Breathing

Kate Bush's song 'Breathing' is a haunting exploration of the fragility of life in the face of nuclear disaster. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world where the outside dangers infiltrate the very essence of human existence. The opening lines, 'Outside gets inside through her skin,' suggest a permeable boundary between safety and danger, emphasizing the vulnerability of the human body to external threats. This theme is further developed as the narrator reflects on the safety of staying indoors, contrasting it with the perilous outside world illuminated by a 'bright light' in the sky, a metaphor for a nuclear explosion.

The recurring motif of 'breathing' serves as a powerful symbol of life and survival. Bush's repetition of the word, coupled with the imagery of breathing in 'mother,' 'beloved,' and 'nicotine,' underscores the interconnectedness of life and the environment. The mention of 'breathing the fall-out in' starkly highlights the contamination of the air and the inescapable nature of the nuclear fallout. This act of breathing becomes a desperate attempt to cling to life amidst the pervasive threat of death, as the lyrics poignantly state, 'We've lost our chance. We're the first and the last, after the blast.'

The song also incorporates a chilling spoken-word segment that describes the characteristics of a nuclear explosion, adding a layer of scientific realism to the apocalyptic scenario. This segment, combined with the repeated pleas of 'What are we going to do without?' and 'Leave me something to breathe,' evokes a sense of urgency and helplessness. The final lines, 'Oh, life is--Breathing,' encapsulate the essence of the song, reminding listeners that the simple act of breathing is both a fundamental aspect of life and a fragile privilege that can be easily taken away in the face of catastrophic events.