Song written by Kate Bush. Originally released on her second album Lionheart, the song was written a few years before. According to Kate, it was written as a ‘Patti Smith song’.
Versions
There are two officially released versions of ‘Don’t Push Your Foot On The Heartbrake’: the album version and the live version from Hammersmith Odeon, which appears on the On Stage EP. However, a demo version from 1977 has also surfaced and was released on various bootleg cd’s.
Performances
Kate performed ‘Don’t Push Your Foot On The Heartbrake’ on the Leo Sayer Show on 17 November 1978 and on the 1979 Christmas special. The song was also included in the setlist of the Tour of Life.
Cover versions
‘Don’t Push Your Foot On The Heartbrake’ was covered by Goodknight Productions.
It was sampled in a track by Fonky Family.
Lyrics
Emma’s come down
She’s stopped the light
Shining out of her eyes
Emma’s been run out on
She’s breaking down
In so many places,
Stuck in low gear
Because of her fears
Of the skidding wheels,
(The skid of her wheels she feels)
Skidding wheels
(The skid of her wheels she feels)
Spinning wheels
(Wheel-skidding feeling)
Her heart is there
But they’ve greased the road
Her heart is out there
But she’s no control
Oh, come on, you’ve got to use your flow
You know what it’s like, and you know you want to go
Don’t drive too slowly
Don’t put your blues where your shoes should be
Don’t put your foot on the heartbrake
(She’s losing, she’s losing, she’s losing, she’s losing…)
She’s losing that inner flame
It was burning bright
But she’s losing the light fast
She’s only herself to blame
Well, take care of yourself
And remember Georgie
But she’s so O.D.’d on weeping
She can hardly see
That she’s dropping beads
(Red, red glass is bleeding)
Dropping beads
(Red, red glass is bleeding)
Dropping beads
(Red, red on the parquet)
Her heart is there
But they’ve greased the road
Her heart is out there
But she’s no control
Oh, come on, you’ve got to use your flow
You know what it’s like, and you know you want to go
Don’t drive too slowly
Don’t put your blues where your shoes should be
Don’t put your foot on the heartbrake
Credits
Drums: Stuart Elliott
Bass: David Paton
Piano: Kate Bush
Guitars: Ian Bairnson
Fender Rhodes: Duncan Mackay
Hammond: Francis Monkman
Slide guitar: Paddy Bush
Harmonies: Kate and Paddy Bush
