‘Honky Tonk Woman’ is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. They wrote it during a holiday in Brazil in December 1968 and January 1969, inspired by Brazilian women at the ranch where they were staying.

Two versions of the song were recorded by their band, the Rolling Stones: the familiar hit which appeared on the 45 single and their collection of late 1960s singles, Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2); and a honky-tonk version entitled ‘Country Honk’ with slightly different lyrics, which appeared on the album Let It Bleed (1969).

Kate Bush performed the song with her own KT Bush Band in March 1977. Gigging around the pubs of south London in a Hillman Imp and Morris 1000 van, she performed a set that included songs like ‘Honky Tonk Woman’.

Vic King, who played drums in the band, later reflected: “Kate didn’t frequent pubs, but she wanted to do it because she had to learn stage presence and projection. She wasn’t doing it because she loved being on stage.”