Pray God you can cope.
I stand outside this woman's work,
This woman's world.
Ooh, it's hard on the man,
Now his part is over.
Now starts the craft of the father.

I know you've got a little life in you yet.
I know you've got a lot of strength left.
I know you've got a little life in you yet.
I know you've got a lot of strength left.

I should be crying, but I just can't let it go.
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking

Of all the things I should've said,
That I never said.
All the things we should've done,
Though we never did.
All the things I should've given,
But I didn't.

Oh, darling, make it go,
Make it go away.

Give me these moments back.
Give them back to me.
Give me that little kiss.
Give me your hand.

(I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.)

I should be crying, but I just can't let it go
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking

Of all the things we should've said,
That we never said.
All the things we should've done,
Though we never did.
All the things that you needed from me.
All the things that you wanted for me.
All the things that I should've given,
But I didn't.

Oh, darling, make it go away.
Just make it go away now.



Lyrics submitted by Rosiega1218

Track duration: 03:39

"This Woman's Work" as written by Kate Bush

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


This Woman's Work song meanings
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56 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:If I didn't know this was written for a very human movie about manhood and marriage, I would have guessed her father died. The scene in that movie will always make me cry, no matter how many times I've seen it! That is synchronization of film and music at its finest <3
    Flag lilbadkittyon April 17, 2013   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I only just heard this song a few minutes ago, actually, and though I'm young, here is what I took from this song: This woman's "work" is her love. And she feels connected to this man even though she's struggling to love him. And she badly needs for him to hold on as much as she is trying to, because he's just about given up on them. The woman is also confused about whether or not she should keep holding on even though it hurts or just let him go. All the while, she feels like she could've done more to keep the two of them together.
    Flag raphaellephanton June 29, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't know why but i have a feeling the mother died (all the things should of done but we never did') but the baby survived ('now starts the craft of the father').
    Especially when i hear these lines;
    I should be crying but i just can't let it go - i see this as he wants to cry because the mother of his child has died but he needs to be strong for his son/daughter.

    But aside from this i think this song brings about so many other emotions/experiences.
    Sometimes i hear this song and imagine the person singing it to be someone who is watching a loved one suffer, especially when it comes to things like cancer. Or someone watching someone who is grieving or suffering from depression.

    Above all i think this song is about having faith and a dependence on a person that's so strong, you can't stand to see them suffering and refuse to believe they will lose.
    Flag charleyteeon April 28, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:This from katebushnews.com:

    Kate wrote the song specially for a sequence in the film “She’s Having A Baby” (1987 – directed by John Hughes) where a man is waiting helplessly in a hospital while his wife gives birth in the next room. The song is from the man’s point of view as he worries about his loved one. She actually recorded the song to match the visuals in the film, but it turned out to be one of her most celebrated works on its own. It is available on the 1989 album ‘The Sensual World’.

    This from me: Kate is quintessentially brilliant!!! : )
    Flag effbaon November 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:David Bowie once sang: "Aint there one damn song that can make me break down and cry?" There are 2 that do this to me, and it's no coincidence that both of them are by Kate Bush. This one, and the Coral Room. I guess everyone puts their own interpretation on song meanings, and although Kate has openly stated what this song is about, it can still be universal:

    "Of all the things we should've said,
    That were never said.
    All the things we should've done,
    That we never did.
    All the things that you needed from me.
    All the things that you wanted for me.
    All the things that I should've given,
    But I didn't"

    It rang so true for me when my mother died earlier this year. I imagine it can be so for so many people in their own situation when they suffer a loss. It's just proof that Kate can take you to places and tap into human emotions in a way that no other artist can. They don't even come close. The woman should be made a national treasure.
    Flag DaVeyP25on November 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Now I know this song was made for the movie "She's Having a Baby" but the lyrics also fit another situation:
    A husband has given up on their relationship, she has to try to convince him to forgive her for all the transgressions, and now she is hoping that God can help him forgive her and bring his love for her back.

    Whadya think?
    Flag BrownTowelon October 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:For me, this song is about the transference of love. It reminds me of George Eliot's novel "Silas Marner". In the book, Silas looses all his gold which he thought he loved more than anything else in the world. A little girl with golden locks wanders mysteriously into his life, and that emptiness is eventually filled with an enormous force of love for this child.

    Though the song is not necessarily from a miser-turned-heart-of-gold perspective, I think it has to do with the way love gets redistributed once you've lost something or someone you valued dearly. That love doesn't evaporate. It evolves. It moves. It goes someplace else--"Now starts the craft of the father...".

    Flag Asterionon June 09, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:For those who are still interested. Kate answers the question herself here:

    gaffa.org/cloud/music/…

    Flag answeringon May 27, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:No disrespect to others who have posted because I acknowledge that we all take ownership of songs and it’s far more important that songs resonate with you for whatever reason. However, I know that this song is about a man who loses his wife during childbirth; I say this as I have met Kate and asked her myself!!

    Essentially, she said it was about a man who is waiting to find out the fate of his wife and child after complications during childbirth, which is the catalyst to assess his relationship and his shortcomings as a partner. Whilst his wife is talking about her confidence in him to be successful in her absence (artistic license implying she is talking from the grave etc.) That is from Kate herself about 15 years ago so I know it to be true, although I am a big believer in songs meaning different things to different people at different times, so continue the discussion! X
    Flagged sworth26on May 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Kate Bush is probably the only artist in the world who can never be covered
    all the covers i've ever heard of her songs just flat out blow
    Flag TrampVampon January 29, 2011   Link

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