Out on the wiley, windy moors
We'd roll and fall in green
You had a temper like my jealousy
Too hot, too greedy
How could you leave me
When I needed to possess you?
I hated you, I loved you, too

Bad dreams in the night
They told me I was going to lose the fight
Leave behind my Wuthering, Wuthering
Wuthering Heights

Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy
I've come home, I'm so cold
Let me in your window

Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy
I've come home, I'm so cold
Let me in your window

Ooh, it gets dark, it gets lonely
On the other side from you
I pine a lot, I find the lot
Falls through without you
I'm coming back, love
Cruel Heathcliff, my one dream
My only master

Too long I roam in the night
I'm coming back to his side, to put it right
I'm coming home to Wuthering, Wuthering
Wuthering Heights

Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy
I've come home, I'm so cold
Let me in your window

Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy
I've come home, I'm so cold
Let me in your window

Ooh, let me have it
Let me grab your soul away
Ooh, let me have it
Let me grab your soul away
You know it's me, Cathy

Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy
I've come home, I'm so cold
Let me in your window

Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy
I've come home, I'm so cold
Let me in your window

Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy
I've come home, I'm so cold


Lyrics submitted by redmax

Wuthering Heights Lyrics as written by Kate Bush

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Wuthering Heights song meanings
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  • +9
    General Comment

    major spoilers for book

    For everyone saying that the song is just based on the end of the book, I hate to say it but it's not. It jumps back and forth a bit but starts off at childhood 'Out on the wiley, windy moors We'd roll and fall in green'. Then progresses through the story of Heathcliff leaving and Cathy when she falls for Edgar, after talking to Nelly of her dream 'Bad dreams in the night. They told me I was going to lose the fight'. (the fight being trying to keep both Heathcliff and Edgar, which nearly killed her)

    The chorus happens at the beginning of the book, but because of the narration it actually happens after the main part of the story (if that makes sense). Cathy never comes directly to Heathcliff but instead to Lockwood who is staying in her childhood room, after wandering the moors as a ghost for twenty years. Heathcliff was the one who wanted her to appear to him, so he wouldn't be abandoned and soulless, free to join her in death. Though it takes the whole book to tell their story, Heathcliff does actually die soon after she comes to the window as a ghost after having waited twenty years to know that she hadn't just left him in the 'dark abyss'. 'Ooh, it gets dark! It gets lonely, On the other side from you.' could be both about when she's chosen to marry Edgar (Heathcliff's opposite) and also when they're separated by death. As for the line 'Cruel Heathcliff, my one dream, My only master. ' I really like it but in a way it's not true. Though Heathcliff was often the main factor in her choices and she was ruled by her love for him, Cathy was also caught by her desire for society and that's sorta why she chose Edgar. Edgar also became a master to her, not in the same way, but she never could choose between them, even in death (the locks of hair in the locket, buried between them).

    Anyway, that was rather long but I felt the need to say it. Love the song, in case I didn't mention that :)

    BeeAnchoron September 28, 2008   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    This song has stuck with me since seeing Kate perform it on Top of the Pops on a Thursday in 1978. A 19 year old performing live whilst dancing in a ballet style itself was mesmerising.. It was one of the perfromances that came from left field at the time - completely different and unique against a backdrop of punk rock and disco. A song about a famous British Novel - who would think of that being a success. The record company were against the idea of the song and she apparently cried until they agreed. It of course went to number 1 after 2 weeks. The video for this fits the song - she dances in a hippy style outfit in a field around the edge of the forest. For a 19 year to write, sing, dance and play on the song and co-produce was and still is an extraordinary feat. A truly one-off in terms of vocal ability, charm and artistic ability.

    CharmingManon November 09, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Well I would think it's pretty obvious that this song is about Wuthering Heights (der) Listening to this song prompted me to read Wuthering Heights but so far it's confusing the hell out of me.

    PunKinDrubliCon March 10, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is so beautiful. It's about this painful, impossible love that is shared by Cathy and Heathcliff. Cathy trys to posses him, but their love is bound for tradgedy from the beginning, and she dies and haunts him till he joins her. It promted me to read the book aswell, and i failed the first time, but i made another attempt and really enjoyed it the second time.

    KFurberon April 30, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I think Kate wrote Wuthering Heights based on the ending of the novel. The part when Catherine Earnshaw comes back for Heathcliff's soul. I think I'm not sure, but Catherine dies and comes back as some kind of ghost, and breaks heathcliff's window with her hands. She comes back for his soul so they can spend eternal life with each other. Wow now thats possesive. Overall this song is one of my fav Kate songs. Its gorgeous and stunning.

    winterycappyon October 05, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    this is the most beautiful song i hve heard, and i have never read the book or heard of it (well id heard of it but nothing of the plot) what a beautiful voice and you can feel her emotions just thro her voice even without knowing any backgroun dknowledge

    regardemylasheskgmon June 12, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Wuthering Heights can be a confusing novel at times, but this song actually helps to clear things up slightly.

    GirlInformMeon October 20, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Emily Bronte was born on 30 July 1818.

    Kate Bush was born exactly 140 years later, 30 July 1958.

    Coincidence?

    robcbishopon July 31, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Lovely song :)

    Peyon July 10, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This was the first song i ever heard by Kate and my first impressions were obviously complete wonderment as a result of her extremely high voice! After i got over how wonderfully unique and strange she seemed, i discovered how artistic and talented she was. I am a huge Kate Bush fan and love all of her work, but the way she almost became Cathy in this song was just so clever. She brought the character to life and portrayed her perfectly both in the video, and also vocally.

    Licion October 13, 2004   Link

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