A cult hit online and on Scandinavian radio in the early 2000s. Harriet Ohlsson, Johan Bringhed, and Kalle Karlsson formed the group in the fall of 2004 and played their first show at a barn in rural Sweden. The group recorded three demo tracks by the time 2005 rolled around; the songs were picked up by Sveriges Riksradio's P3 (a Swedish national radio station similar to BBC 1 and CBC 3) for rotation on the heavy metal show Rundgång. Hellsongs released their debut EP, Lounge, the following year. A full-length album, Hymns in the Key of 666, followed in 2007.
Run To The Hills
Hellsongs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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, 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 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
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
The song "Run to the Hills" by Hellsongs is a cover of the original song by Iron Maiden. The lyrics describe the violent history of the Native Americans and their struggle against the white settlers who came to America and brought with them pain and misery. The white man is portrayed as a ruthless killer who took away the Native Americans' land, game, and freedom. The chorus urges the Native Americans to "run to the hills" for their lives, as the soldiers of the white man are coming to kill them.
The first verse describes the Native Americans' resistance against the white man, fighting hard and giving them hell on the plains. However, they soon become overwhelmed as more white men come and they wonder if they will ever be set free. The second verse depicts the Native Americans being chased back to their holes, with the white soldiers using murder and cowardly tactics to kill women and children. The final verse shows the white man raping women, killing men, selling whiskey, and enslaving the young and old, suggesting that they are the true savages.
The lyrics of this song have been interpreted in different ways, with some viewing it as a commentary on the history of colonialism and imperialism, while others see it as a critique of capitalism and the exploitation of indigenous peoples. The song has become a classic rock anthem and has been covered by many artists over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
White man came across the sea
The colonizers came to America from Europe by crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
He brought us pain and misery
The colonizers brought suffering and unhappiness to the native inhabitants of America.
He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
The colonizers murdered the native tribes and their way of living.
He took our game for his own need
The colonizers seized the natural resources of America that were originally used by the natives for their own purposes.
We fought him hard, we fought him well
The natives resisted the colonizers with great strength and courage.
Out on the plains, we gave him hell
The natives fought fiercely on the open grasslands of America.
But many came, too much for Cree
The number and strength of the colonizers were overwhelming, which was impossible for the natives to fight against.
Oh, will we ever be set free?
The natives were hoping to be liberated from the oppression of the colonizers.
Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes
The colonizers were moving through the arid and lifeless regions of the West.
Galloping hard on the plains
The colonizers were riding horses at a great speed across the flat grasslands.
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
The colonizers were pursuing the natives back to their hiding places and homes.
Fighting them at their own game
The colonizers were battling against the natives using similar tactics, strategies, and weapons.
Murder for freedom, a stab in the back
The colonizers were killing the innocent natives to achieve their unrestricted liberties, which was treacherous and immoral.
Women and children and cowards attack
The colonizers were attacking and massacring defenseless women, children, and men who were reluctant to fight against them.
Run to the hills
This line is a call for the natives to flee for their security and survival.
Run for your lives
This line implies that the natives need to escape from the colonizers to avoid death and destruction.
Soldier blue in the barren wastes
This line refers to the color of the colonizer's uniform as they advanced through the wastelands.
Hunting and killing's a game
The colonizers were treating the brutal hunting and killing of the natives as a pastime or sport.
Raping the women and wasting the men
The colonizers were sexually and physically abusing the native women and killing the men as if they had no value or purpose.
The only good Injuns are tame
The colonizers only respected and appreciated the natives who acquiesced to their authority and worldview.
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold
The colonizers were exploiting the natives for their resources and trading them for their alcoholic beverage.
Enslaving the young and destroying the old
The colonizers were forcing the young natives into captivity and enslaving them while killing the older ones.
Contributed by Charlotte F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
montpop
Maiden wrote and dedicated this song about the Sand Creek Massacre in Montana in 1864. This was to honor them. Iron Maiden, whom are from England, know more about the U.S. history than most people whom listen to them. Thank you for this coverering this song and your own tribute.
Dass e
Whom you're welcome
Onyx Trumbull
I am Lakota/Dakota Sioux and this song means a lot and tells a story. a story of what happened to my people. stay strong my people
Dass e
Rubbed out. Not strong enough apparently
Manj Sher
The Irish remember...
Maximilien François De Robespierre
Wait, so which are you.
Vladimir Saldes
I am Mapuche i feel the same like you do..
Dgo Drummer
I live near the Navajo and Ute Tribes. Though not related.
I am a mutt, with no known history of where I came from, or from whom brought me into this particular existence.
This version allows me to open a door inside, taking me deep within, to a sorrowful, yet proud place that exists within myself. I go there every time I hear it. The song usually ends with me in tears, thankful for being, thankful for the opportunity to experience this world, despite knowing how painful it is and has been for so many of us. I believe there is goodness and purpose of some kind, even amongst the chaos.
UP THE IRONS!
Jonathan Chortzen
Love Iron Maiden, but this version makes a bigger impact when you hear it :) Nice job Hellsongs!
Tracte2
indeed, ;-)