FEATURE:
Inspired by The Godfather…
PHOTO CREDIT: Guido Harari (from his book, The Kate Inside)
Kate Bush’s Between a Man and a Woman
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I have almost done…
and investigated every Kate Bush song in some form of other. I published a feature recently that celebrated the icon on her birthday (30th July). I was doing some research and came across some background to the song, Between a Man and a Woman. One of the most underrated and lesser-known songs from The Sensual World (1989), it sort of arrives half-way down the tracklisting – after the brilliant Deeper Understanding and before another less-heard song, Never Be Mine. The Sensual World is an album that contains the huge songs that most people know about: The Sensual World, Deeper Understanding and This Woman’s Work. All three of these songs were reworked by Bush for her 2011 album, Director’s Cut (The Sensual World was retitled Flower of the Mountain). Between a Man and a Woman comes on the second side of an album on a run of three songs – Between a Man and a Woman, Never Be Mine and Rocket’s Tail – that are not really played or known about. There are a few reasons to love Between a Man and a Woman. It is one of Bush’s finest vocal performances on The Sensual World. It crackles with energy, lust, hurt and so many different emotions. The physicality from her performance brings the song to life! I love the musicians on the song and, particularly, Alan Stivell’s backing vocals and Celtic harp. The production and sound of the song is amazingly powerful. It reignites my call for radio stations to broaden their Kate Bush scope. I don’t think I have heard Between a Man and a Woman played before – shame, as it is a song that so many people would love!
I do like the story and background of the track. As we see from quotes sourced by the Kate Bush Encyclopaedia, there is some fantastic playing on the song. I was also not aware until recently what influenced the track’s title:
“It's about a relationship being a very finely balanced thing that can be easily thrown off by a third party. The whole thing really came from a line in 'The Godfather', during some family argument, when Marlon Brando says, "Don't interfere, it's between a man and a woman." It's exploring the idea of trying to keep a relationship together, how outside forces can break into it... Rubbish really, but I quite like the cello. (Len Brown, 'In The Realm Of The Senses'. NME (UK), 7 October 1989)
It is perhaps about how you actually have that choice sometimes, whether to interfere or not. You know, there's this tendency to want to leap in and take over and control: "Oh, I know best!"; when I think a relationship is a very delicate balance: it's very easily tipped, and then needs to be refound again. (Steve Sutherland, 'The Language Of Love'. Melody Maker (UK), 21 October 1989).
That was, let's get a groove going at the piano, and a pretty straightforward Fairlight pattern. Then we got the drummer in, and I thought that maybe it was taking on a slightly Sixties feel - not that it is. So we got Alan [Murphy] in to play guitar - who unfortunately wasn't credited - a printing error. He played some smashing guitar. Then I wanted to work with the cellist again, because I think the cello is such a beautiful instrument. I find it very male and female - not one or the other. He's actually the only player that I've ever written out music for. They're lucky if they get chord charts normally.
We were just playing around with a groove. We actually had a second verse that was similar to the first, and I thought it was really boring. I hated it, so it sat around for about six months. So I took it into a completely different section which worked much better. Just having that little bit on the front worked much better. Quite often I have to put things aside and think about them if they just haven't worked. If you leave a little time, it's surprising how often you can come back and turn it into something. (Tony Horkins, 'What Katie Did Next'. International Musician, December 1989)”.
I do love the first side of The Sensual World, though there are so many rich and beautiful songs on the second side. Like so many Kate Bush albums, the tracks are exactly where they need to be. I am not sure whether that was Bush’s decision as the album’s producer, or whether one of the engineers like Del Palmer got a bigger say. Between a Man and a Woman hits you with its sound and the intriguing sonic layers. You will also come back in to experience the lyrics. Whether she is talking about characters or there are bits of her personal experiences in the lyrics, it is a song that has some tension and fears. A lot of Bush’s songs regarding relationships are positive and passionate – in fact, she is hugely positive when it comes to love; very little finger-pointing and judgment. Maybe The Sensual World was the first album where there is more pull and push and clashes regarding love. There was some of that in 1985’s Hounds of Love, though there was nothing like Between a Man and a Woman on there I don’t think. Some of the lyrics really jump out: “Every day and night I pray/Pray that you will stay away forever/It's so hard for love to stay together/With the modern Western pressures”. With Stuart Elliott’s punchy drums and Alan Murphy unleashing this sensational guitar part, you get a palpable feel of heartbeat and strain.
Bush let’s her voice fly and wind. Whilst her vocals were higher-pitched earlier in her career and the acrobatics were quite common, here, her lower vocal register creates a different impact. Her voice is matured, more sensual and imbued with greater wisdom. She gives every line her all! Another favourite lyrical section of mine: “Stay out of this/Oh, I know you mean to help me/And I know you've good intentions/But stay out of this/This isn't your problem/Do not interfere”. I am not surprised Between a Man and a Woman was not chosen for reworking on Director’s Cut. I don’t think it was a case Bush doesn’t like the song and felt it was not work reinvestigating. I feel she is happier with its sound and what she did first time around - at least I hope so anyway, as it definitely does not need changing or stripping back. It is a magnificent song that more people should hear. I really love how The Godfather compelled Bush! She frequently took from film, T.V. and literature. That idea of there being this private struggle and complex situation in a relationship that is vulnerable from unwanted and intrusive outside forces. This was nothing new in a song, yet few songwriters articulated this sensation like Bush did on Between a Man and a Woman. The song is quite busy and full of life, yet I do not think it is too cluttered. One of the problems Bush had with The Sensual World - and particularly The Red Shoes (the 1993 follow-up) - is the edgier sound and the fact there are lots of instruments and elements fused together. Between a Man and a Woman is a stunning track that is among the finest…
ON The Sensual World.