Running Up That Hill
Kate Bush Lyrics
It doesn't hurt me
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
And I'd get Him to swap our places
Be running up that road
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
Oh, 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, ooh
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, ooh
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
Say, 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
With no problems
Say, 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
Say, 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)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Catherine Bush
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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"Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" was the first single from Kate Bush's 1985 album Hounds of Love. Written by Bush, it was released as a single in the UK on August 5, 1985, with the album appearing on shelves on September 16, 1985. It was her first 12" single, and her second single to feature gatefold packaging. It was the most successful of Bush's 1980s releases, eventually peaking at the number three position in the UK singles chart, her second-highest single release there. Read Full Bio"Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" was the first single from Kate Bush's 1985 album Hounds of Love. Written by Bush, it was released as a single in the UK on August 5, 1985, with the album appearing on shelves on September 16, 1985. It was her first 12" single, and her second single to feature gatefold packaging. It was the most successful of Bush's 1980s releases, eventually peaking at the number three position in the UK singles chart, her second-highest single release there. The single also had a great impact in the United States, providing Bush with her first hit to chart since 1978. It reached the top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and featured prominently within the Dance Charts.
Originally titled, "A Deal with God", representatives at EMI were hesitant to release the song, as they feared the title could have prevented radio play, especially in the United States. Bush relented and changed the title because her single from her previous release, The Dreaming, had done so poorly in the charts. The executives of EMI initially wanted to release another song, Cloudbusting, as the lead single from the album. Bush successfully convinced them to release "Running Up That Hill" first, citing that it was the first song to be written for the album, and felt that it better represented the broader feel for "Hounds of Love".
The song itself has often been misinterpreted. Kate Bush herself has said, "I was trying to say that, really, a man and a woman, can't understand each other because we are a man and a woman. And if we could actually swap each other's roles, if we could actually be in each other's place for a while, I think we'd both be very surprised! [Laughs] And I think it would lead to a greater understanding. And really the only way I could think it could be done was either... you know, I thought a deal with the devil, you know. And I thought, 'well, no, why not a deal with God!' You know, because in a way it's so much more powerful the whole idea of asking God to make a deal with you. You see, for me, it is still called "Deal With God", which was its title. But we were told that if we kept this title that it wouldn't be played in any of the religious countries, Italy wouldn't play it, France wouldn't play it, and Australia wouldn't play it! Ireland wouldn't play it, and that generally, we might get it blacked purely because it had 'God' in the title."
The song is about a lover that is holding a deep secret hurt from the other lover," How deep the bullet lies ", hating him/her for it at times, wanting desperately for the uninjured party to trade the pain to ( Swap our places) so she/he could be free of it while the other lover experiences it," Hurt the ones we love"
and he/she could "be running up that hill running up that building with no problem"
Musically, the background vocal chants ("e-yo") are almost identical to singing in classical Japanese musical theatre such as Noh, and the prominent drumming pattern appears to be influenced by Japanese taiko.
In May 2022, “Running Up That Hill” surged in popularity following its prominent usage in the Netflix show “Stranger Things”. In the United States, it re-entered the Hot 100 at #8 and later peaked at #3, becoming her first Top 10 in the country. Globally, it reached #1 in various countries including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium and Australia, where it spent 8 weeks at #1, more than any other act in 2022.
References in Movies/Songs:
The song can be heard during the final credits of the 1988 film The Chocolate War.
The song was also used as the theme tune for the 1986 BBC children's drama "Running Scared".
English band Coldplay claims the drum beat of this song inspired their single "Speed of Sound".
The song is referenced by The Hold Steady on "Hornets! Hornets!" and Fiona Apple on “Fetch The Bolt Cutters”.
In 2022, the song was used in an episode of "Stranger Things", resulting in a boost of streams for the song.
Originally titled, "A Deal with God", representatives at EMI were hesitant to release the song, as they feared the title could have prevented radio play, especially in the United States. Bush relented and changed the title because her single from her previous release, The Dreaming, had done so poorly in the charts. The executives of EMI initially wanted to release another song, Cloudbusting, as the lead single from the album. Bush successfully convinced them to release "Running Up That Hill" first, citing that it was the first song to be written for the album, and felt that it better represented the broader feel for "Hounds of Love".
The song itself has often been misinterpreted. Kate Bush herself has said, "I was trying to say that, really, a man and a woman, can't understand each other because we are a man and a woman. And if we could actually swap each other's roles, if we could actually be in each other's place for a while, I think we'd both be very surprised! [Laughs] And I think it would lead to a greater understanding. And really the only way I could think it could be done was either... you know, I thought a deal with the devil, you know. And I thought, 'well, no, why not a deal with God!' You know, because in a way it's so much more powerful the whole idea of asking God to make a deal with you. You see, for me, it is still called "Deal With God", which was its title. But we were told that if we kept this title that it wouldn't be played in any of the religious countries, Italy wouldn't play it, France wouldn't play it, and Australia wouldn't play it! Ireland wouldn't play it, and that generally, we might get it blacked purely because it had 'God' in the title."
The song is about a lover that is holding a deep secret hurt from the other lover," How deep the bullet lies ", hating him/her for it at times, wanting desperately for the uninjured party to trade the pain to ( Swap our places) so she/he could be free of it while the other lover experiences it," Hurt the ones we love"
and he/she could "be running up that hill running up that building with no problem"
Musically, the background vocal chants ("e-yo") are almost identical to singing in classical Japanese musical theatre such as Noh, and the prominent drumming pattern appears to be influenced by Japanese taiko.
In May 2022, “Running Up That Hill” surged in popularity following its prominent usage in the Netflix show “Stranger Things”. In the United States, it re-entered the Hot 100 at #8 and later peaked at #3, becoming her first Top 10 in the country. Globally, it reached #1 in various countries including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium and Australia, where it spent 8 weeks at #1, more than any other act in 2022.
References in Movies/Songs:
The song can be heard during the final credits of the 1988 film The Chocolate War.
The song was also used as the theme tune for the 1986 BBC children's drama "Running Scared".
English band Coldplay claims the drum beat of this song inspired their single "Speed of Sound".
The song is referenced by The Hold Steady on "Hornets! Hornets!" and Fiona Apple on “Fetch The Bolt Cutters”.
In 2022, the song was used in an episode of "Stranger Things", resulting in a boost of streams for the song.
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Will Ludlam
I am 51 and never would have dreamed of a song from when I was in 8th grade to resurface as a hit 37 years later.
Simon T
@Farm2Table Wayne's World was 1992 (iirc). The only song that was old at that time was Bohemian Rhapsody and they did a cover version of Let me stand next to your Fire by Jimi Hendrix. I cant think of any other songs that weren't contemporary.
W J
The 80s are back in style
Christopher Pelll
One of the very best songs GOD bless your heart life and family always truely for everyone ♾️💯♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️❤️
Robson Souza
O VECNA ESCUTANDO ISSO DEVE TÁ SE MORDENDO DE RAIVA 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
gacha serdaigle 🐎🦅
c'est ma music préféré
Caztaneda Fillefjonk
My young life comes to life…With a few tears
waysav
I had no idea this song was originally released in 1985. I was around then and have no memory of it.
Dan Collins
And Kate had already been around since 1978. The music Industry in America did not understand, like or even get Kate’s music. It is still the same today really.
Little Kálezsi
Kate Bush: "I was trying to say that, really, a man and a woman can't understand each other because we are a man and a woman. And if we could actually swap each other's roles, if we could actually be in each other's place for a while, I think we'd both be very surprised! "