Them Heavy People

Album: The Kick Inside (1978)
Charted: 10
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This first appeared on Kate Bush's debut album, The Kick Inside in 1978, but was only released as a single in Japan under the title "Rolling The Ball" (it reached #3 on the Japanese charts). The following year, it was the lead track from Bush's Live On Stage EP, a collection of live recordings from a benefit concert at Hammersmith Odeon, London. That version peaked at #10 in the UK.
  • This song refers to Georges Ivanovich Gurdjieff (1877-1949), a Greek-Armenian mystic and spiritual teacher who used stylized dance to help people to unleash the powers within themselves and develop their full capabilities. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 2
  • When Bush sings, "I love the whirling of the Dervishes," she refers to the ancient meditative dance in the Sufi tradition, which is a form of Islamic mysticism. During their sacred Sema ceremonies, the Dervishes - members of the Mevlevi Order of Islam - rapidly twirl until they reach a peaceful, spiritual state called Sufism.
  • In the lyrics, the knowledge-hungry singer wants to learn from a variety of teachers, not just Gurdjieff, whom she heard her father and brother discussing while she was writing the tune. She explained in a 1979 fan club article: "I thought it was important not to be narrow-minded just because we talked about Gurdjieff. I knew that I didn't mean his system was the only way, and that was why it was important to include Whirling Dervishes and Jesus, because they are strong, too. Anyway, in the long run, although somebody might be into all of them, it's really you that does it - they're just the vehicle to get you there."
  • Bush wrote this at her parents' house after the opening phrase, "Rolling the ball," popped into her head.
  • She performed this, along with "The Man With The Child In His Eyes," during her sole Saturday Night Live appearance on December 9, 1978.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.