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'{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2012}} {{Use British English|date=February 2012}} {{Infobox single | Name = Night of the Swallow | Artist = [[Kate Bush]] | Cover = Kate Bush - Night of the Swallow.png | Border = yes | Album = [[The Dreaming (album)|The Dreaming]] | B-side = "Houdini" | Released = 21 November 1983 <small>([[Ireland]])</small> | Format = [[Single (music)|7" single]] | Recorded = Spring-Summer 1981 | Genre = [[Art rock]] | Length = 5:34 | Label = [[EMI]] | Writer = Kate Bush | Producer = Kate Bush | Certification = | Last single = "[[Ne t'enfuis pas]]" <br /> (1983) | This single = "'''Night of the Swallow'''" <br /> (1983) | Next single = "[[Running Up that Hill]]" <br /> (1985) | Misc = {{Extra music sample |Type=single |filename=Kate Bush - Night Of The Swallow sample.ogg |title=Night of the Swallow}} }} '''"Night of the Swallow"''' is a 1982 song by [[Kate Bush]]. Written and produced by her, it was included on the album ''[[The Dreaming (album)|The Dreaming]]''. The song has a significantly Irish theme in that it features many Irish musicians and instruments. It was released as a single in Ireland in late 1983, making it the fifth release from the album.<ref>[http://gaffa.org/discog/singles/notshoud.html Gaffaweb - Release information]</ref> == Background == The lyrics concern a smuggler planning his next clandestine journey, Bush takes on the role of his lover, who begs him not to go (''"I won't let you do it. If you go, I'll let the law know"''). The song ends with the smuggler speaking in defiance (''"Would you break even my wings, like a swallow. Let me, let me go"'').<ref>[http://www.dongrays.com/kate-bush/song/nots.html "Night of the Swallow" lyrics]</ref> Bush herself has commented on the lyrics, saying: <blockquote> "In this song she wants to control him and because he wants to do something that she doesn't want him to she feels that he is going away. It's almost on a parallel with the mother and son relationship where there is the same female feeling of not wanting the young child to move away from the nest. Of course, from the guy's point of view, because she doesn't want him to go, the urge to go is even stronger. For him, it's not so much a job as a challenge; a chance to do something risky and exciting."<ref>[http://gaffa.org/cloud/music/night_of_the_swallow.html ''Melody Maker'' interview, 1982]</ref> </blockquote> The song's release in Ireland only is most likely due to the Irish nature of the song, featuring instrumental accompaniment by Irish musicians. These include members of [[Planxty]] and [[The Chieftains]]: [[Bill Whelan]] on [[Bagpipes]] and String arrangement, [[Liam O'Flynn]] on [[Uillean pipes]] and [[Penny whistle]], [[Seán Keane (fiddler)|Seán Keane]] on [[Fiddle]] and [[Dónal Lunny]] on [[Bouzouki]].<ref>''[[The Dreaming (album)|The Dreaming]]'' sleeve notes</ref> Whelan is credited as writing the string parts for the song, although this was in close association with Bush herself.<ref>[http://gaffa.org/dreaming/td_nots.html Gaffaweb - Donal Lunny and Liam O'Flynn on the writing of "Night of the Swallow"]</ref> Bush was to explore Irish themes in later works also, such as "Jig of Life" from ''[[Hounds of Love]]'' (1985) and the single "[[Rocket Man (song)#Kate Bush version|Rocket Man]]" (1991). Bush's mother was Irish and so Kate had listened to traditional Irish music from a young age and was eager to explore this style. Her brother Jay also influenced her due to his appreciation of the group Planxty.<ref>[http://gaffa.org/cloud/music/night_of_the_swallow.html Kate Bush in her own words - Bush on her Irish roots in reference to "Night of the Swallow"]</ref> The song was the first of two (the other being "[[Sat in Your Lap]]") to be recorded for the album. It was mainly recorded at [[Abbey Road studios]] in Spring 1981 over several sessions. The Irish musicians section was recorded in Ireland, with Bush working there with them overnight. After completing the track at seven in the morning, she headed back to London to finish mixing the song.<ref>[http://gaffa.org/garden/kate11.html Kate Bush fan club newsletter, Summer 1981. "On Videos and Tapes"]</ref> Bush spoke about the song (where its name was revealed) as early as July 1981, saying that Planxty were "Fantastic musicians with open, receptive minds, which is unusual for people who work with traditional folk music".<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Birch|first=Ian|date=23 July 1981|title=What I did on my holidays|url=|journal=Smash Hits|volume=23 July- 5 August 1981|pages=p.10|via=}}</ref> The track was finally released in September 1982 as the seventh track of <nowiki>''</nowiki>[[The Dreaming (album)]]. The single was released over a year after the album and failed to chart in Ireland.<ref>[http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement Irish Charts - Kate Bush] {{webarchive |url=http://www.webcitation.org/5hFf8iFDu?url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |date=3 June 2009 }}</ref> It also went unpromoted, with no music video made for the song. The [[B-side]] of the single was another track from ''The Dreaming'', "Houdini". This song is about the story of [[Bess Houdini]] and her attempts to communicate with her deceased husband [[Harry Houdini|Harry]], using a plan they developed while he was still alive. The album cover of ''The Dreaming'' depicts a scene from this song and in particular the line; "with a kiss, I'll pass the key". == Track listing == #"Night of the Swallow" (Kate Bush) 5:34 #"Houdini" (Bush) 3:49 == Personnel == *Kate Bush: Vocals & Keyboards *[[Stuart Elliott (drummer)|Stuart Elliott]]: Drums *[[Del Palmer]]: Bass & 8-String Bass *[[Bill Whelan]]: Bagpipes and String arrangement *[[Liam O'Flynn]]: Uillean Pipes and Penny Whistle *[[Seán Keane (fiddler)|Seán Keane]]: Fiddle *[[Dónal Lunny]]: Bouzouki == References == {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{MetroLyrics song|kate-bush|night-of-the-swallow}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider --> {{Kate Bush}} [[Category:1983 singles]] [[Category:Kate Bush songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Kate Bush]] [[Category:1982 songs]] [[Category:EMI Records singles]]'