Bush began writing songs at 11. She was signed to EMI Records after Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour helped produce a demo tape. Her debut album, The Kick Inside, was released in 1978. Bush slowly gained artistic independence in album production and has produced all her studio albums since The Dreaming (1982). She took a hiatus between her seventh and eighth albums, The Red Shoes (1993) and Aerial (2005). Bush drew attention again in 2014 with her concert residency Before the Dawn, her first show since 1979's The Tour of Life.
The TV series "Stranger Things" used Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" in Season 4. As a result of the resurgence of interest, in 2022 the song reached #1 on the UK charts, 37 years after its initial release, and generated 100s of millions of streams.
Bush's eclectic and experimental musical style, unconventional lyrics, performances, and literary themes have influenced a diverse range of artists. She has been nominated for 13 British Phonographic Industry accolades, winning for Best British Female Artist in 1987, and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards. In 2002, Bush was recognized with an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. Bush was appointed a CBE in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to music. She was nominated three times for induction in the 2018, 2021, and 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
12" Running Up That Hill
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you want to know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
Do you want to hear about the deal that I'm making?
You, it's you and me
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
Be running up that road
Be running up that hill
Be running up that building
See if I only could, oh
You don't want to hurt me
But see how deep the bullet lies
Unaware I'm tearing you asunder
Ooh, there is thunder in our hearts
Is there so much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
You, it's you and me
It's you and me, won't be unhappy
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
Be running up that road
Be running up that hill
Be running up that building
Say, if I only could, oh
You
It's you and me
It's you and me, won't be unhappy
Oh come on, baby
Oh come on, darling
Let me steal this moment from you now
Oh come on, angel
Come on, come on, darling
Let's exchange the experience, oh
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
I'd be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems
Said, if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
I'd be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems
So if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
I'd be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems
Said, if I only could
I'd be running up that hill
With no problems
(If I only could, I'd be running up that hill)
(If I only could, I'd be running up that hill)
Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush is a song that reflects the desire to understand the perspectives of others and to bridge the gap between them. The song is about two people who want to switch places so that they can experience each other's lives and problems first-hand. Kate is directly addressing her lover, singing, "You, it's you and me," and asking if they wouldn't want to swap places, asking if they wouldn't want to feel what it's like to be in her shoes, if only for a moment. She wants to explain that the way that she feels doesn't hurt her, and she hopes that her lover will make the effort to understand her situation.
Kate Bush is emphasizing the depth of her and her lover's relationship, suggesting that they are inseparable, when she sings "It's you and me, won't be unhappy." When she sings "If I only could, I'd make a deal with God," Kate wishes that she could swap places with her lover, so she could show them that her experiences are not hurting her as much as they might believe. She wants him to experience her life from her perspective, and she would like to see life from his viewpoint too. However, in the end, she does not believe that they can switch places, and she accepts that problems will always exist between them because of their unique perspectives.
Line by Line Meaning
It doesn't hurt me
My strength cannot be overpowered
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you desire to understand my struggles?
Do you want to know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
Do you want to comprehend that I can tolerate the pain?
Do you want to hear about the deal that I'm making?
Do you want to be informed about the agreement I am attempting to reach?
You, it's you and me
It is only you and me who must shoulder this burden
And if I only could
If only I had the power
I'd make a deal with God
I would negotiate with a higher power
And I'd get him to swap our places
And I'd like him to assume my responsibilities
Be running up that road
Tackle those obstacles without fail
Be running up that hill
To face and win challenges ahead
Be running up that building
To overcome the ultimate challenge
You don't want to hurt me
You aren't capable of harming me intentionally
But see how deep the bullet lies
But see how deep my wounds truly are
Unaware I'm tearing you asunder
Unconscious of the pain I'm inflicting on you
Ooh, there is thunder in our hearts
Our hearts are raging with passion and emotion
Is there so much hate for the ones we love?
Why is there so much conflict in relationships?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
Acknowledge that we are both significant to each other
It's you and me
We are both in this together
It's you and me, won't be unhappy
As long as we're united, we'll avoid unpleasantness
Oh come on, baby
Come on, my love
Oh come on, darling
Come on, my precious
Let me steal this moment from you now
Allow me to make this moment ours
Oh come on, angel
Come on, my protector
Come on, come on, darling
Let's move forward together, my love
Let's exchange the experience, oh
Let's share our experiences with each other
With no problems
Without any obstacles
Said, if I only could
If only I had the power
I'd be running up that hill
I would tackle and conquer my problems
With no problems
Without the intervention of any external hindrances
(If I only could, I'd be running up that hill)
(If only I had the power, I could overcome any obstacles)
(If I only could, I'd be running up that hill)
(If only I had the power, I could face any challenge head-on)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kate Bush
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind