The phrase "sat in your lap" refers to knowledge handed to someone without effort, a concept the song ultimately critiques as a mirage.
Beyond academic learning, the song references spiritual and physical avenues to enlightenment, including pilgrimages to Tibet or Mecca and potentially tantric sex. Sonic Innovation and Production Kate Bush - Sat in Your Lap - Music
Thematically, the song explores the exhausting, often circular quest for wisdom. Bush describes the protagonist’s desire for enlightenment and professional status—"I want to be a lawyer, I want to be a scholar"—clashing with an overwhelming lack of energy or patience. The phrase "sat in your lap" refers to