Running Up That Hill

"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.

[Verse 1] It doesn't hurt me You want to feel how it feels You want to know, know that it doesn't hurt me You want to hear about the deal that I'm making [Pre-Chorus] You You and me [Chorus] And if I only could I'd make a deal with God I'd get him to swap our places Be running up that road Be running up that hill Be running up that building If I only could, oh... [Verse 2] 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, baby Is there so much hate for the ones we love? Tell me, we both matter, don't we? [Pre-Chorus] You You and me, won't be unhappy [Chorus] And if I only could I'd make a deal with God I'd get him to swap our places Be running up that road Be running up that hill Be running up that building If I only could, oh... [Bridge] Come on, baby Come on, come on, darling Let me steal this moment from you now Come on, angel Come on, come on, darling Let's exchange the experience, oh [Chorus] And if I only could Make a deal with God I'd get him to swap our places I'd be running up that road Be running up that hill Be running up that building If I only could, oh If i only could, oh