Lyrics for Running Up That Hill as interpreted by Novartza

Running Up That Hill Lyrics
If I only could, I'd be running up that hill.
If I only could, I'd be running up that hill.

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.
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 hate 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.

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.

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.

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."

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  • 67 Comments
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sparklegirl895
06-22-2004

Rated 0 
its about paranoia in a relationship and wanting to switch places with your partner to try and reassure yourself

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Flick
10-10-2004

Rated 0 
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.

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Eatcarpet
03-17-2005

Rated 0 
Woahhhh this song is strange and it makes me cry.

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Kez
04-13-2005

Rated 0 
I love the lines:

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

I know exactly what she means there... Like i completely get it

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Arm
05-01-2005

Rated 0 
The lyrics are self-explanatory. Making a deal with God to swap places.

I like the Within Temptation cover of this song way better. Sharon Den Adel has a better singing voice and the music is alot more involved. It doesnt plod.

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ieatwinkies
05-11-2005

Rated 0 
Hm. I absolutely adore Kate Bush- I've been a fan since I was like, eight, but I actually prefer the Placebo version, which surprises me as I'm not really keen on the lead's style of singing.
This song... yes, I agree with what everyone's said here, it's about wanting to trade places with someone who's having difficulties with the relationship, taking on both the pain and the love that the other is feeling.

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2 Replies
BeautyFiend
07-29-2005

Rated 0 
i love kate bush...but i really like within temptations version too..theyre both fabulous

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chriswarne
09-28-2005

Rated +1 
Hmm, I'm gonna disagree with all of you.

I think Kate is dead in this song, and she's assuring her widowed partner that she is OK, and that it's actually a far better place after life. She can see him suffering because of her death and she hates seeing him like that, she wants to be the one suffering with him being free in heaven.

Just my thoughts.

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Hand of Maedhros
10-20-2005

Rated 0 
Chris that is certainly an imaginitive interpretation. I agree.

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missme
12-10-2005

Rated +1 
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?"

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1 Reply
Reynard Muldrake
12-15-2005

Rated 0 
Well, my first impression was that it is about wanting to change places
with God, but the "running up that hill", etc, lines are enigmatic. Then I started to wonder if it was about wanting to switch places with a lover while in bed. Hmm.

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Squeeg
03-27-2006

Rated +1 
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

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zodin
04-16-2006

Rated 0 
i prefer the placebo version...

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Lugosi_
06-04-2006

Rated 0 
I always thought this song was about female orgasm. Before you snigger, let me explain.

These lines "It doesn't hurt me.
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you want to know that it doesn't hurt me?" suggest to me that her partner is scared of hurting her, that she doesn't want sexual pleasure, that it's painful for her, and she's trying to assure him it's not painful and she wants it.

Then the lines "And if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places," tell me she is basically saying she'd like to swap places with her partner so he know how it is for her so he doesn't have to worry about hurting her or making her uncomfortable.

And the lines "C'mon, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let's exchange the experience, oh..." prtty much explain themselves.

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mateusz14
06-06-2006

Rated 0 
it was originally going to be called "A Deal With God" but they decided that might be too contravercial

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rikku
06-18-2006

Rated 0 
if it was going to be called Deal With God several countries refused to play it, including Australia (i'll never know why, bcos, take it from me, we aren't very religious here.) kate had to change the name which, i think, is a pity

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paper_hearts13
08-18-2006

Rated 0 
I always thought this song was about a relationship that was a little bit taboo, and/or one a lot of people didn't aprove of. To me, it seemed like the song was directed at God, saying he would swap places with Kate and her partner. When she's saying "it doesn't hurt me..." its directed at the people who are condemning the relationship. She is basically saying "its not as bad as you think". The second verse, I thought, was directed to the people condemning as well. To me it seemed like she was saying "I know you're not trying to hurt me personally when you insult our relationship but it is anyway". The third verse is directed at her partner- shes basically saying "even though the ones we love condemn us, us, our relationship still matters and we should be happy for us even if they can't be".

I thought the female orgasm interpretation made some sense for the most part, but why would Placebo, an all male band, cover it?

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discmannnnn
08-25-2006

Rated 0 
WOW! You guys are pretty imaginative. I like it. The female orgasm is way out there, but does make sense. Anyone know where i can find 'Within Temptation' version? Its not on itunes....

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TheRealTashMaybe
12-31-2006

Rated 0 
i prefer the placebo version too...it's just kind of harsher, if that makes sense?

and everyone here seems to think this song's positive! my first thought on hearing it was that it was about a person comparing his/her life to someone else's, and deciding it sucked. therefore, he/she wants god to swap their places, so he can do everything he wants to do [run up that hill, etc], and he'd be "stealing this moment" from whoever it was.
the person doesn't want to upset him by disagreeing [about how bad his life is], and he doesn't realise just how much he's upsetting the person by talking about his own problems [perhaps cause they have problems of their own?].
'is there so much hate' etc, is about him realising that he half hates even his closest friends, maybe blames them for stuff that's happened, and he's justifying his outcry to maybe swap lives with this person, by telling the person that they 'both matter, don't we?'

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R4CH3L
01-04-2007

Rated 0 
the most beautiful kate bush song ever!!! her voice is so striking, her voice is what makes you feel.. the simplicity of the lyrics is part of what makes it so beautiful.

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R4CH3L
01-05-2007

Rated 0 
you should listen to the live version she did , with dave gilmour

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NewAger
01-11-2007

Rated +1 
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.

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---twigs---
02-27-2007

Rated 0 
I first heard this song on the O.C (the Placebo version) and i loved it! I do like the Placebo version better but i'm really into their music. Anyhu, i think this song is about a relationship where the girl, let's say kate, is in a destructive relationship and she's denying how much it hurts her, even tho she knows she needs out. People are condemning her relationship and she wants to swap places so they'll understand the love she feels and why she can't leave. "Running up that hill, road, building etc." indicates to me a time in the future where things would be better, or would be getting better. At the moment she's standing still and "running up that hill" would be when she was moving onwards and upwards with the relationship, and problems, behind her.
Wow, that actually ended up making sense.

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xdvr
04-16-2007

Rated 0 
Within Temptation's version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22FbP8F3bwk

Fair game that they changed it to suit their style, but it's... too operatically stupid hysteronic for my liking like all their songs. The guitar tone is awful Zoom FX digital cack metal.

Not sure I'd say she has a better voice, just a different one.

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When
05-15-2007

Rated 0 
both the placebo and Within Temptation are not as good as the way kate brought it. Her voice, her strange but free movements and appearance. you cannot match kates voice with Sharon Den Adel.. Kate had a different way of singing (wuthering heights in special) Sharon Den Adel makes this song "normal" while kate made it special

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