About Song
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” is the first single from Kate Bush’s 1985 LP Hounds of Love. The song’s original title, “A Deal With God”, was changed at the insistence of EMI’s marketing department to be more palatable to religious countries.
The single was released on August 5th, 1985, a month before the album’s release. The song originally peaked at No. 3 on the UK charts, No. 6 on Australian charts and No. 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the US, it remains Bush’s first and only major charting success.
37 years later, a resurge of popularity finally shot the song to No. 1 on US iTunes charts in May 2022 after it was featured in sci-fi horror series Stranger Things. The feature also helped it reach No. 1 on the UK charts, giving Bush her first No. 1 since “Wuthering Heights” in 1978. It also broke 3 chart records: the longest-ever gap between No. 1 singles, the longest time for a single to reach No. 1, and the oldest female artist ever to score a No. 1.
Bush made note of the song’s revival on a post to her website where she wrote:
You might’ve heard that the first part of the fantastic, gripping new series of Stranger Things has recently been released on Netflix. It features the song, “Running Up That Hill,” which is being given a whole new lease of life by the young fans who love the show – I love it too! Because of this, “Running Up That Hill” is charting around the world and has entered the UK chart at No. 8. It’s all really exciting! Thanks very much to everyone who has supported the song. I wait with bated breath for the rest of the series in July. Best wishes, Kate.
Running Up That Hill 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)
