utterly intolerable
DanielHLloyd wrote:
So does losing consciousness sound like a corrupted mp3 file?
If I may, you have to have a little context for the song to understand it. It is from a larger suite called "The Ninth Wave" where a woman is left floating at sea after her ship goes down during a storm. As her body slowly shuts down in the cold waters she loses consciousness and imagines herself gradually letting go of life. In this song she sees her family going on with life without her. It is pretty repetitive granted, but it is Kate at her conceptual best in the larger form of work. Hounds of Love is a terrific album.
So does losing consciousness sound like a corrupted mp3 file?
If I may, you have to have a little context for the song to understand it. It is from a larger suite called "The Ninth Wave" where a woman is left floating at sea after her ship goes down during a storm. As her body slowly shuts down in the cold waters she loses consciousness and imagines herself gradually letting go of life. In this song she sees her family going on with life without her. It is pretty repetitive granted, but it is Kate at her conceptual best in the larger form of work. Hounds of Love is a terrific album.
Hate, hate, hate this one. And I don't hate many songs on RP.
ChrisVIII wrote:
If you wanted to insult the artist (Kate Bush), you could not have picked a better comparison.
It sounds like an energy-less Madonna to me... blah.
If you wanted to insult the artist (Kate Bush), you could not have picked a better comparison.
nutrod42 wrote:
Yes, try to be quiet during the music.
Annoying.
Yes, try to be quiet during the music.
cmar wrote:
Kate Bush... Madonna?
Proclivities
They're good pals. They play mahjong together every Thursday.
ChrisVIII wrote:
It sounds like an energy-less Madonna to me... blah.
.On_The_Beach
I'm sorry, we're going to have to kill you.
I think these are now my two favorites comments of all time in this forum!
Talented lady.
What a voice...what an angelic delivery. She's my fav female artist of all time, bar none. Keep 'em coming Bill!
I'm sometimes overwhelmed with the sadness that this might not have been videotaped so I can eventually see what happened at those shows.
Proclivities wrote:
They're good pals. They play mahjong together every Thursday.
Mabush!
They're good pals. They play mahjong together every Thursday.
Mabush!
cmar wrote:
Kate Bush... Madonna?
They're good pals. They play mahjong together every Thursday.
Kate Bush... Madonna?
They're good pals. They play mahjong together every Thursday.
ChrisVIII wrote:
I'm sorry, we're going to have to kill you.
It sounds like an energy-less Madonna to me... blah.
I'm sorry, we're going to have to kill you.
ChrisVIII wrote:
Kate Bush... Madonna?
It sounds like an energy-less Madonna to me... blah.
Kate Bush... Madonna?
It sounds like an energy-less Madonna to me... blah.
sleepinggypC wrote:
I agree. This one is only worth a 9.
not her best song, but I loves me some Kate! She's awesome as ever.
I agree. This one is only worth a 9.
At least she's not Runnin' Up That Hill in this song.
not her best song, but I loves me some Kate! She's awesome as ever.
Just as awesome as always.Annoying.
shakylegs wrote:
There just seems to be a bit more maturity to her voice, which comes across as a bit deeper. I really enjoyed the screechy aspect of it back in the day, but now this seems more, I don't know, solid?
I enjoy the more mature version of her voice.
Bought the triple-CD and love it.
There just seems to be a bit more maturity to her voice, which comes across as a bit deeper. I really enjoyed the screechy aspect of it back in the day, but now this seems more, I don't know, solid?
I enjoy the more mature version of her voice.
Bought the triple-CD and love it.
dew34 wrote:
This is from the drowning sequence on the Hounds of Love album.
Exceptional as usual, he voice is still crystal and this song from The Dreaming reinforces the Australian theme she was promoting.
This is from the drowning sequence on the Hounds of Love album.
Exceptional as usual, he voice is still crystal and this song from The Dreaming reinforces the Australian theme she was promoting.
shakylegs wrote:
There just seems to be a bit more maturity to her voice, which comes across as a bit deeper. I really enjoyed the screechy aspect of it back in the day, but now this seems more, I don't know, solid?
Yep. Listening to this album, I got the sense that it was a second swing at some songs, adding some depth or intonation. And, her voice is more grounded and maybe a bit throatier.
That jerky voice thing is, I think, her as a ghost trying to contact her husband and son as she watches them.
There just seems to be a bit more maturity to her voice, which comes across as a bit deeper. I really enjoyed the screechy aspect of it back in the day, but now this seems more, I don't know, solid?
Yep. Listening to this album, I got the sense that it was a second swing at some songs, adding some depth or intonation. And, her voice is more grounded and maybe a bit throatier.
That jerky voice thing is, I think, her as a ghost trying to contact her husband and son as she watches them.
jgriffin56 wrote:
otherwise an okay song, but that goofy bit at the end does not improve the song.
That's on the original, I believe, so is appropriate here too. I love her, so I'm biased :)
otherwise an okay song, but that goofy bit at the end does not improve the song.
That's on the original, I believe, so is appropriate here too. I love her, so I'm biased :)
Skydog wrote:
yeah but could have done without the jammed up cd effect
otherwise an okay song, but that goofy bit at the end does not improve the song.
yeah but could have done without the jammed up cd effect
otherwise an okay song, but that goofy bit at the end does not improve the song.
love Kate!
LizK wrote:
yeah but could have done without the jammed up cd effect
Was enraptured with the genealogy of my not-very-distinguished-family when this interrupted. Kate is getting better; demanding your attention, yes?
yeah but could have done without the jammed up cd effect
Was enraptured with the genealogy of my not-very-distinguished-family when this interrupted. Kate is getting better; demanding your attention, yes?
westslope wrote:
How is a more mature-sounding Kate different from a younger, not-so-mature Kate? Just curious. Me thinks I have to get this album.
There just seems to be a bit more maturity to her voice, which comes across as a bit deeper. I really enjoyed the screechy aspect of it back in the day, but now this seems more, I don't know, solid?
How is a more mature-sounding Kate different from a younger, not-so-mature Kate? Just curious. Me thinks I have to get this album.
There just seems to be a bit more maturity to her voice, which comes across as a bit deeper. I really enjoyed the screechy aspect of it back in the day, but now this seems more, I don't know, solid?
I adore this song...
shakylegs wrote:
How is a more mature-sounding Kate different from a younger, not-so-mature Kate? Just curious. Me thinks I have to get this album.
Nice to hear a more mature-sounding Kate sing her songs.
How is a more mature-sounding Kate different from a younger, not-so-mature Kate? Just curious. Me thinks I have to get this album.
shakylegs wrote:
Thank you, Sherlock Holmes.
I got what you were goin for there shakeylegs. In fact, the couple of cuts I've heard from this here on RP are scary accurate to the album cuts except for (as you say) her voice.
Thank you, Sherlock Holmes.
I got what you were goin for there shakeylegs. In fact, the couple of cuts I've heard from this here on RP are scary accurate to the album cuts except for (as you say) her voice.
On_The_Beach wrote:
From Amazon:
“Before The Dawn” was recorded during the incredible run of 22 sold-out shows performed by Kate at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 2014. In March 2014 Kate Bush announced plans to perform 15 shows in London in August and September that year, her first live shows since 1979. The shows sold out so quickly that a further 7 were immediately added, with all shows selling out in 15 minutes. Kate’s own website crashed with the demand. The first night of the shows prompted a complete media frenzy with the Evening Standard declaring that the show was “an extraordinary mix of magical ideas, stunning visuals, attention to detail and remarkable music – she was so obviously, so unambiguously brilliant, it made last night something to tell the grandchildren about.” Later that year the show won the special Editor’s award at the highly prestigious London Theatre Awards, the only contemporary music show to do so.
“Before The Dawn” was recorded during the incredible run of 22 sold-out shows performed by Kate at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 2014. In March 2014 Kate Bush announced plans to perform 15 shows in London in August and September that year, her first live shows since 1979. The shows sold out so quickly that a further 7 were immediately added, with all shows selling out in 15 minutes. Kate’s own website crashed with the demand. The first night of the shows prompted a complete media frenzy with the Evening Standard declaring that the show was “an extraordinary mix of magical ideas, stunning visuals, attention to detail and remarkable music – she was so obviously, so unambiguously brilliant, it made last night something to tell the grandchildren about.” Later that year the show won the special Editor’s award at the highly prestigious London Theatre Awards, the only contemporary music show to do so.
Nicely done...
alisathegreat wrote:
This is actually a very old song... but she did perform this version live in 2016.
Thank you, Sherlock Holmes.
This is actually a very old song... but she did perform this version live in 2016.
Thank you, Sherlock Holmes.
Is that back tracking I hear on this tune?
This is the second time I've heard a track from her gig in London. The quality is amazing...pure Kate.
Thanks Bob
Thanks Bob
shakylegs wrote:
This is actually a very old song... but she did perform this version live in 2016.
Nice to hear a more mature-sounding Kate sing her songs.
This is actually a very old song... but she did perform this version live in 2016.
Love Kate! 
Nice to hear a more mature-sounding Kate sing her songs.
From Amazon:
“Before The Dawn” was recorded during the incredible run of 22 sold-out shows performed by Kate at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 2014. In March 2014 Kate Bush announced plans to perform 15 shows in London in August and September that year, her first live shows since 1979. The shows sold out so quickly that a further 7 were immediately added, with all shows selling out in 15 minutes. Kate’s own website crashed with the demand. The first night of the shows prompted a complete media frenzy with the Evening Standard declaring that the show was “an extraordinary mix of magical ideas, stunning visuals, attention to detail and remarkable music – she was so obviously, so unambiguously brilliant, it made last night something to tell the grandchildren about.” Later that year the show won the special Editor’s award at the highly prestigious London Theatre Awards, the only contemporary music show to do so.
“Before The Dawn” was recorded during the incredible run of 22 sold-out shows performed by Kate at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 2014. In March 2014 Kate Bush announced plans to perform 15 shows in London in August and September that year, her first live shows since 1979. The shows sold out so quickly that a further 7 were immediately added, with all shows selling out in 15 minutes. Kate’s own website crashed with the demand. The first night of the shows prompted a complete media frenzy with the Evening Standard declaring that the show was “an extraordinary mix of magical ideas, stunning visuals, attention to detail and remarkable music – she was so obviously, so unambiguously brilliant, it made last night something to tell the grandchildren about.” Later that year the show won the special Editor’s award at the highly prestigious London Theatre Awards, the only contemporary music show to do so.
Dreaming/Hounds/Sky of Honey/this are all so damn moving in places.