It’s so amazing how a single piece of music can become so powerful in so many different versions. That’s the case with “This Woman’s Work” by the great Kate Bush which was released over 20 years ago and still going strong! She had success with it in 1988 when John Hughes used it in a critical scene in his “She’s Having a Baby” movie along with its soundtrack. She experienced success with it again when it was released as a single in 1989. Then Maxwell released his amazing male version of the song which lead to its use in the incredible dance tribute on “So You Think You Can Dance” for Breast Cancer awareness.
The song was featured on the Felicity soundtrack, and has been used at key moments in episodes of Alias, Party of Five, Crossing Jordan, 7th Heaven and Without a Trace. It was used to promote the season opener of the 2007-2008 season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Since 2006 the song has featured on two long-running TV adverts for the British charity the NSPCC. The 2007 Special Christmas edition of the Ricky Gervais comedy series Extras, which aired 16 December in the US on HBO and 27 December on BBC One in the UK, featured two scenes using the song as a soundtrack. Due to the songs inclusion in “Extras”, the song entered the UK chart once again in January 2008. In June 2008, the song was played at the beginning and end of an Emmerdale episode featuring a custody battle between two sets of parents.
Here are my favorite incarnations of this beautiful and moving work of art by Kate Bush. We’ll start with the recent Melissa and Ade dance number featuring Maxwell’s version of “This Woman’s Work” and work our way backwards to the beginning.
Here’s Maxwell’s version along with a wonderful music video. I love the image of the man drowning in the street and having to swim across the street. It captures the helpless feeling all us men have during the time of childbirth. No matter how tough and strong we think we are, we just feel so powerless at that miraculous time.
Here’s a live version of Maxwell. Here’s another version with clips from Kate Bush’s original video.
Here’s the original song by Kate Bush with its touching music video which she released in 1989 as a single.
Finally, here’s the beginning. Here’s Kate Bush’s original version as used in the wonderful “She’s Having a Baby” in an unforgettable scene when Kevin Bacon’s character has to deal with the helplessness all fathers to be must endure.
THIS WOMAN’S WORK
Pray to God you can cope
I stand outside
This woman’s work
This woman’s world
Oooh, it’s hard on the man
Now his part is over
Now starts the craft of the father
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 show
I should be hoping but I can’t stop thinking
All the things I should’ve said that I never said
All the things we should of done that 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 them back to me
Give that little kiss
Give me your hand
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a little strength left
I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a little strength left
I should be crying but I just can’t let it show
I should be hoping but I can’t stop thinking
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 that you wanted from me
All the things I should of given but I didn’t
Oh darling make it go away
Just make it go away now.