"The Dreaming" is the title song from Kate Bush`s fourth studio album The Dreaming and was released as a single on 26 July 1982. "The Dreaming" peaked at No. 48 and spent 3 weeks in the UK Singles Chart.[1]

The song is about the destruction of Aboriginal Australians` traditional lands by white Australians in their quest for weapons-grade uranium. Bird impersonator Percy Edwards provided sheep noises.[2]

The title is based on The Dreaming, a concept in Aboriginal mythology. The original title for the track was "The Abo Song", which unwittingly made use of a racial slur; promotional 7-inch copies were circulated before being recalled.[3] A 12-inch single was also mooted but ultimately rejected by EMI for "not being commercially viable".

An alternative version of "The Dreaming", entitled "Dreamtime", was used as the UK single B-side. It is usually referred to as an instrumental version of "The Dreaming": while the track omits the sung lead vocals, it retains most of the backing vocals. "Dreamtime" contains both an extended intro and outro.

The cover art is by Del Palmer, Bush`s partner at the time and sometime bass player. It features a depiction of the Wandjina, a sky spirit in Western Australian traditions.

Personnel

• Kate Bush – lead and backing vocals; piano; Fairlight CMI
• Paddy Bush – bullroarer; backing vocals
• Rolf Harris – didgeridoo
• Stuart Elliott – drums
• Percy Edwards – animal sounds
• Gosfield Goers – crowd noises

Charts

See also

• Songline