The Red Shoes” [4:02] from The Red Shoes (1993; Columbia)

Hit Collection, the longer but less essential of two existing Kate Bush best-of anthologies, featured three songs from her 1993 album The Red Shoes, but only one from The Dreaming. For the purposes of representing the best of her output, that’s maybe a bit too generous to her sole ’90s album. That being said, it’s got its share of gems, the title track being the best of the bunch. It’s one of the most lighthearted that you’ll see here, a sprightly jig of Celtic [bad word] and bouncy rhythms. It doesn’t have the same kind of intense weight that a song such as “Pull Out the Pin” or “Breathing” does, but it’s definitely fun. I also have my suspicions that Animal Collective based their own “Summertime Clothes” on this song.

Oh she move like the Diva do
I said I'd love to dance like you.
She said just take off my red shoes
Put them on and your [bad word] [bad word] 
With no words, with no song
You can dance the dream with your body on
And this curve, is your smile
And this cross, is your heart
And this line, is your path

Oh it's gonna be the way you always thought it would be
But it's gonna be no illusion
Oh it's gonna be the way you always dreamt about it
But it's gonna be really happening to ya
Really happening to ya
Really happening to ya

Oh the minute I put them on
I knew I had done something wrong
All her gifts for the dance had gone
It's the red shoes, they can't stop dancing, dancing
And this curve, is your smile
And this cross, is your heart
And this line, is your path

Oh it's gonna be the way you always thought it would be
But it's gonna be no illusion
Oh it's gonna be the way you always dreamt about it
But it's gonna be really happening to ya

She gotta dance, she gotta dance
And she can't stop 'till them [bad word] off
These shoes do, a kind of voodoo
They're gonna make her dance 'till her legs fall off

Feel your [bad word] tumbling down
Feel your feet start kissing the ground
Feel your arms are opening out
And see your eyes are lifted to God
With no words, with no song
I'm gonna dance the dream
And make the [bad word] [bad word] 
I'm gonna dance the dream
And make the [bad word] [bad word] 

She gotta dance, she gotta dance
And she can't stop 'till them [bad word] off
These shoes do, a kind of voodoo
They're gonna make her dance 'till her legs fall off
Call a doctor, call a priest
They're gonna whip her up like a helicopter

Really happening to ya
Really happening to ya

You gotta dance....