Rocket's Tail

Album: The Sensual World (1989)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song features backing vocals by Trio Bulgarka, a traditional Bulgarian vocal ensemble that appears throughout The Sensual World. "Rocket's actually my cat, but it was written for the Bulgarian girls," Bush explained to NME. "Ridiculous collection of images, nothing to do with Rocket really, he just started it all off. At the time the only song I could think of that mentioned rockets was 'Rocket Man' but since then there has been about three of them. I feel a bit like the Python sketch with that guy making eight-millimetre films saying 'Hitchcock had his Rear Window out while mine was still at the chemists.'"

    Bush actually recorded "Rocket Man" a couple of years later for the tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin. Her reggae-inflected cover was a commercial success, peaking at #12 on the UK singles chart. In 2007 it won The Observer readers' award for Greatest Cover of all time.
  • The song features guitar by Bush's early music mentor, Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour.

Comments: 1

  • Paul from Rothesay, Nb, NbThis song is absolutely magical. I can still remember listening to it for the first time and getting totally swept up when the song takes off after the acapella intro. David Gilmour's performance is spot on. One of my all-time faves from Kate!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.