Run to the Hills
Iron Maiden Lyrics
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He brought us pain and misery
He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
He took our game for his own need
We fought him hard, we fought him well
Out on the plains we gave him hell
But many came, too much for Cree
Oh, will we ever be set free?
Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes
Galloping hard on the plains
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Fighting them at their own game
Murder for freedom the stab in the back
Women and children are cowards, attack
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Soldier blue in the barren wastes
Hunting and killing's a game
Raping the women and wasting the men
The only good Indians are tame
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold
Enslaving the young and destroying the old
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Yeah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Iron Maiden's song "Run to the Hills" is a commentary on the brutal history of European colonization in America, particularly focusing on the violence and oppression inflicted upon Native American tribes. The lyrics describe how the arrival of white colonizers spelled destruction for the indigenous people who inhabited the land. The opening lines "White man came across the sea/He brought us pain and misery/He killed our tribes, he killed our creed/He took our game for his own need" plainly state the devastation wrought by the conquerors on the native population.
The Native Americans fought back against the colonizers, but the lyrics suggest that their valiant efforts were ultimately futile in the face of overwhelming numbers and technological superiority: "We fought him hard, we fought him well/Out on the plains we gave him hell/But many came, too much for Cree/Oh, will we ever be set free?" The image of the warriors on horseback "riding through dust clouds and barren wastes/Galloping hard on the plains/Chasing the redskins back to their holes/Fighting them at their own game" is vivid and conveys the idea of a struggle that is both desperate and doomed.
Unfortunately, the white colonizers proved not only to be conquerors but also cruel oppressors. As the lyrics state, they engaged in rape, murder, and enslavement: "Soldier blue in the barren wastes/Hunting and killing's a game/Raping the women and wasting the men/The only good Indians are tame/Selling them whiskey and taking their gold/Enslaving the young and destroying the old." The chorus "Run to the hills/Run for your lives" can thus be interpreted as a warning to the Native Americans to flee and preserve their lives and culture from the onslaught of the invaders.
Line by Line Meaning
White man came across the sea
The Europeans arrived on the American continent from across the ocean
He brought us pain and misery
Their arrival caused suffering and hardship
He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
The native people were slaughtered and their beliefs were destroyed
He took our game for his own need
The Europeans exploited the natural resources of the land for their own benefit
We fought him hard, we fought him well
The native people resisted the invaders with great determination
Out on the plains we gave him hell
The natives fiercely fought the invaders on the open fields
But many came, too much for Cree
Despite their resistance, the overwhelming number of Europeans proved too much for the Cree people
Oh, will we ever be set free?
The native people wonder if they will ever regain their freedom and independence
Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes
The Europeans traveled through arid and uninhabitable regions
Galloping hard on the plains
The Europeans rode their horses across the open fields
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
The invaders pursued the native people to their hiding places
Fighting them at their own game
The Europeans used the same tactics as the natives in battle
Murder for freedom the stab in the back
The Europeans killed the natives to establish their own freedom and dominance, which was a treacherous act
Women and children are cowards, attack
The Europeans showed no mercy, attacking even those who were defenseless
Run to the hills
The native people urge each other to flee and save their lives
Run for your lives
The threat posed by the invaders is imminent and real
Soldier blue in the barren wastes
The European soldiers killed and hunted in lifeless regions
Hunting and killing's a game
The Europeans enjoyed killing native people as if it was a form of entertainment
Raping the women and wasting the men
The European soldiers raped and pillaged without remorse or empathy
The only good Indians are tame
The Europeans believed that only those who subordinated and obeyed them were valuable
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold
The Europeans used alcohol and greed to manipulate and exploit the native people
Enslaving the young and destroying the old
The Europeans enslaved the young and killed the old, thereby destroying entire communities
Lyrics Ā© Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JeanPFoxchaud
LYRICS
[Intro]
White man came across the sea
He brought us pain and misery
He killed our tribes, killed our creed
He took our game for his own need
We fought him hard, we fought him well
Out on the plains we gave him hell
But many came too much for Cree
Oh will we ever be set free?
[Verse 1]
Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes
Galloping hard on the plains
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Fighting them at their own game
Murder for freedom the stab in the back
Women and children are cowards attack
[Chorus]
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives
[Verse 2]
Soldier blue in the barren wastes
Hunting and killing's a game
Raping the women and wasting the men
The only good Injuns are tame
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold
Enslaving the young and destroying the old
[Chorus]
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives
@kathrynmartinez1943
I am Native American (Cherokee Creek). I am a huge fan of Iron Maiden. I think this is a brilliant song and an amazing video!!
@svevladteodosic1854
Freedom to Native Americans!
@Techn9cian123
Many tribe like Metal Lady. Donga tribe run to hills.
@tangybissitt507
I am also part cherokee and love th is song live long friend :)
@svevladteodosic1854
@@tangybissitt507 Are you dreaming about being free?
@mynameislove7605
@@svevladteodosic1854 A'HO!!!
@princegroove
Iron Maiden narrates Native American History better than our own teachers. šŗšø
@travisscavoni369
In some ways they are the "forefathers" to groups like Sabaton
@purestench9263
You do realize its about the same accuracy as like, the ija retelling the events of the khmer rouge. An imperialist nation attempting to bank on some event they had no way of really understanding lmfaooo but yea bruther they really got history down in a maiden song. Sincerely signed someone thats worked for natives.
@chancehunter2979
exactly. they need to play this video in every american history class.