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Post by Lori on Jul 30, 2003 23:34:40 GMT
With my ego in my gut My babbling mouth would wash it up (But now I've started learning how) I keep it shut
My door was never locked Until one day a trigger come cocking (But now I've started learning how) I keep it shut
Wide eyes would clean and dust Things that decay, things that rust (But now I've started learning how) I keep 'em shut I keep 'em shut
Harm is in us Harm is in us, but power to arm Harm is in us Harm in us, but power to arm Harm is in us ("Leave it open!") Harm is in us, but power to arm
Narrow mind would persecute it Die a little to get to it (But now I've started learning how) I leave it open
I kept it in a cage Watched it weeping, but I made it stay (But now I've started learning how) I leave it open I leave it open
Harm is in us Harm in us, but power to arm Harm is in us Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us ("Leave it open!") Harm in us, but power to arm Harm is in us Harm in us, but power to arm Harm is in us ("Leave it open!") Harm in us, but power to arm Harm is in us Harm in us, but power to arm Harm is in us Har in us, but power to arm Harm is in us! Harm is in us! Harm is in us! Harm is in us! Harm is in us! Harm is in us Harm in you and in me!
What you letting in? Tell me what you're letting in Say what we're gonna let in!
"We let the weirdness in We let the weirdness in We let the weirdness in We let the weirdness in We let the weirdness in"
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Post by Adey on Feb 18, 2004 12:29:19 GMT
I find it ironic that my least Favourite Kate Bush track is on my most favourite album. Anyone have any thoughts on Leave It Open?
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Post by Lori on Feb 18, 2004 13:58:46 GMT
Not really, except the fact that I love it, but haven't a clue what it's about. What does she keep in a cage btw?
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Post by Sto on Feb 18, 2004 16:00:49 GMT
Not really, except the fact that I love it, but haven't a clue what it's about. What does she keep in a cage btw? I concur! One of my very favourite Kate songs. I interpret it as Kate saying in the good ol' days, you didn't have to worry about leaving the door open, anyone could come and visit. Now though, you have to be careful and cautious of people as you don't know their true intentions: if you leave your door open, a trigger could come cocking! "Narrow mind would persecute it" is just an amazing line, and one I think to myself so ofetn when people show themselves to be narrow minded, usually due to ignorance.
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Post by Xanadu on Feb 18, 2004 19:18:36 GMT
Oh, I adore this song... gives me chills... especially the line "I kept it in a cage, watched it weeping, but I made it stay." I like your thoughts about it Sto, particularly the "true intentions" part. I think that could be connected to my thoughts about fearing the harmful intentions of others. I'd also think that many of us would really identify with my interpretations of this song. Who have felt this many times in our lives, mainly the artistic (or deemed "strange") folks. I believe Al is onto my same theory, or maybe it's just a coincidence that he named the creative board "Leave It Open." I feel it's about how as you mature, you are taught and learn to keep your personal opinions and creativity inside. Through ridicule and embarassment, you stifle yourself... you shut it in. "With my ego in my gut, My babbling mouth would wash it up. (But now I've started learning how,) I keep it shut My door was never locked, Until one day a trigger come cocking. (But now I've started learning how,) I keep it shut" Wide eyes would clean and dust Things that decay, things that rust. (But now I've started learning how,) I keep 'em shut." All your thoughts and opinions, your individuality is sacrificed. It becomes so unhealthy for your psyche, that it is a proverbial "time bomb" waiting to explode, thus the "harm in us" with the power to arm. Many people, without a healthy outlet for their desires, become perverted or distorted and violent. "Harm is in us. Harm is in us, but power to arm." The character (or Kate) realizes the potential of this energy. She decides to leave herself open. This is more difficult, due to society's desire to keep their minds closed. "Narrow mind would persecute it, Die a little to get to it. (But now I've started learning how.) I leave it open." I kept it in a cage, Watched it weeping, but I made it stay. (But now I've started learning how.) I leave it open." Here, she has kept her soul in a "cage" and watched as it wept, wanting to be herself. But she held her tongue, and internalized her pain. But now, she's learning how.... "Harm is in us. Harm in us, but power to arm. Leave it open We let the weirdness in" The character's mind, heart, and soul are locked, though schooling and maturity. Society will only support individuality to an extent. When it feels uncomfortable with its development, society ridicules those people (hasn't Kate been the brunt of this criticism?) and labels them as "strange" "nutters" or "unmutual" (Al, six of one discussion, I haven't forgotten, and this is a huge part of it ). She realizes it will be difficult, but she must leave herself open to be alive. Fight the harm growing within us. And each line is a metaphor for the soul or situations she is mentally coping with. Any creative souls want to add how this may have affected their lives? You don't even have to be creative, just believe in your individuality, which is why many of us are here.
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Post by Xanadu on Feb 18, 2004 19:24:27 GMT
"Narrow mind would persecute it" is just an amazing line, and one I think to myself so ofetn when people show themselves to be narrow minded, usually due to ignorance. Me too. Think of her lovely voice, reminding me to "leave it open" and "narrow minds" when I find myself ridiculed or harassed as well. Anyone still following me... Those who criticize the character of others show how narrow their perceptions truly are.
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Post by strabley on Feb 18, 2004 19:38:25 GMT
Great interp, Zan! Kate is a daring soul, often having to remind herself to trust her instincts no matter how weird her ideas may get (such as the infant kiss or the kick inside) I've always been a little unsure what the "harm" is in the song. It is alluded that the harm is both good and bad. You will be ousted if you accept the paranormal, but we all have the "power to arm". This is one of my favorite songs (okay Adey, now we're even! ) Once you accept the weirdness in, it's really not so bad!
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Post by Sto on Feb 18, 2004 19:54:58 GMT
Wow, Zan, that's brilliant, thank you. It also makes sense for her to sing the "We let the weirdness in" backwards, and backwards again, at the end. It's as if she's finding it hard to let her creativity out - but she's determined to do it, even if it seems to others that she's backwards/weird.
That could be quite a theme for this album. It's been called her "mad" album, and perhaps people weren't able to accept such a unique, original and uncencored type of album when it was released. Maybe the song foresaw subconsciously foresaw this.
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Post by Adey on Feb 19, 2004 1:38:39 GMT
Great work Xan, I pretty much agree with everything you said. BUT I would add this. I was thinking of the time this song surfaced (assuming she didn't write it years before), and more importantly, which album it's on. I have always thought it's Kate's swipe at the music industry - probably EMI specifically, who were seeking to limit her to a hit making machine to some extent. That they were reluctant to letting her grow into a more thoughtfull and considered artist. She had problems with this album, being partially controlled in terms of her experimentation and the expense of this. I don't think it's a co-incidence that this song is on her mad album, where she is fighting the label execs for more control/independence.
" With my ego in my gut " ... fighting to get out and express itself in the way she knew she wanted to go. Don't limit me is one of the things I think she is saying, leave it open, leave the door open for me to become more than you might want me to be. " I want to leave it open ", she steels herself ready for the challenge.
A statement of intent maybe. I don't know, I'm speculating like crazy. But she did leave it open, and became the amazing artist she is now.
Although this is my least favourite track of Kate's, it's definitely one of the most interesting. I think my problem with it, is that I dislike it musically. The excellence of the lyrical content and creativity behind it is undeniable.
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Post by Adey on Feb 19, 2004 11:58:13 GMT
and labels them as "strange" "nutters" or "unmutual" (Al, six of one discussion, I haven't forgotten, and this is a huge part of it ). Hello, do I spy a reference to McGoohan's masterpiece? Yes, The Prisoner parallels are there aren't they. I hadn't made that creative comparison. Be Seeing You...
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Sven Golly
Moving
"In the night you hide from the madman you're longing to be"
Posts: 800
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Post by Sven Golly on Feb 19, 2004 14:02:24 GMT
Which side are you on? Be seeing you.
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Post by Xanadu on Feb 19, 2004 18:30:01 GMT
Hello, do I spy a reference to McGoohan's masterpiece? Yes, The Prisoner parallels are there aren't they. I hadn't made that creative comparison. Be Seeing You... Which side are you on? Be seeing you. Sven... that would be telling. (Haven't I done this before ) And yes, Adey, you have noticed that reference. Too bad you weren't here a few months ago, when I tried to coax Al Truest into a discussion about it. Sheila bit, but wants to refresh her memory before getting into anything heavy. Are you game? I am a McGoohan fan, and recently watched the whole series again after becoming a Kate fan. I have noticed many similarities in their intense creativity, unusual and subversive subject matter, compulsive fan appreciation, subjection to harsh criticism, and subsequent seclusion. If you're interested, I'll move this thought to the original thread, Six of One, under Other Topics. Thanks for noticing, Adey. Be seeing you...
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Post by Xanadu on Feb 19, 2004 18:34:04 GMT
Great interp, Zan! Kate is a daring soul, often having to remind herself to trust her instincts no matter how weird her ideas may get (such as the infant kiss or the kick inside) I've always been a little unsure what the "harm" is in the song. It is alluded that the harm is both good and bad. You will be ousted if you accept the paranormal, but we all have the "power to arm". This is one of my favorite songs (okay Adey, now we're even! ) Once you accept the weirdness in, it's really not so bad! Thanks Sheila, you're right, we shouldn't fear the "weirdness." Denying your true self, that's what leads to the potential for "harm," being violence or illness, whatever. Be your own self, the way to being healthy and alive.
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Post by Xanadu on Feb 19, 2004 18:38:23 GMT
Wow, Zan, that's brilliant, thank you. It also makes sense for her to sing the "We let the weirdness in" backwards, and backwards again, at the end. It's as if she's finding it hard to let her creativity out - but she's determined to do it, even if it seems to others that she's backwards/weird. That could be quite a theme for this album. It's been called her "mad" album, and perhaps people weren't able to accept such a unique, original and uncencored type of album when it was released. Maybe the song foresaw subconsciously foresaw this. Thanks too, Sto. You've really added quite a lot here as well. I hadn't thought of these and I think it's fascinating! I believe there are many things in her music that were issues she was subconsciously dealing with at the time, that come across in her music and choice of lyric and subject matter. Perhaps she is even unaware of what she was capable of?
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Post by Xanadu on Feb 19, 2004 18:50:29 GMT
Great work Xan, I pretty much agree with everything you said. BUT I would add this. I was thinking of the time this song surfaced (assuming she didn't write it years before), and more importantly, which album it's on. I have always thought it's Kate's swipe at the music industry - probably EMI specifically, who were seeking to limit her to a hit making machine to some extent. That they were reluctant to letting her grow into a more thoughtfull and considered artist. She had problems with this album, being partially controlled in terms of her experimentation and the expense of this. I don't think it's a co-incidence that this song is on her mad album, where she is fighting the label execs for more control/independence. " With my ego in my gut " ... fighting to get out and express itself in the way she knew she wanted to go. Don't limit me is one of the things I think she is saying, leave it open, leave the door open for me to become more than you might want me to be. " I want to leave it open ", she steels herself ready for the challenge. A statement of intent maybe. I don't know, I'm speculating like crazy. But she did leave it open, and became the amazing artist she is now. Although this is my least favourite track of Kate's, it's definitely one of the most interesting. I think my problem with it, is that I dislike it musically. The excellence of the lyrical content and creativity behind it is undeniable. Thanks Adey, but you have a great theory going as well. I think they are connected, not separate. There are multiple layers of interpretation. What I usually look for are the actual references (to authors, characters, films, etc.) and try to define them for others who may not know of them. I also look for the general philosophical or psychological application to our lives. Kate's intentions are important, but many songwriters enjoy that fact that their songs take on a new life, perhaps one not intended. What I usually lack, is reference to the struggles she had with her label and career at the time, being that I am a younger fan, and little is really available on that, I take in what I can. That's just one of the important factors you bring, Adey, a little more perspective with the time it was written. So I really agree with you, too. But... I love it musically as well.
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