A little about the main idea of the song Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” by singer Kate Bush. The history of creation and the meaning of the hit. After releasing the record The Dreaming (1982), Kate Bush disappeared from the field of view of the general public for almost three years. Working on the album so exhausted her that she was forced to take a break and radically change the situation. The singer left London for the provinces, where she enjoyed the quiet and measured life of the British hinterland. Having regained her strength, Bush returned to creative activity.
The first composition written during this period was Running Up That Hill, which she described as “an expression of freedom from everything that I felt before.”
The history of creation and the meaning of the song Running Up That Hill
Kate gave dozens of interviews in which she talked about the circumstances under which and what Running Up That Hill was written about. The following author’s comments will help to understand the main idea of the composition:
This song is, in many ways, about two lovers and how they can barely handle the power of love. She makes them feel insecure and afraid of losing each other. She may also be talking about some fundamental differences between men and women.
KBC 18
Now this is already a hackneyed phrase, because it is voiced in so many songs, but the song is still about the power of love and the strength that arises between two people when they are very much in love. But this power can also be threatening, violent, dangerous, and not just soft, soothing, gentle. And here it says that if these two people could change places, if a man could become a woman and a woman a man, then perhaps they would understand each other’s feelings more accurately, comprehending them from the point of view of that sex. And that perhaps there are subtle differences between the representatives of different sexes, which can cause problems in relationships, especially when people really care about each other.
home ground
Some man and woman love each other so much that the power of their love becomes the source of their problems. In short, if they could make a pact with God to reverse the roles – the man becomes a woman and the woman becomes a man – they would understand each other better and put horses on the differences between them.
Guitares and Claviers
It seemed to some listeners that Kate imagines herself in the place of God, but the singer categorically denied this opinion:
Tell them I would never even dare to imagine such an exchange.
Guitares and Claviers
She also denied that the phrase “running up the hill” means wanting to be in Heaven right now:
This is an interesting interpretation. In fact, she [песня]rather, about love, about trying to keep the fire in it.
Blitz
Release and Achievements Running Up That Hill
Initially, Kate was going to call the song A Deal with God (“Deal with God”). But producers from EMI convinced her to refuse this option, because the mention of God would certainly make it difficult for the song to be promoted in states with strong religious traditions. However, the track was included in the album Hounds of Love under a double name.
The record company’s management also recommended Cloudbusting as the first single from the new record, but Bush insisted on Running Up That Hill.
The single was released in August 1985. He achieved the greatest success in the official British chart, where the song climbed to the third line. On the Billboard Hot 100, she limited herself to number 30.
Clip Running Up That Hill
A spectacular video clip was shot for the composition, in which Kate dances with Michel Hervo. Interestingly, the MTV channel rejected this video, and they had to make a new video for it, based on the recording of Bush’s concert performance.
Many artists have released their own versions of the song. Of particular note are the covers of Within Temptation and Placebo.
Interesting Facts
- In 2012, Bush released a new version of the song, which was performed at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics. The singer herself did not appear on the show.
- Placebo’s version of the song is featured on many television series, including CSI, The Vampire Diaries, and Bones.
Running Up That Hill Lyrics
It doesn’t hurt me
Do you wanna feel how it feels?
Do you wanna know, know that it doesn’t hurt me?
Do you wanna hear about the deal that I’m making?
You
It’s you and me
chorus:
And if I could only
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 could only, oh
You don’t wanna 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?
Well tell me, we both matter, don’t we?
You
It’s you and me
It’s you and me won’t be unhappy
Oh 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 could only
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
Song quote
Let’s hope that enough people listen to music and understand that it is [песня] by no means religious.
Kate Bush, Pulse
