I’ve chosen Babooshka for my song lyric this Sunday. I bought the amazing Kate Bush album Never Forever when it was launched in 1980. I was on a Debenham’s store opening team in Reading at the time.

According to Kate Bush, the song chronicles a wife’s desire to test her husband’s loyalty. To do so, she takes on the nom de plume of Babooshka and sends notes to her husband in the guise of a younger woman—something which she fears is the opposite of how her husband currently sees her (hence the barbed lines “Just like his wife before she ‘freezed’ on him/Just like his wife when she was beautiful”.)

The trap is set when, in her bitterness and paranoia, Babooshka arranges to meet her husband, who is attracted to the character who reminds him of his wife in earlier times. She thereby ruins their relationship due to her paranoia.

Bush cited the English folk song “Sovay”, in which a woman dresses as a highwayman and accosts her lover in order to test his devotion, as an inspiration for the story of Babooshka. “I’m sure I heard about it on some TV series years ago, when I was a kid,” Bush remarked of the song’s story. “You know, these period things that the BBC do. I think it’s an extraordinary thing for someone to do… That’s why I found it fascinating.”

The music video depicts Bush beside a double bass (contrabass) that symbolises the husband, wearing a black bodysuit and a veil in her role as the embittered wife. This changes into an extravagant, myth-like and rather sparse “Russian” costume as her alter-ego, Babooshka.

Source: Wikipedia

Babooshka

She wanted to test her husband
She knew exactly what to do
A pseudonym
To fool him
She couldn’t have made a worst move

She sent him scented letters
And he received them with a strange delight
Just like
His wife
But how she was before the tears

And how she was before the years flew by
And how she was when she was beautiful
She signed the letter

All yours
Babooshka, babooshka, babooshka ja, ja
All yours
Babooshka, babooshka, babooshka ja, ja

She wanted to take it further
So she arranged a place to go
To see
If he
Would fall for her incognito

And when he laid eyes on her
He got the feeling they had met before
Uncanny
How she
Reminds him of his little lady
Capacity to give him all he needs

Just like his wife before she freezed on him
Just like his wife when she was beautiful
He shouted out

I’m all yours
Babooshka, babooshka, babooshka ja, ja
All yours
Babooshka, babooshka, babooshka ja, ja
All yours
Babooshka, babooshka, babooshka ja, jaBabooshka, babooshka, babooshka ja, ja
Babooshka, babooshka, babooshka ja, ja
Babooshka, babooshka, babooshka ja, ja

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Bush Kate

Babooshka lyrics © Noble & Brite Ltd

Post inspired by Jim’s Song Lyric Sunday Prompt – This week we have the of prompts; Fiancé/Husband/Lover/Wife. Click through for the rules if you too would like to join in …

Published by TheHiddenEdge

I love words - they communicate so much or so little depending on how you use them. Come and explore my thoughts with me in this, my learning journal. View all posts by TheHiddenEdge