Expert: Birgitte S.C. - 12/1/2009

Question
Hi,

I'm a long time Kate fan who semi-obsesses over the lyrics from time to time. I hope you can answer these....

I get the concept in HTBI but I'm lost on "wind from the desert song" and "pinch of keyhole". Knowing there aren't many lyrics tossed in to Kate songs to fill space and rhyme, I'd like to know the significance of these lines.

Any help?

Thanks so much.  

Answer
Hi Jim,

The "wind from the desert song" line, according to one Kate Bush fan, could have something to do with this:

1. Singing sand dune in Badain-jaram desert (http://www.bigai.ne.jp/~miwa/sound/bad.wav). This link is on this blog posting, where there is lots more information: http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=4070995&postID=92172349 Dry sand rolling down sand dune slopes causes them to make a very loud singing sound.

2. The Desert Song. It says there (SPOILER WARNING): The plot, reminiscent of The Scarlet Pimpernel or Superman, concerns "The Red Shadow", a dashing rebel leader whose band of freedom fighters, the Riff, threaten the safety of a French outpost in the Moroccan desert. In reality, the Shadow is Pierre, unassuming son of French General Birabeau. Margot, a French girl soon to be married at the fort, is in love with the Red Shadow, little suspecting his true identity. Pierre, in disguise, kidnaps her in order to reveal his love for her. Eventually, when the Red Shadow is unable to battle General Birabeau face-to-face, his identity is discovered and they live happily ever after.

I wonder if the musical saw sound that I hear in HTBI at around the time KB sings "Is that the wind from the desert song?" is supposed to represent a singing sand dune. And I wonder if the character-in-disguise in the film The Desert Song is someone who represents an "invisible" person.

(Source: The Kate Bush News & Information Forum http://thehomegroundandkatebushnewsandinfoforum.yuku.com/topic/499?page=9)

The line "pinch of keyhole" I always interpreted as being part of the 'spell' that is woven in the song with other phrases such as "eye of Braille", "hem of anorak", "stem of wallflower" and "hair of doormat".

I hope this helps!

Birgitte