Rocket's Tail

Album: The Sensual World (1989)
Play Video
  • That November night, looking up into the sky
    You said hey wish that was me up there
    It's the biggest rocket I could find
    And it's holding the night in its arms
    If for only a moment
    I can't see the look in its eyes
    But I'm sure it must be laughing
    But it seemed to me the saddest thing I'd ever seen
    And I thought you were crazy wishing such a thing

    I saw only a stick on fire
    Alone on its journey
    Home to the quickening ground
    With no one there to catch it

    I put on my pointed hat
    And my black and silver suit
    And I check my gunpowder pack
    And I strap the stick on my back
    And dressed as a rocket on Waterloo Bridge
    Nobody seemed to see me
    Then with the fuse in my hand
    And now shooting into the night

    And still as a rocket
    I land in the river
    Was it me said you were crazy?

    I put on my cloudiest suit
    Size five lightning boots too
    'Cause I am a rocket
    On fire
    Look at me go with my tail on fire
    Tail on fire
    On fire Writer/s: Kate Bush
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Paul from Rothesay, Nb, NbThis song is absolutely magical. I can still remember listening to it for the first time and getting totally swept up when the song takes off after the acapella intro. David Gilmour's performance is spot on. One of my all-time faves from Kate!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.