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Running Up That Hill Lyrics

It doesn't hurt me
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you want to 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 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 heat 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

C'mon, baby, 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

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
With no problems

So 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

So 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

So if I only could
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)
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Sony/atv Music Publishing Llc
Writer
Kate Bush
Duration
4:51
Producer
Kate Bush
Release date
Aug 05, 1985
Sentiment
Positive
Submitted by
novartza On Jun 03, 2001
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124 Meanings

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Cover art for Running Up That Hill lyrics by Kate Bush

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.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_Up_that_Hill

@habalulu Deal with God is a WAY better title.

@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.

Cover art for Running Up That Hill lyrics by Kate Bush

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

@dougspray1 ???? ⚧

@dougspray1 ???? ⚧

Cover art for Running Up That Hill lyrics by Kate Bush

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

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.

@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...

Cover art for Running Up That Hill lyrics by Kate Bush

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.

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...

Not Valid
Cover art for Running Up That Hill lyrics by Kate Bush

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.

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

Not Valid

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.

Not Valid

@placebohearts Most perceptive

Cover art for Running Up That Hill lyrics by Kate Bush

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
Cover art for Running Up That Hill lyrics by Kate Bush

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.

Cover art for Running Up That Hill lyrics by Kate Bush

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?"

i think your meaning is closest for me,

Not Valid

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.

Not Valid
Cover art for Running Up That Hill lyrics by Kate Bush

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

Cover art for Running Up That Hill lyrics by Kate Bush

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?

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

Not Valid

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