Be Kind To My Mistakes

‘Be Kind To My Mistakes’ is a song written by Kate Bush, originally written for the soundtrack of the movie ‘Castaway’ (1987) and released on the soundtrack album. The line “Be kind to my mistakes” is spoken by Oliver Reed’s character at the end of the film, as he anticipates the future publication of Irving’s memoirs about the year she had just completed alone with him on a desert island.

Versions

There are three versions of ‘Be Kind To My Mistakes’: the original version, released on the soundtrack of ‘Castaway’ (1987), a version of that one which was released on a promotional 7″ single, and a remix version, released on the B-side of the single This Woman’s Work in 1989. The original version of ‘Be Kind To My Mistakes’ has a longer intro than the 1989 remix and also has a slightly different ending, with more echo on percussion. The version on the promotional 7″ single fades out, where the album version on the soundtrack crossfades into track 2 of the album.

Formats

‘Be Kind To My Mistakes’ was originally released on the soundtrack album ‘Castaway’ (1987). A promotional 7″ single, featuring Kate’s track plus ‘Chemistry’ by Brian Eno, was released in Germany only. Two years later, a remix of the track appeared on the B-side of the single This Woman’s Work and on the American mini album Aspects Of The Sensual World.

Cover versions

‘Be Kind To My Mistakes’ was covered by Situations.

Lyrics

It is this that brings us together
It is this that brings us together

It’s all right, darling
We can do this together
It’s all right, darling
I can think of nothing better

I don’t know you,
And you don’t know me:
It is this that brings us together

It is this that brings us together
It is this that brings us together
I don’t know what you are
(It is this that brings us together)
Looking for in me
I don’t know what I want
(It is this that brings us together)
But my heart is needing

Am I yours? Are you mine?
We’ll find all we’re meant to find
In your life, in my life,
There are secrets too dark
To let out, to let go of,
To get over

But that’s all right, baby.
That’s all right by me
It’s all right now

(Just let me say)
Please, (“Yea, yo, yea, yo!”)
Please, (“Yea, yo, yea, yo!”)
Please, (“Yea, yo, yea, yo!”)
Please be kind
To my mistakes
Be kind
Be kind
To me

“Lum, lum, lum…
Lum, lum…Lum, lum…”