FEATURE:
Please Say You Won’t Forget Me
Kate Bush’s Home for Christmas at Thirty
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ONE of those Kate Bush songs…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush during her 1979 Christmas special/PHOTO CREDIT: John Carder Bush
that is sort of relegated or not often played, I guess its seasonable nature does count against it! It originally appeared in the BBC television show, The Comic Strip Presents film Wild Turkey, screened on 24th December, 1992. Ahead of its thirtieth anniversary, I wanted to shine a light on a great track. I guess when we think of Kate Bush Christmas songs, people would naturally name December Will Be Magic Again. That single was released in 1980, around the time of the release of Never for Ever. I am going to come to the lyrics of the song and write why Home for Christmas needs to get more airplay ahead of its thirtieth anniversary. It is a great Christmas song that, whilst not a classic or Bush’s best song, does deserve more attention and exposure. Home for Christmas was released as the B-side to the U.K. single of Moments of Pleasure and as the B-side to the U.S. single, Rubberband Girl. Bush also released a privately pressed 3" C.D. single in a Christmas card, issued in December 1993. Whereas December Will Be Magic Again was a single (though it did not chart high), it is a shame that Home for Christmas did not get its own single release. I guess the fact the song is under two minutes limits its appeal as a single. I like the fact Bush recorded this short song and it featured on television.
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1993/PHOTO CREDIT: John Stoddart
Quite traditional in terms of its story and lyrics, I think the relatable aspect of the song and Bush’s reliably beautiful vocal makes the song stand in the memory. In the song, Bush casts herself as the heroine, waiting for someone to return for the Christmas holidays: “You know that I'll be waiting/To hear your footsteps saying/That you'll be coming home for Christmas”. There are themes that would appear in later Bush work. Look at 2011’s 50 Words for Snow and there are themes of, obviously, snow, but also separation. That can be heard on the Elton John duet, Snowed in at Wheeler Street. Here, there is another scene of lovers being distanced and unable to reach one another: “If I only had wings/Then I would fly to you/Through all the snowy weather/We'd be together/No one makes me feel the way you do”. Whether it is the conditions causing the issues or they are unable to see one another for a different reason, you can feel this sense of yearning coming through. I guess everyone wants to be home for Christmas, so you can appreciate Bush’s final desire and wish: “You know that I'll be waiting/To hear your footsteps saying/That you'll be coming home”. This is a relatively short feature, but one that I was keen to write. Before the end of 2022, I will explore other bits and pieces related to Kate Bush, including the success she has had throughout the year. I often wonder why Bush didn’t record more Christmas songs. Maybe there is a limited appeal but, as Home for Christmas is thirty on Christmas Eve, I felt it important to highlight it. One of her lesser-known songs, I hope that people hear the song. It is a short and beautiful Christmas treat that people…
SHOULD not forget.