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Kate Bush — How to Be Invisible
Album: Aerial
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3952









Released: 2005
Length: 5:29
Plays (last 30 days): 1
I found a book on how to be invisible
Take a pinch of keyhole
And fold yourself up
You cut along a dotted line
You think inside out
And you're invisible

Eye of Braille
Hem of anorak
Stem of wallflower
Hair of doormat

I found a book on how to be invisible
On the edge of the labyrinth
Under a veil you must never lift
Pages that you must never turn
In the labyrinth
You stand in front of a million doors
And each one holds a million more
Corridors that lead to the world
Of the invisible
Corridors that twist and turn
Corridors that blister and burn

Eye of Braille
Hem of anorak
Stem of wallflower
Hair of doormat
Is that the wind from the desert song?
Is that the autumn leaf falling?
Or is that you walking home?

Is that the wind from the desert song?
Is that the autumn leaf falling?
Or is that you walking home?
Is that a storm in the swimming pool?

You take a pinch of keyhole
And fold yourself up
You cut along a dotted line
You think inside out
You jump 'round three times
You jump into the mirror
And you're invisible
Comments (358)add comment
Wang Chung backbeat 
 tonypf wrote:

Hello from the northern Pacific.  I bought this when it came out and had a rough slog w/ it.  Some of the tunes were appealing, but much of it left me shrugging the cosmic "meh." Interesting thing is that I'd go back from time to time and slowly found the entire thing growing on me to the point where I really enjoy it.  It truly is a coherent piece and works best for me hearing it that way.  

I thought she'd really lost it when I first started listening to this. I was so wrong... Aerial is on par with Hounds of Love. It's hard to believe it's been almost 20 years since this was released; disc 2 has never left rotation for me. She's such an imaginative composer - I never get tired of her music.  
A great song.
A great lady.
 linden wrote:

I posted this link in response to a question about whether Kate Bush removed child molester Rolf Harris from her album, which she did, and someone downvoted my comment. Upvoting for child molestation?

Doubt it; it's hard to believe someone would up-vote it, so let's give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they were down-voting cancel culture.
I'm not excusing the guy in any way, and I'm fine with cutting off any financial gain, but to suggest that Kate Bush would be complicit by not removing his name is sad.  I want to know who did what on a track, regardless of their sins.
The late, great British radio DJ John Peel used to say he loved the Undertones so much that he couldn't make a sensible judgement about them. I feel the same way about Kate Bush. She oozes creativity, her songs are beautiful, her voice exhilarating. She can do no wrong.  
 itsme_bygolly wrote:

Kate Bush. Incomparable. Thanks Peter Gabriel for the introduction.



And, thank you David Gilmour.
Weird wondeful amazingly creative, thanks Kate
Kate Bush. Incomparable. Thanks Peter Gabriel for the introduction.
BillG is knocking it out of the park tonight.
 eileenomurphy wrote:

The more I hear this tune, the more I like it!!  Thank You RP!




With you on that 

Gonna start with an 8...
The more I hear this tune, the more I like it!!  Thank You RP!
 Johnny-smooth wrote:

Heard this a few times now on RP. Each time, get more and more into groove and up goes the volume.



also with Kate :-)
Heard this a few times now on RP. Each time, get more and more into groove and up goes the volume.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Cover art always reminds me of:

(Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here)



How to Be Invisible? Move to the dark side of the moon.
Good Tune! Great voice!
 MassivRuss wrote:


An Invisible treasure, as it were.
I agree and  i am so glad that  RP gives us great stuff like this, anither reason why i don’t listen to commercial radio much

We need more Kate Bushsssssssss
 NotShakespeare wrote:

Usually raisins in cookies means people are disappointed they aren't chocolate chips. However, Kate has never disappointed me. 


I'd much rather have raisins than chocolate chips.
 inindian wrote:
rumplestiltskin wrote:
If this were a cookie, there would be raisins in it. What the hell does this mean?
I know exactly what you mean Raisins in the cookie are metaphorically the extra tasty bits that surprise you and change the flavor that little bit and make you like the cookie more, right? Next time I write something and I donno what it means, I'll ask you, OK?
 
Usually raisins in cookies means people are disappointed they aren't chocolate chips. However, Kate has never disappointed me. 
 jp33442 wrote:
She is one of those people I wish was bigger but she is a hidden treasure
 

An Invisible treasure, as it were.
Kate Bush is an alien, confirmed
Oh we’re going here tonight? Why is she so contentious here at RP? She’s good, if it’s not for you it’s not for YOU, don’t ruin it for those that get something.

 
mread wrote:
Re the cover art:

Excellent blog about tracking down the waveform graphic: https://www.kempa.com/coded-cover-kate-bush/

It includes this actual waveform of a bird call, from some other track in the album:


Compress that a little in your mind and you can see where it fits.

Here is a three-second MP3 file of that clip.
 
Smart! Thanks for sharing! Would love to know if the Pink Floyd 'Wish you were here' image was actually a waveform too! :-)
Re the cover art:

Excellent blog about tracking down the waveform graphic: https://www.kempa.com/coded-cover-kate-bush/

It includes this actual waveform of a bird call, from some other track in the album:


Compress that a little in your mind and you can see where it fits.

Here is a three-second MP3 file of that clip.
 brollo wrote:
 alisathegreat wrote:

Where is "near me?" I'm on the west coast of USA, so I'm curious whereabouts in England she rests her head. She is one of my all time favorite composer/singers.
 I believe she still resides in London. Back in the 70's I had a friend, john R. where are you now John?,  that traveled to London, knocked on her door and asked for her autograph. He was besotted with her.

 
She doesn't live in London... Aerial is really an album about her experience of living on the coast. 
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Cover art always reminds me of:

(Pink Floyd'sWish You Were Here)
 
Interesting coincidence sine Kate was "discovered" by David Gilmour (or, he helped her get signed to a label...)

Clever guitars in this one.
Nice sound.  Great beat!
What a brilliant song by a brilliant artist!
 Clyde_Bedow wrote:
Nah, still not "getting" the Kate Bush thing.

Well produced, great sounds, multi layered polyrhythms that maybe just cross the line into a little "too busy"
Great voice.

But lyrically it leaves me scratching my head. The song makes me think too hard, and when I focus on trying to figure out WTH? I just get a headache.  

Its not my thing. I accept that. 
Next!
 
Just as music can take you places that words can't, opaque lyrics can evoke emotions that straight forward lyrics can't.  No matter how many times I here those "How to Be Invisible" lyrics, they take me for a wonderful ride.

Great lyrics + great music = transcendence.
 linden wrote:
 
I posted this link in response to a question about whether Kate Bush removed child molester Rolf Harris from her album, which she did, and someone downvoted my comment. Upvoting for child molestation?
 brollo wrote:
 alisathegreat wrote:

Where is "near me?" I'm on the west coast of USA, so I'm curious whereabouts in England she rests her head. She is one of my all time favorite composer/singers.
 I believe she still resides in London. Back in the 70's I had a friend, john R. where are you now John?,  that traveled to London, knocked on her door and asked for her autograph. He was besotted with her.

 Tut, tut!  No stalking, please!

This is making me want to watch pans labrynth again.

I love this song.
 alisathegreat wrote:

Where is "near me?" I'm on the west coast of USA, so I'm curious whereabouts in England she rests her head. She is one of my all time favorite composer/singers.
 I believe she still resides in London. Back in the 70's I had a friend, john R. where are you now John?,  that traveled to London, knocked on her door and asked for her autograph. He was besotted with her.

+1 for the slideshow
 Horschdt wrote:


When you get headaches just from thinking ..  maybe its time to see a doctor. or a
psychiatrist to see about your schizophrenia - because you like everything in and around the song, but dislike the musician for reasons unknown.
 

when you get headaches just from thinking... maybe it is time stop thinking in psychiatric terms... because everybody has his own opinion, and can dislike the musician because the them of the song is too much invisible
 fredriley wrote:
With Rolf Harris having just been found guilty of child sexual molestation and all of his oeuvre now effectively banned, I wonder if this album will have to be reissued minus the execrable track on which he features.
 



https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/kate-bush-removes-rolf-harris-from-the-2018-remaster-of-her-album-aerial/
I started listening to Kate Bush in University in the early '80's...loved her then & even MORESO these days. The live 3 CD new release is AMAZIN talent to new heights. Stevie Nicks, Alicia Keys & all should be in awe!
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Cover art always reminds me of:
https://imaginacionsociologica.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/11_diver_1.jpg
(Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here)
 

...which looks an awful lot like Mono Lake on the east side of the Sierras in California.

However, the album cover is a composite of an audio waveform and sky/water. The post below that suggests a blackbird singing looks correct to me.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Cover art always reminds me of:
https://imaginacionsociologica.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/11_diver_1.jpg
(Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here)
 
I believe the image is a graphical representation of a blackbird singing :-)
The restraint of this song is deliciously painful. Mesmerized.
 cob427uk1 wrote:
Kate lives near me and this song sums up how she like to live, Invisible and i respect that. Gets an 8 from me.
 
Where is "near me?" I'm on the west coast of USA, so I'm curious whereabouts in England she rests her head. She is one of my all time favorite composer/singers.
 Clyde_Bedow wrote:
Nah, still not "getting" the Kate Bush thing.

Well produced, great sounds, multi layered polyrhythms that maybe just cross the line into a little "too busy"
Great voice.

But lyrically it leaves me scratching my head. The song makes me think too hard, and when I focus on trying to figure out WTH? I just get a headache.  

Its not my thing. I accept that. 
Next!
 

Is it only the lyrics of this song that makes you say you're not getting the Kate Bush thing? She made lots of songs and they're not all that difficult to understand. Try The Sensual World.
How to Be Invisible. Not to be confused with How to Disappear Completely.
 Clyde_Bedow wrote:
Nah, still not "getting" the Kate Bush thing.

Well produced, great sounds, multi layered polyrhythms that maybe just cross the line into a little "too busy"
Great voice.

But lyrically it leaves me scratching my head. The song makes me think too hard, and when I focus on trying to figure out WTH? I just get a headache.  

Its not my thing. I accept that. 
Next!
 

When you get headaches just from thinking ..  maybe its time to see a doctor. or a
psychiatrist to see about your schizophrenia - because you like everything in and around the song, but dislike the musician for reasons unknown.
 RabbitEars wrote:
one of the lesser tracks on a master work
 
Not a whole lot lesser about this track.  Sublime.
She is one of those people I wish was bigger but she is a hidden treasure
Kate lives near me and this song sums up how she like to live, Invisible and i respect that. Gets an 8 from me.
one of the lesser tracks on a master work
Nah, still not "getting" the Kate Bush thing.

Well produced, great sounds, multi layered polyrhythms that maybe just cross the line into a little "too busy"
Great voice.

But lyrically it leaves me scratching my head. The song makes me think too hard, and when I focus on trying to figure out WTH? I just get a headache.  

Its not my thing. I accept that. 
Next!
I really appreciate how subtly Kate Bush's songs can worm under your skin. She is a unique talent.
 justin4kick wrote:


 
Nice!  I heard the theremins the instant I saw your picture, and thought, "Wow!  That could be a saw!"
The whole Album is outstanding!
 Proclivities wrote:
(see below)
Cool song.
 
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/913NwOhKqcL._SX438_.jpg
invisible
Cool song.
This is becoming a hell of a set: Smiths, Conjure One/Poe, Kate. What's next Bill. {#Notworthy}
 coloradojohn wrote:
I'm continually amazed and mystified by the cool, psychedelic lyrics...Eye of Braille, Hem of Anorak/ Stem of Wallflower, Hair of Doormat...  I like the cover picture too, and how the water makes a surreal, slightly obscure mirror, reflecting the sky and rocky outcrops sticking up...

 
As previously mentioned below

Warning:  you actually have to read stuff!
Nice.
Just picked up her new 3 disc set - looking forward to digging into it!

Kate is the original and the real thing.  She is the one people say others sound like.
She always manages to surprise and delight, even late in her career.
I am reminded of Wang Chung  Live and Die in LA  when listening to this song
LOVE Kate. Forever and ever.
Great song. A 9
 CaffeineSam wrote:
This song conveys too much confidence to adequately communicate how to be invisible.

A definite 2.
 

fredriley wrote:
With Rolf Harris having just been found guilty of child sexual molestation and all of his oeuvre now effectively banned, I wonder if this album will have to be reissued minus the execrable track on which he features.

 
I love how sinister people are.

There is a nonsensical streak that keeps you on your toes about who you want to hate versus who you should hate. 

 
And I love that Kate no longer makes my fillings drop out (an agreeable ageing of her voice dropped it down half an octave.)

Conflicted over Rolf Harris, having met him, albeit only once, he was a likable character. The real RH was not known to the world in general at that time. 
I do think this is the finest song from a great album...........and music is why I listen to recordings. And Kate and I are exactly 10 years apart in age?            {#Hearteyes}
This song conveys too much confidence to adequately communicate how to be invisible.

A definite 2.
 

fredriley wrote:
With Rolf Harris having just been found guilty of child sexual molestation and all of his oeuvre now effectively banned, I wonder if this album will have to be reissued minus the execrable track on which he features.

 
I love how sinister people are.

There is a nonsensical streak that keeps you on your toes about who you want to hate versus who you should hate. 
Poe followed by Miss Kate. Add something with Skye Edwards and I'd be an even gooier state
She is a great artist, I love her since I 'm 14, and that's quiet and while ago{#Notworthy}
 fredriley wrote:
With Rolf Harris having just been found guilty of child sexual molestation and all of his oeuvre now effectively banned, I wonder if this album will have to be reissued minus the execrable track on which he features.

 
Probably not.
Me likey like! Very Much!
{#Dancingbanana} 
Great album cover.
 
With Rolf Harris having just been found guilty of child sexual molestation and all of his oeuvre now effectively banned, I wonder if this album will have to be reissued minus the execrable track on which he features.
 eroz wrote:
I'll be seeing Kate Bush performing live in September. A dream I never thought I would see fullfilled.

 
eroz - you enjoy, I saw her last performance in the 70's which was truly amazing


I'll be seeing Kate Bush performing live in September. A dream I never thought I would see fullfilled.
Spooky I just said how much the last track sounded like Kate Bush and lo and behold.........
I like Kate...but this wanders a bit much for me. No oomph.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Cover art always reminds me of:
<Cover Art #2>
(Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here)

 
love the cover art too, and this song. I like how it looks like a heart beat monitor against a golden sky, with the illusion of the water underneath, brilliant.  Great song too, never heard it before. 
 coloradojohn wrote:
. . . I like the cover picture too, and how the water makes a surreal, slightly obscure mirror, reflecting the sky and rocky outcrops sticking up...
 
Cover art always reminds me of:

(Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here)
 rdo wrote:
Does anyone else like Wuthering Heights?
(The song, dummy, not the novel)  

 
I like both.  I bought that album when it came out.
 coloradojohn wrote:
I'm continually amazed and mystified by the cool, psychedelic lyrics...Eye of Braille, Hem of Anorak/ Stem of Wallflower, Hair of Doormat...  I like the cover picture too, and how the water makes a surreal, slightly obscure mirror, reflecting the sky and rocky outcrops sticking up...
 
the rocky outcrops are actually a waveform... of a bird, to be specific. 



 

Kate is amazing, i'mI always blown away by her ability to put words and music to emotion 
Yes, one of her best IMHO.

rdo wrote:
Does anyone else like Wuthering Heights?
(The song, dummy, not the novel)  

 


I'm continually amazed and mystified by the cool, psychedelic lyrics...Eye of Braille, Hem of Anorak/ Stem of Wallflower, Hair of Doormat...  I like the cover picture too, and how the water makes a surreal, slightly obscure mirror, reflecting the sky and rocky outcrops sticking up...
Loved it since the first time I heard it in 1978. Took the train down to London to buy it. (Only Virgin Records at Marble Arch had it.) I remember as I picked up Peter Gabriel's firs album while I was there. Solsbury Hill is still one of my favorite songs. I think I may have picked up Tangerine Dream's Sorcerer on that trip as well. I miss the big Virgin Records store.
rdo wrote:
Does anyone else like Wuthering Heights?
(The song, dummy, not the novel)  
 


 sajitjacob wrote:
I dunno.
I think this is a great Kate Bush song, from a terrible album.
I sooo wanted to like it but the more I listened the more annoying it got; I mean pi for chrissake! '3.1415 blaa blaa'. I  think I understand the album; even the washing machine song, I get what she's saying I just don't think it translates to a particularly good album. More disappointing was  '50 words for snow' which turns out to be yet another list to music (surprised?). The only redeeming feature of both these albums was that her voice was just as engaging as ever.
Sigh. 
 
Hello from the northern Pacific.  I bought this when it came out and had a rough slog w/ it.  Some of the tunes were appealing, but much of it left me shrugging the cosmic "meh." Interesting thing is that I'd go back from time to time and slowly found the entire thing growing on me to the point where I really enjoy it.  It truly is a coherent piece and works best for me hearing it that way.  
 sajitjacob wrote:
I dunno.
I think this is a great Kate Bush song, from a terrible album.
I sooo wanted to like it but the more I listened the more annoying it got; I mean pi for chrissake! '3.1415 blaa blaa'. I  think I understand the album; even the washing machine song, I get what she's saying I just don't think it translates to a particularly good album. More disappointing was  '50 words for snow' which turns out to be yet another list to music (surprised?). The only redeeming feature of both these albums was that her voice was just as engaging as ever.
Sigh. 
 
I respectfully disagree. Aside from the washing machine song (I mean, come on) and the "laughing with birds" segment, where her laughter sounds embarrassingly forced, I quite like the album (yes, even the Pi song), and "50 Words for Snow", for that matter. Cheers.
I dunno.
I think this is a great Kate Bush song, from a terrible album.
I sooo wanted to like it but the more I listened the more annoying it got; I mean pi for chrissake! '3.1415 blaa blaa'. I  think I understand the album; even the washing machine song, I get what she's saying I just don't think it translates to a particularly good album. More disappointing was  '50 words for snow' which turns out to be yet another list to music (surprised?). The only redeeming feature of both these albums was that her voice was just as engaging as ever.
Sigh. 
 rdo wrote:
Does anyone else like Wuthering Heights?
(The song, dummy, not the novel)  
 
I like both now; however, they were an "acquired taste" for me. Actually, I was exposed to Wuthering Heights in high school, but didn't really get interested until Kate's strange song (really, more her really cool/strange video) piqued my interest. So I re-read the book and—imagine this—got much more from it now than then! (Okay, I know a simple "yes" or "no" would have sufficed. :-)
Does anyone else like Wuthering Heights?
(The song, dummy, not the novel)  
 tonypf wrote:
Bought Aerial when it first came out, listened to it for a while, then put it away.  Over the ensuing years, I have found it emerging as something I really enjoy listening to.  This was nice on a Friday afo in the Pacific.

 
I had it bought for me as a present, being a Kate Bush fan from the 80s. There are some cracking tracks on it, including this one, but also some real turkeys (especially the one with Rolf Harris on). IMO it would have been better released as a single CD with the dross left out. It's still worth having, though.
 stevendejong wrote:

This is a very funny comment :)
(To the question: Has there been a change to the shape of waveforms?) 
 
Given the album's theme, I'd venture a guess that what that waveform represents is bird song. Or maybe it's Kate laughing, or her son's voice. If you expand the timeline out (horizontally expand the waveform), the graphic will look more like the cover. The pic on the cover looks like a human voice... unless there's silence in a recording, you won't see that much separation between sounds. If you were to look at Bill's voice, it might look like this:



music doesn't have that much lack of sound between sounds, though if you expand the waveform enough you will see more dips. The following is apparently Beethoven's 5th, which does have some separation: 



 
 TimeWaster wrote:
Waveforms don't look like that anymore (the one on the album cover).
 
The album cover is actually...erm...artwork....not technology. Look closely and enjoy the show.
 mandolin wrote:
...yes, there has...

 
This is a very funny comment :)
(To the question: Has there been a change to the shape of waveforms?) 
Three cheers for Kate!!
 Antz_Davis wrote:
One of the best singer songwriters Britain has produced - right from the begining, and Ariel is one her best Albums - right up there with Kick inside - Lionheart
 

You could'nt be more right, mate{#Angel}
Gotta get few Bushy bits in ya once in a while (Also yo Mandolin you recorded track 1 with the record level way too high - sort those audacity skills out hey)
One of the best singer songwriters Britain has produced - right from the begining, and Ariel is one her best Albums - right up there with Kick inside - Lionheart


Good song.  And, yes, she always has looked sexy.
 mandolin wrote:


...yes, there has...

 
Hmm.  I figured they still used ones like this (sort of the way the album cover looks):
waveform

Oh well, I guess it doesn't really affect me much.  Good tune, anyhow.
I kinda like the prodding along...but it kinda dulls me out too. I'm a big K.B. fan, but this is kind of rambling.

Ha!  I was just commenting about Kate Bush.  Beautiful!


 Proclivities wrote:
Has there been an official change in the way sonic waveforms now look?  That's odd.
 

...yes, there has...


 TimeWaster wrote:
Waveforms don't look like that anymore (the one on the album cover).
 
Has there been an official change in the way sonic waveforms now look?  That's odd.
I love this sassy song and its beat......{#Bounce}
 More_Cowbell wrote:
I wish she would just vanish
 
It's called "MUTE" dumbass

Waveforms don't look like that anymore (the one on the album cover).
{#Hearteyes}
Bought Aerial when it first came out, listened to it for a while, then put it away.  Over the ensuing years, I have found it emerging as something I really enjoy listening to.  This was nice on a Friday afo in the Pacific.

 whtahtefcuk wrote:
Kate Bush SUCKS...
 

Do you speak from experience?... lucky bastard!!!!!!!
I like that spooky guitar work
 eroz wrote:

Great news! I hear Kate has a new album due out November 18th. All new material. I don't believe it's been officially confirmed by Kate's camp...yet.

 
Good news indeed!
MUTE!

Great news! I hear Kate has a new album due out November 18th. All new material. I don't believe it's been officially confirmed by Kate's camp...yet.


i hate k.b. his voice is so annoying but my boyfriend love her so i have to listen her when he is... wacala!
she's just the essence of unchained enchanted magical music