Kate Bush – And Dream of Sheep Lyrics

And Dream of Sheep Lyrics by Kate Bush

“And Dream of Sheep” is track 6 on Kate Bush’s seminal work, Hounds of Love; her fifth studio album. The song begins side two of the album, a conceptual suite of seven tracks dubbed, “The Ninth Wave”.

Kate Bush described “The Ninth Wave” as being “about a person who is alone in the water for the night. It’s about their past, present and future coming to keep them awake, to stop them drowning, to stop them going to sleep until the morning comes”.

“And Dream of Sheep” is the most literal of the suite, introducing the narrator who is lost at sea. The song is comprised only of Kate Bush’s signature voice and soft piano punctuated by various samples and sound effects, highlighting key moments in the lyrics. Sea whistles and acoustic guitars appear near the end to finish the song.

[Verse 1]
Little light shining
Little light will guide them to me
My face is all lit up
My face is all lit up

[Chorus 1]
If they find me racing white horses
They’ll not take me for a buoy
Let me be weak, let me sleep
And dream of sheep

[Interlude: Sample & Hannah Bush]
“Attention shipping information in sea areas…Bell Rock, Tiree, Cromaty, gale east…Malin, Sellafield…”
“Come here with me now”

[Verse 2]
Ooh, I’ll wake up to any sound of engines
Every gull a seeking craft
I can’t keep my eyes open
Wish I had my radio

[Chorus 2]
I’d tune into some friendly voices
Talking ’bout stupid things
I can’t be left to my imagination
Let me be weak, let me sleep
And dream of sheep

[Outro]
Ooh, their breath is warm
And they smell like sleep
And they say they take me home
Like poppies, heavy with seed
They take me deeper and deeper