Run To The Hills
Iron Maiden瀀 Lyrics


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The white man came across the sea
He brought us pain and misery
He killed our tribe, 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 to 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, 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 the 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!

Overall Meaning

The song "Run to the Hills" by Iron Maiden (H) is a hard-hitting critique of the colonization of the Americas by European settlers. The opening lyrics set the stage for the song's themes of pain, misery, and violence inflicted on indigenous peoples by Europeans. The reference to the whites killing the tribe and taking their game implies the theft of resources, land, and wealth perpetrated against native peoples for the white man's gain. However, the second verse speaks of the natives' will to fight back and their success in giving the white man hell on the plains. The ending question, "Oh will we ever be set free?" suggests a desperate longing for justice and the return of their freedoms and rights.


The chorus is a call to action, urging the listener to run for their life. The third verse continues with the brutal depictions of the soldier's game of hunting and killing with women and children considered cowards as the only good natives are the ones who are captive. The last two lines encapsulate the greed exhibited by Europeans, selling the natives whiskey and enslaving their young while destroying the old.


Iron Maiden (H)'s "Run to the Hills" is a thought-provoking song that challenges the listener to delve deeper into the history of colonization and its impacts on indigenous cultures. It is a reminder of the atrocities committed in the name of greed and progress, and the need for ongoing efforts to decolonize and promote indigenous sovereignty.


Line by Line Meaning

The white man came across the sea
The Europeans voyaged across the ocean in search of new lands.


He brought us pain and misery
Their arrival introduced suffering and hardship to the native peoples.


He killed our tribe, he killed our creed
The invaders took countless lives and wiped out entire cultures.


He took our game for his own need
The settlers exploited the land for their own purposes, causing harm to the environment and wildlife.


We fought him hard, we fought him well
The native peoples resisted the invaders fiercely and bravely.


Out on the plains, we gave him Hell
The battles between the two sides were intense and brutal.


But many came to much for Cree
Despite their strength and courage, the native peoples were ultimately overwhelmed by the superior forces of the Europeans.


Oh will we ever be set free?
A question posed by the native peoples concerning their chances of ever overcoming the oppressors.


Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes, Galloping hard on the plains
The Europeans rode recklessly through the arid and unproductive areas of the land.


Chasing the Redskins back to their holes
They pursued the native peoples to their homes and settlements.


Fighting them at their own game
The settlers engaged in battles on terms that were familiar to the native peoples.


Murder for freedom, stab in the back
The Europeans committed horrific acts of violence while claiming to be fighting for their own freedom.


Women and children are cowards, attack!
The invaders demonstrated a complete lack of mercy or compassion by attacking unarmed and innocent civilians.


Soldier blue in the barren wastes, hunting and killing's the game
The soldiers dressed in blue roamed the desolate terrain, hunting and killing native peoples as if it were a sport.


Raping the women and wasting the men
Along with murder, the invaders also committed despicable acts of sexual violence against native women.


The only good Injuns are tame
The Europeans believed that the native peoples were only acceptable if they acted subservient and obedient.


Selling them whiskey and taking their gold, Enslaving the young and destroying the old!
The Europeans took advantage of the native peoples' vulnerabilities by using alcohol and greed to exploit and subjugate them.


Run to the hills
A call to the native peoples to flee from the invaders.


Run for your lives!
Urgent advice given to the native peoples to run as fast as they could to escape the violence and oppression of the Europeans.


Run to the hills
Reaffirmation of the need to escape from the invading forces.


Run for your lives!
Final plea for the native peoples to prioritize their survival in the face of such brutal oppression.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEPHEN PERCY HARRIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@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



All comments from YouTube:

@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!!!

180 More Replies...

@princegroove

Iron Maiden narrates Native American History better than our own teachers. 🇺🇸

@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.

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