Run To The Hills
Erik Grönwall Lyrics


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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

We fought him hard we fought him well
Out on the plains we gave him hell
But many came too much for Creed
Oh will we ever be set free?

Riding through dustclouds and barren wastes
Galloping hard on the plains
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Fighting them at their own game
Murder for freedom a stab in the back
Women and children and cowards attack

Run to the hills run for your lives
Run to the hills run for your lives

Soldier blue on the barren wastes
Hunting and killing their game
Raping the women and wasting the men
The only good Indians are tame
Selling them whisky 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

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

Overall Meaning

Erik Grönwall's song "Run To The Hills" is a cover version of the original song by Iron Maiden, and it speaks of the strife between Native American tribes and European colonizers. The song is narrated from the perspective of Native Americans, who describe how the arrival of the European colonizers brought them pain, misery, and death. The song details how the colonizers killed their tribes and took their game for their own needs, leading to a fight for freedom against overwhelming odds.


The lyrics describe how the Native Americans fought hard and well against the colonizers, giving them hell on the plains. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to defeat the colonizers, who were too numerous and well-armed. The song also describes how the colonizers hunted and killed the Native American's game, raped their women, and enslaved their young while destroying the older generation.


The lyrics are a powerful commentary on the devastating impact of European colonization on Native American communities. The song highlights the racial and cultural clashes, cultural subjugation, and loss of land, and other resources for Native Americans. The song's message is that it was a tragic time in history, and the impact of colonization had far-reaching consequences.


Line by Line Meaning

White man came across the sea
A European man sailed to America


He brought us pain and misery
He caused suffering and distress


He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
He caused the deaths of our communities and beliefs


He took our game for his own need
He used land and resources that were not his


We fought him hard we fought him well
We fought against him with strength and courage


Out on the plains we gave him hell
We fiercely fought against him on open fields


But many came too much for Creed
But there were too many of them and we couldn't win


Oh will we ever be set free?
Will we ever be liberated?


Riding through dustclouds and barren wastes
Traveling on horseback through dry, empty landscapes


Galloping hard on the plains
Riding quickly across open fields


Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Forcing Native Americans to flee and hide


Fighting them at their own game
Engaging in battle using Native American tactics


Murder for freedom a stab in the back
Killing Indigenous people while claiming to fight for liberty is treacherous


Women and children and cowards attack
Attacking vulnerable individuals is cowardly


Run to the hills run for your lives
Flee to safety from danger


Soldier blue on the barren wastes
A soldier wearing blue on a desolate landscape


Hunting and killing their game
Hunting and killing Native American animals for sport


Raping the women and wasting the men
Committing sexual assault against Native American women and killing the men


The only good Indians are tame
The only acceptable Native Americans are those who submit to European control


Selling them whisky and taking their gold
Giving Native Americans alcohol to exploit them and plundering their valuable resources


Enslaving the young and destroying the old
Taking children as slaves and killing the elderly


Run to the hills run for your lives
Flee to safety from danger


Run to the hills run for your lives
Flee to safety from danger


Run to the hills run for your lives
Flee to safety from danger


Run to the hills run for your lives
Flee to safety from danger


Run to the hills run for your lives
Flee to safety from danger




Writer(s): Stephen Percy Harris

Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

暗黒柳徹子

Hi Erik!
I remember I saw you first on the video which you sang this song
in the TV audition program near 10 years ago.
That was amazing!!

And coincidentally, I've liked Skid Row since junior high school student .
(I saw Sebastian Bach in his solo tour in OSAKA about 15years ago.)

Today,I'm happy to hear your voice on Skid Row.
You're great!! I like New Skid Row too.
If you come to Japan for tour,I'll definetly go to your concert.

Good Luck!!



All comments from YouTube:

Mark G. Sheibley

What a voice! Full of incredible range, power, and control!

Erik Grönwall

Thank you !

Sherri Riggio

Vocals - killed it , guitar - killed it , bass - killed it …. Perfect way to start my day - our blood is pumping in math class 😉🤘🏻🖤

Erik Grönwall

I wish you a wonderful day!

ironsaint

Video - killed it, Mix and mastering - killed it , Producer- killed it , Youtube - killed it

Sherri Riggio

@ironsaint 🤘🏻🖤

Benjamin A. Stanton

Does that make these guys Killers? 😁🤘😎

Dannyk

Watching Erik sing this song brings back so many memories! I could listen to his live performance of Run to the hills on repeat back as a teen and when my mum got tired of me blasting music I walked my dog deep into the swedish forest practicing my metal screams, trying to sound like ErikI even went to audition for idol the next year as I had decided that I must work on myself and not hold back my personality. Why not do something no one would expect like sing in front of a camera, for the first time... and ofc do it like Sweden's own Axl Rose Mr Grönwall.

Yeah I had a my first reality check that day and experienced nervousness on a level I didn't know was possible. As I walked from that humiliating experience a bunch of friends had gathered and as I noticed how surprised but happy they were for me. I realized this was why I went in the first place to grow as a person and not be afraid to show people who I am. This experience shaped my life and have been a personal moto whenever I'm in doubt and to be honest I've not felt nervous about public speaking, trying new things or to be put in unknown situations. Pretty cool!

Crazy how an artist can affect people and I love that I'm still a huge Erik fan and once again can I blast Run to the hills on repeat 💪 Thank you for the inspiration and amazing vocals! Peace

Erik Grönwall

Wow this is such an amazing story, thank you for sharing and thank you for your kind words. As you probably know I also had a reality check and didn't make it through the second audition round in 2007. I was also denied a job at Wallmans (a restaurant where you entertain and serve the guests) 3 times in a row. I auditioned 3 times.

But that's exactly what it's all about. We throw ourselves out there and we grow from the experience although it might be painful sometimes. In fact the more painful it is the more we grow and learn if we decide to approach it like that. Get back on the horse. Failure is inevitable, what really matters is what we decide to fail with. I prefer to fail while I'm having fun.

Keep failing, keep growing, keep learning. I thank you for being here and for all the support through the years.

You rock!

Canuckadian

I got goosebumps! Iron Maiden is my favorite band and Bruce Dickinson is my favorite vocalist. You did the song justice, one of the best Iron Maiden covers of this song I’ve seen! Everyone did an amazing job. The vocals were incredible!!!

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