‘Rocket’s Tail’ is a song written by Kate Bush. It was originally released on her sixth studio album The Sensual World in 1989. The track features vocals by the Trio Bulgarka and a guitar solo by David Gilmour.
“Rocket is one of my cats, and he was the inspiration for the subject matter for the song, because he’s dead cute [laughs]. And it’s very strange subject matter because the song isn’t exactly about Rocket, it’s kind of inspired by him and for him, but the song, it’s about anything. I guess it’s saying there’s nothing wrong with being right here at this moment, and just enjoying this moment to its absolute fullest, and if that’s it, that’s ok, you know. And it’s kind of using the idea of a rocket that’s so exciting for maybe 3 seconds and then it’s gone, you know that’s it, but so what, it had 3 seconds of absolutely wonderful…” [laughs]
“For a couple of friends this song was very phallic. I was so concerned I tried to change the “it was the biggest rocket I could find” line but “the most expensive rocket I’ve ever seen” wasn’t quite the same. It’s just the idea a rocket is only there for three seconds but those three seconds are lived fully and totally”.
Lyrics
That November night, looking up into the sky,
You said,
“Hey, wish that was me up there–
It’s the biggest rocket I could find,
And it’s holding the night in its arms
If only for a moment.
I can’t see the look in its eyes,
But I’m sure it must be laughing.”
But it seemed to me the saddest thing I’d ever seen,
And I thought you were crazy, wishing such a thing.
I saw only a stick on fire,
Alone on its journey
Home to the quickening ground,
With no one there to catch it.
I put on my pointed hat
And my black and silver suit,
And I check my gunpowder pack
And I strap the stick on my back.
And, dressed as a rocket on Waterloo Bridge–
Nobody seems to see me.
Then, with the fuse in my hand,
And now shooting into the night
And still as a rocket,
I land in the river.
Was it me said you were crazy?
I put on my cloudiest suit,
Size 5 lightning boots, too.
‘Cause I am a rocket
On fire.
Look at me go, with my tail on fire,
With my tail on fire,
On fire.
Hey, look at me go, look at me..
Credits
Drums: Stuart Elliott
Bass: John Giblin
Guitar: Dave Gilmour
Vocals: Trio Bulgarka (Soloist: Yanka Rupkhina)
