I am a big fan of Kate Bush and have been since the late 70s. I bought a copy of her debut single, “Wuthering Heights,” and I confess to having had a poster of her on my wall. Also, I bought several of her albums, including Hounds of Love, which features the song “Running Up That Hill.”
Many of you are likely to be much newer and younger fans. So, you may not know too much about this great piece of music. Hopefully, once you have found out my take on the meaning behind Kate Bush’s 1985 classic “Running Up That Hill” it will be more apparent.
I also hope you will have a better idea of the background and the making of the song. So, let’s get to it and take a closer look at the meaning of the song “Running Up That Hill.”
Chart Success
“Running Up That Hill” was initially released in 1985 as the first single of her fourth album, Hounds of Love. It charted at #3 in the UK, which made it her second-highest placing after her debut single, “Wuthering Heights,” which was released in 1978.
Additionally, in the US, it got to #30, which was her best-ever position for any of her singles. Plus, it went double-platinum in the UK and became her best-selling single. If we fast forward to 2022, things changed markedly as “Running Up That Hill” was featured on the hit US TV series “Stranger Things.” Subsequently, the single was re-released and became an even bigger hit.
However, I will talk about that a little later…
As far as the album, Hounds of Love, is concerned, that became her most commercially successful studio album. It amassed the most sales and went to #1 in the UK and The Netherlands. It also gained her best chart position in the US at #12. The album also won several platinum and gold discs.
Recording and Video
Kate Bush has every right to be proud of the song as she was not only the sole writer but also the sole producer. She wrote the song at home, and the first recording was a simple process using a simple synthesizer and drum machine. The cello-like sound on the recording comes from a Fairlight CMI synthesizer used during the initial process.
She studied dance for several years in London before recording music. Consequently, she frequently used dance as a further expression of her music. The video and recording of “Running Up That Hill” was no exception.
Kate was very particular about choreography…
And she made sure that the stories attached to her music were told through her ideas of contemporary dance. At times, she was scathing about the use of dance in many music videos. She stated that they too often held no significance to the story or the music. Describing many videos as merely using haphazard dance moves and being overly busy with no perceptible expression or form.
The video that accompanies “Running Up That Hill” is very much the opposite of this. It features just a man and a woman, which fits the narrative of the song perfectly. It was a thought-provoking and expressive video that was frankly a piece of art. Hardly surprisingly, MTV didn’t like it. So, they opted to use a poor promotional video from a cheesy UK TV show instead.
That speaks volumes for MTV, which apparently used to play videos at one time.
The Meaning Behind Kate Bush’s 1985 Classic “Running Up That Hill” – Lyrical Context
Now, it is time to delve a little deeper into the meaning of “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush. Firstly, the main theme of the song lies in the power dynamics between a man and a woman in the relationship. It is this interplay of communication and emotions that are so beautifully interpreted in the music video.
Despite their love for each other, there is a misunderstanding as they are unable to fully understand one another. Consequently, it appears that they frequently squabble. This is referenced when she says that she feels he wants to hurt her and that there is thunder in their hearts.
She thinks that this is not down to the lack of trust or trying. But, it is because of the fundamental differences between being a man and a woman. Therefore, neither one can truly empathize with the other. For many people, that lies at the heart of the meaning of the lyrics in “Running Up That Hill.”
A Deal with God…
This is a reference to the singer’s desire to be able to walk a mile in her lover’s shoes and vice versa. If they could do so, she is convinced that they could sort out all their problems and would view each other differently.
If they switch places, as suggested in the song, it is far from clear if it would reap the rewards that she so dearly would love. She acknowledges this when writing about making a deal with God to make it happen.
Interestingly, when she wrote the song, she was initially going to write about making a deal with the Devil. However, she thought better of it and changed the words to the now well-known reference to a deal with God.
Another interesting fact…
When Bush released the song, the original title was “A Deal With God.” However, there was an outcry from The Church, and she was forced to change the title to “Running Up That Hill” to stop the single from being banned.
Kate Bush was far from happy with this. And she is on record saying that, in her mind, the song will always be known by its original title, “Deal With God.” Despite her feelings, and having worked on the track for years, pragmatism ruled the day, and she changed the title.
It should also be noted that it frequently appears as “Running Up The Hill (A Deal With God)” in many places. Hopefully, that will keep her happy and stop her from screaming.
Battle of the Sexes
How far we have come in the last forty years in better understanding each other’s perspectives is open for debate. Frankly, it seems we are as far apart as ever in truly comprehending what the other sex is thinking and feeling.
The difficulty of all of this is nicely summed up in the title. Running up a hill tells us all we need to know about the enormity of the task. It’s doubtful that we can ever fully understand each other. Consequently, I think we ultimately will have to rely on that deal with God. Or, the Devil. Maybe we will just have to wait and see who comes up with the best deal first.
Stranger Things
This was a strange phenomenon and nothing that anyone could have ever predicted. In reality, it seemed like “Running Up That Hill” had already faded into obscurity and gone the way of the Dodos. However, then came Season 4, and episodes 1 and 4, of the hit Netflix show, “Stranger Things.”
The first episode included a remix of the song as the character Max Mayfield was walking along and listening to music on her Walkman. Then, it featured and played as one of the characters ran for his life from Vecna. The song also featured as a recurring piece of music on the soundtrack.
The reaction was incredible…
And the subsequent release in 2022 saw the song go to #1 in the UK and several other countries around the world. It went to #3 in the US and got millions of streams. Streaming figures elsewhere were also mind-boggling. For instance, in Sweden alone, there were over eight million streams for the song in 2022. The song won a total of seven platinum, three gold, and one silver disc.
The series helped to bring a classic song to a whole new audience. Consequently, it brought renewed interest to all of her music from the last forty years. It is a great story and no less remarkable because typically Kate Bush never usually allows her music to be used under license.
Fortunately for her and her new audience, she is a fan of the show and wanted to work together with them. Thank goodness for that. Now more people than ever can ponder what “Running Up That Hill” means.
Want More Amazing Music from Amazing Female Artists?
Well, have a look at our detailed features on the Most Famous Female Singers Of The 1990s, the Best Female Singers, the Most Famous British Female Singers, the Most Famous Female Country Singers Of All Time, and the Most Famous Mexican Female Singers for more incredible song selections.
The Meaning Behind Kate Bush’s 1985 Classic “Running Up That Hill” – Final Thoughts
Kate Bush is an extraordinary and unique talent who has made a significant contribution to the music industry. She has sold over seven million albums, chalked up tens of millions of streams, and received several platinum, gold, and silver discs. In her long career, she has released over sixty records. But none is as important or successful as “Running Up That Hill.”
The song is a wonderful showcase for her musical talents as a writer and performer. My brief analysis of the meaning of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” will have hopefully given you a better insight into the song. Plus, it will also, hopefully, give you a better appreciation for Kate Bush as an artist.
Until next time, happy listening.
