‘Running Up That Hill’, titled "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" on some releases, is a song by the British singer and songwriter Kate Bush. It was Kate Bush’s 13th UK single and was released in the United Kingdom as the lead single from Bush's album Hounds of Love on 5 August 1985. Upon its original release, ‘Running Up That Hill’ reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and was Bush's first US Top 40 hit. Bush first performed it live in 1987 at the Secret Policeman's Third Ball, accompanied by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour; she did not perform it again until her 2014 Before the Dawn concerts. Other appearances were promotional lip-synced television performances, which were common at the time.
Kate Bush wrote it in a single evening at her home. Bush said the lyrics address the inability of men and women to understand each other. She imagined that by making "a deal with God", they could exchange places and reach a greater understanding. The song was originally titled "A Deal with God", but representatives at EMI Records feared this would make it unpopular in more religious countries.
Bush wrote and produced ‘Running Up That Hill’ using a Fairlight CMI synthesiser and a LinnDrum drum machine.
In 2012, a remix of ‘Running Up That Hill’ featuring newly recorded vocals, premiered during that year's Summer Olympics closing ceremony, and entered the UK top 10 for one week, at number six. The song is Kate’s biggest hit single in America. It is her only top 30 single, peaking at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2022, ‘Running Up That Hill’ received renewed attention when it was featured in the fourth season of the Netflix series Stranger Things. Its appearance led to the song's resurgence on charts around the world, topping the charts in eight countries, including the United Kingdom for three consecutive weeks, Ireland for seven consecutive weeks and Australia for nine non-consecutive weeks. The song also reached a new peak of number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
Label – EMISongwriter – Kate Bush
Producer – Kate Bush
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]It doesn't hurt me (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Do you wanna feel how it feels? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Do you wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Do you wanna hear about the deal that I'm makin'? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
[Pre-Chorus]
You
It's you and me
[Chorus]
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
Be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
Be runnin' up that buildin'
Say, if I only could, oh
[Verse 2]
You don't wanna hurt me (Yeah, yeah, yo)
But see how deep the bullet lies (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Unaware, I'm tearin' you asunder (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Oh, there is thunder in our hearts (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Is there so much hate for the ones we love? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
Oh, tell me, we both matter, don't we? (Yeah, yeah, yo)
[Pre-Chorus]
You
It's you and me
It's you and me, won't be unhappy
[Chorus]
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
Be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
Be runnin' up that buildin' (Yo)
Say, if I only could, oh
[Post-Chorus]
You (Yeah, yeah, yo)
It's you and me
It's you and me, won't be unhappy (Yeah, yeah, yo)
[Bridge]
Oh, come on, baby (Yeah)
Oh, come on, darlin' (Yo)
Let me steal this moment from you now
Oh, come on, angel
Come on, come on, darlin'
Let's exchange the experience (Yo, ooh, ooh)
[Chorus]
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
I'd be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' 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 runnin' up that road
Be runnin' 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 runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
With no problems
[Outro]
Say, if I only could
I'd be runnin' up that hill
With no problems
(If I only could, be runnin' up that hill)
(If I only could, be runnin' up that hill)