Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill Lyrics

by habalulu

13y ago

Uarg, look at Wikipedia: "The song itself has often been misinterpreted. 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", that was its title. But we were told that if we kept this title that it would not 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.”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_Up_that_Hill

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by mplacemofo 10y ago

@habalulu Deal with God is a WAY better title.

by chriscmxiii 7y ago

@habalulu I prefer the title "Running Up That Hill" just because it conveys a strong meaning in my heart and sets the aesthetic for the entire song, for me.

by TTspray1

3y ago

I am aware this isn't the intention of Kate why she wrote this song. However, as a trans person I connect almost spiritually with this song. For me it's about the gender envy I feel when I see a good looking cis man being who he is. I want to switch places with him...I actually know someone who is a trans girl pre-everything and I wished we could trade bodies so she would be in what she wants and I would be in what I want.

My Interpretation

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by hdsv98 2y ago

@dougspray1 ???? ⚧

by hdsv98 2y ago

@dougspray1 ???? ⚧

by Rod962

13y ago

I think at its heart, this a song about the nature of gender equality. It is a commentary on the 'woman as second class citizen' sentiment (You want to know it doesn't hurt me? Well, it does, and here's what I'm willing to do about it. Listen to this deal I'm working). Perhaps she's saying this notion stems from the belief that it has always been men who have changed the world. "God" has always been considered male. It was a man ( Jesus) who supposedly gave his life for humanity.

I think she is offering to take that challenge - to sacrifice herself - in historical and modern contexts. If she only could, she'd make a deal with god to swap places with Jesus. She'd run up that road with a cross strapped to her back. She'd run up that hill (Golgatha, the place of the skulls, where Jesus was supposedly crucified). She'd run up that (office) building and forsake her family the way men have for generations. And she'd do it with no problem if that's what it takes for the world to value her (women) as we do men.

Song Meaning

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by paedophageplayground 11y ago

I always wished she would have changed the God pronoun to "she" for some reason, even if it constituted some small or perhaps naive instance of sociopolitical and/or religious rebellion. I really dig your interpretation.

by Joachim_Moeller 2y ago

@Rod962 @paedophageeplayground 2nd class citizens? Regarding the Church of Scie... whoops, Church of Feminism, It will never cease to fill me with a sense of wry amusement similar to how I feel about other known types of mind-viruses, better known as religion aka bronze-age sheepherder fairytales. A void where knowledge of history is meant to be but instead tightly stuffed with victimization fibers.

"But when feminists suggest that God might be a She without suggesting that the Devil might also be female, they must be opposed." ~ Warren Farrell

FREE QUICK HISTORY & SOCIOLOGY LESSON [excerpt] "Perhaps the art that...

FREE QUICK HISTORY & SOCIOLOGY LESSON [excerpt] "Perhaps the art that best reflects life is film. In the chapter on man-bashing, I review the way films bashing men reflect our culture. But 1998 did at least see two films that were masterpieces in their empathetic representation of the male experience: Saving Private Ryan and Life is Beautiful. I review them on my website but suffice it to say here that part of their significance is that they were both commercial and critical successes, representing, therefore, holes in the Lace Curtain. Unfortunately, these films were more the exception than the rule among recent films. Titanic is the rule. No reality-based film had a greater opportunity to allow the world a clearer look at men’s willingness to sacrifice their lives for women and children than Titanic, on which men died more than women at a rate of more than 9 to 1. While we know Titanic had a fictionalized storyline, it developed a reputation for being meticulously researched with many characters based on reality. In some ways that was true. But one of the most fascinating stories behind the movie is the story revealed by what is and is not fiction. When we uncover how we fictionalize reality, we discover ourselves. And we also discover the methods used by the Lace Curtain to fictionalize reality. (Which is what distinguishes this analysis from the previous chapter’s look at man bashing in films.) So welcome aboard. Titanic Fiction: A woman saves a man at the repeated risk of her life. Titanic Fact: There is no record of a woman risking her life to save an adult man, no less repeatedly. Titanic Fiction: Men in charge decided to lock third-class (steerage) passengers below the decks. Titanic Fact: Public Record Office documents in London show that this never happened—in fact, a higher percentage of men from second-class died than from third class (92 percent vs. 88 percent), and 55 percent of the third-class women lived, which would not have been possible had they been locked below. Titanic Fiction: Being poor made one even more disposable than being a man. Titanic Fact: Being a man and being poor both increased disposability, but being a man increased it significantly more than being poor. First-class men were 22 times more likely to die (66 percent vs. 3 percent) than first-class women. The richest men were significantly more likely to die than the poorest women. Theoretically, there were three classes on the Titanic. Practically, though, men were more likely to die than the citizens of the first, second, or third class. In reality, the men were the invisible fourth-class citizens. Here is the breakdown by class and sex. “Titanic and the Invisible Fourth Class” Class: % of men dying and % of women dying. 1st class: M: 66% W: 3% 2nd class: M: 92% W: 16% 3rd class: M: 88% W: 45% Finally, the multiple scenes of men as cowards (“Men first! Leave the women and children behind") negates the reality, especially regarding First Officer William Murdoch, who was portrayed in the film as taking a bribe, shooting a third-class passenger, and then killing himself. In real life, “Murdoch behaved heroically, sacrificing his life after laboring frantically to save others." Twentieth Century Fox did apologize for their distortion, but all the scenes of his corruption and cowardice remain. In brief, the mandate: of masculinity, to be more disposable than a third-class citizen, was diluted by three methods, all fiction: (1) Showing a woman also willing to die to save a man; (2) Turning a heroic man (William Murdoch) into a coward and killer, and (3) Sensationalizing class disposability (via the lockout scene and the portrayal of Murdoch killing a third-class passenger while accepting a bribe from a rich man). When disposability is falsely made a characteristic of both sexes and class disposability is played up, it leaves us downplaying the true disposability of masculinity - only 8 percent of the second-class men saving themselves while saving 84 percent of their wives and 100 percent of their children."

@[Rod962:43308] @paedophageeplayground 
2nd class citizens? Regarding the Church of Scie... whoops, Church of Feminism, It will never cease to fill me with a sense of wry amusement similar to how I feel about other known types of mind-viruses, better known as religion aka bronze-age sheepherder fairytales. A void where knowledge of history is meant to be but instead tightly stuffed with victimization fibers.

"But when feminists suggest that God might be a She without suggesting that the Devil might also be female, they must be opposed." ~ Warren Farrell

FREE QUICK HISTORY & SOCIOLOGY LESSON [excerpt]
"Perhaps the art that best reflects life is film. In the chapter on man-bashing, I review the way films bashing men reflect our culture. But 1998 did at least see two films that were masterpieces in their empathetic representation of the male experience: Saving Private Ryan and Life is Beautiful. I review them on my website but suffice it to say here that part of their significance is that they were both commercial and critical successes, representing, therefore, holes in the Lace Curtain. 
Unfortunately, these films were more the exception than the rule among recent films. Titanic is the rule. No reality-based film had a greater opportunity to allow the world a clearer look at men’s willingness to sacrifice their lives for women and children than Titanic, on which men died more than women at a rate of more than 9 to 1. While we know Titanic had a fictionalized storyline, it developed a reputation for being meticulously researched with many characters based on reality. In some ways that was true. But one of the most fascinating stories behind the movie is the story revealed by what is and is not fiction. When we uncover how we fictionalize reality, we discover ourselves. And we also discover the methods used by the Lace Curtain to fictionalize reality. (Which is what distinguishes this analysis from the previous chapter’s look at man bashing in films.) So welcome aboard. 
Titanic Fiction: A woman saves a man at the repeated risk of her life. 
Titanic Fact: There is no record of a woman risking her life to save an adult man, no less repeatedly. 
Titanic Fiction: Men in charge decided to lock third-class (steerage) passengers below the decks. 
Titanic Fact: Public Record Office documents in London show that this never happened—in fact, a higher percentage of men from second-class died than from third class (92 percent vs. 88 percent), and 55 percent of the third-class women lived, which would not have been possible had they been locked below. 
Titanic Fiction: Being poor made one even more disposable than being a man.
Titanic Fact: Being a man and being poor both increased disposability, but being a man increased it significantly more than being poor. First-class men were 22 times more likely to die (66 percent vs. 3 percent) than first-class women. The richest men were significantly more likely to die than the poorest women.
Theoretically, there were three classes on the Titanic. Practically, though, men were more likely to die than the citizens of the first, second, or third class. In reality, the men were the invisible fourth-class citizens. Here is the breakdown by class and sex.
“Titanic and the Invisible Fourth Class”  Class: % of men dying and % of women dying. 
1st class: M: 66% W: 3%
2nd class: M: 92% W: 16% 
3rd class: M: 88% W: 45% 
Finally, the multiple scenes of men as cowards (“Men first! Leave the women and children behind") negates the reality, especially regarding First Officer William Murdoch, who was portrayed in the film as taking a bribe, shooting a third-class passenger, and then killing himself. In real life, “Murdoch behaved heroically, sacrificing his life after laboring frantically to save others." Twentieth Century Fox did apologize for their distortion, but all the scenes of his corruption and cowardice remain.
In brief, the mandate: of masculinity, to be more disposable than a third-class citizen, was diluted by three methods, all fiction: (1) Showing a woman also willing to die to save a man; (2) Turning a heroic man (William Murdoch) into a coward and killer, and (3) Sensationalizing class disposability (via the lockout scene and the portrayal of Murdoch killing a third-class passenger while accepting a bribe from a rich man). When disposability is falsely made a characteristic of both sexes and class disposability is played up, it leaves us downplaying the true disposability of masculinity - only 8 percent of the second-class men saving themselves while saving 84 percent of their wives and 100 percent of their children."

Reason:

An error occured.

by NewAger

18y ago

Chris Warne's interpretation, with similar ones where the persona is alive (a la Flick), is perhaps the most beautiful. In the context of the other lyrics, "You won't be unhappy" makes the most sense under this interpretation.

But try this: They are soul mates in an imperfect relationship -- are there perfect ones? The persona (say Kate), a seeker, has a most profound yearning for a union of souls. But they quarrel and misunderstand one another. In parlance, they push one another's buttons ("Is there so much hate for the ones we love?" -- thunder in their hearts: they argue). "It doesn't hurt me" because the soul mate's transgression is off the mark, irrelevant, because of a lack of understanding. Pushed the wrong button.

Naturally they are different personalities. The partner is more earth-bound. Not writing songs. Probably in business or a profession (running up the road, hill, building). Stealing the moment means just listen to me because this is so important (really important to me right now).

Now it becomes tricky. Is it out of bitterness, wanting to make a point, or self-sacrifice that "Kate" wants to make the deal with God? Does she know? Is the partner oblivious to the spiritual side and thus has "no problems?" That is, does it mean "Kate" sarcastically says she would have no problems if they switched? Or are they truly soul mates and Kate wishes the partner to flourish, no matter what?

Here are my answers: No, there is not that much hate for the ones we love. That is just the way we are talking right now. We wouldn't quarrel so much if we could walk away. You know my problems and I know yours. Thank you, and thank God, for your offering to take my place. Would you let me take yours? I would if that were possible. Then you could have the joy of running up the hill whenever and as often as you like.

Chris Warne's interpretation, with similar ones where the persona is alive (a la Flick), is perhaps the most beautiful. In the context of the other lyrics, "You won't be unhappy" makes the most sense under this interpretation.

But try this: They are soul mates in an imperfect relationship -- are there perfect ones? The persona (say Kate), a seeker, has a most profound yearning for a union of souls. But they quarrel and misunderstand one another. In parlance, they push one another's buttons ("Is there so much hate for the ones we love?" -- thunder in their hearts: they argue). "It doesn't hurt me" because the soul mate's transgression is off the mark, irrelevant, because of a lack of understanding. Pushed the wrong button.

Naturally they are different personalities. The partner is more earth-bound. Not writing songs. Probably in business or a profession (running up the road, hill, building). Stealing the moment means just listen to me because this is so important (really important to me right now).

Now it becomes tricky. Is it out of bitterness, wanting to make a point, or self-sacrifice that "Kate" wants to make the deal with God? Does she know? Is the partner oblivious to the spiritual side and thus has "no problems?" That is, does it mean "Kate" sarcastically says she would have no problems if they switched? Or are they truly soul mates and Kate wishes the partner to flourish, no matter what?

Here are my answers: No, there is not that much hate for the ones we love. That is just the way we are talking right now. We wouldn't quarrel so much if we could walk away. You know my problems and I know yours. Thank you, and thank God, for your offering to take my place. Would you let me take yours? I would if that were possible. Then you could have the joy of running up the hill whenever and as often as you like.

Reason:

An error occured.

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by AuriKing 13y ago

i like your thoughts for sure, but i think it is two people in love that have been starring at e.other for a long time but dont want to admit to one another that they love e.other, because of fear or because they have been hurt alot and arent totally sure its mutual... "It doesn't hurt me. You wanna feel how it feels? You wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me? You wanna hear about the deal I'm making? You (be running up that hill) You and me (be running up that hill)" esspecially the 'you and me (be...

i like your thoughts for sure, but i think it is two people in love that have been starring at e.other for a long time but dont want to admit to one another that they love e.other, because of fear or because they have been hurt alot and arent totally sure its mutual... "It doesn't hurt me. You wanna feel how it feels? You wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me? You wanna hear about the deal I'm making? You (be running up that hill) You and me (be running up that hill)" esspecially the 'you and me (be running up that hill)'

further bringing me to this idea is "And get him to swap our places... If I only could, oh..." so the other could see how much the she loves him and she how much he loves her, but more to that it is that its general, in the lyrics its not mentioned she loves him, he loves her, its com'n baby, you, you and me...

then there is the "You don't want to hurt me, But see how deep the bullet lies. Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder. There is thunder in our hearts, baby. So much hate for the ones we love? Tell me, we both matter, don't we?"

"you not wanting to hurt me, but see how deep the bullet lies." kinda says to me the other loves her but doesnt want her to hurt if she does love him back, so hes trying to spare her if it doesnt last and he stays unhappy

"Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder." says that she sorta wonders if he loves her but isnt ready or able to make the first move or move at all.

"There is thunder in our hearts, baby. So much hate for the ones we love? Tell me, we both matter, don't we?" is like saying we are amazing together we make thunder (and with thunder, lightening), but they hate it so much that they arent together and they both love e.other and tell me we both matter part is tell me you love me and i will tell you, that i love you, our love matters...

"'C'mon, baby, c'mon, c'mon, darling, Let me steal this moment from you now. C'mon, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling, Let's exchange the experience, oh...'"

her wanting him to tell her the truth... c'mon tell me... let me steal your love, lets exchange our love

"And if I only could, Make a deal with God, And get him to swap our places, Be running up that road, Be running up that hill, With no problems... 'If I only could, be running up that hill.'"

and if i only could tell you... make a deal with god, so you may see and i may see, and we both no longer have fear... be running up that road together, be running up that hill together, starting our life... with no problems, no fear, no more pain, only our love...

Reason:

An error occured.

by force263 6y ago

@NewAger no

by placebohearts

17y ago

i think that its about someone being really depressed, and suicidal

and the narrator wants to help by change places.

i think that "running up that hill" is kind of metaphoric, because generally running up a hill is difficult. and it could be in relation to the other persons feelings

basically he is saying that he wants to swap places, and deal with the persons problems for them, and that

You don't want to hurt me, (she's keeping something from him because she thinks it will hurt him) But see how deep the bullet lies. (but he knows that something is wrong) Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder.( he keeps asking her, and she doesnt want to say anything, because it hurts her too much.) There is thunder in our hearts, baby.(they both know that there's pain) So much hate for the ones we love?( he loves her, and wants to know what's wrong, but she wont say anything, and she hates him for bringing it up) Tell me, we both matter, don't we?(he want's to know what's wrong)

running up that hill (dealing with the issues) with no problems, (he would do it quickly and without pain)

it also makes me think that it could be about who was sexually abused, and when he 'loves her' he;s hurting her more, even though she says its okay.

that's what i think.

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by ikr1sse 14y ago

I love your depression-angeled interpretation. It makes so much sense in my current situation.

by ikr1sse 14y ago

And, to clarify the obvious, it's about:

and if I only could i'd be running up that hill (for you)

So the narrator knows it's impossible to do it for someone else, but wants it done with Gods help.

by exobscura 3y ago

@placebohearts Most perceptive

by ScarletFitch

13y ago

Kate Bush said this:

"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", that was its title. But we were told that if we kept this title that it would not 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."

Song Meaning

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by Flick

20y ago

its about the kates partner (maybe not specifically her) going through a hard time, but kate wishes she could change places with her partner and since she loves them so much she would get through that hard time 'running up that hill', not coz shes stronger but in a way, her love would give her the strength. Basically she wishes she could help them, but cant.

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by missme

19y ago

I think it's about being with someone who's confused and maybe hurting you but not intentionally, and she wants to swap places to show him what it's like being in her place - "It doesn't hurt me/Do you want to feel how it feels/Do you want to know that it doesn't hurt me?"

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by cp7819 15y ago

i think your meaning is closest for me,

by Diamonds411 15y ago

This song has meant different things to me at different times in my life. At this moment, your particular interpretation expresses my present situation/feeling perfectly.

by Squeeg

19y ago

I thought that maybe it was about someone who was dying, not yet dead but on their way out, telling their partner that they're not afraid and not to worry for them...Im probably wrong. Just the impression I got

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by dronia

17y ago

I was always under the impression that this song was about an abusive relationship. She loves him yet willing to withstand the pain to be with him, however, she wants it to end.

"It doesn't hurt me." - She is lying to herself "Do you want to feel how it feels?" - She is thinking about her lover. "Do you want to know that it doesn't hurt me?" - Lying to him now "Do you want to hear about the deal that I'm making?" - She is willing to put up with abuse for love. "You, it's you and me." - Her commitment

Then the chorus: "I'd make a deal with God, And I'd get him to swap our places," - She wants him in her shoes, hoping he will stop the abuse. "Be running up that road, Be running up that hill, With no problems. " - Life would be better then.

Always been my take on the song. Especially considering the context. Another song released that very same year is Til Tuesdays' "Voices Carry" (very obviously about abuse.)

Relational abuse was a hot topic at this time and many artists (especially women) were voicing against it.

Any thoughts?

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by TheOneAndOnlyRosemarysBaby 14y ago

You are absolutely spot on. The song is about domestic violence. Kate has said so.

by askance 7y ago

@dronia Kate revealed that the song was about switching perspectives to gain a better understanding of partners in a relationship at genius.com/Kate-bush-running-up-that-hill-a-deal-with-god-lyrics .