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"
[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 I'm making?
[Pre-Chorus]
You (Be running up that hill)
You and me (Be running up that hill)
[Chorus 1]
And if I only could
Make a deal with God
And get Him to swap our
Places, be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
Be runnin' up that buildin'
If I only could, oh-oh
[Verse 2]
You don't want to hurt me
But see how deep the bullet lies
Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder
There's a thunder in our hearts, baby
So much hate for the ones we love
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
You (Be running up that hill)
You and me (Be running up that hill)
You and me won't be unhappy
[Chorus 1]
If I only could
Make a deal with God
And get Him to swap our
Places, be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
Be runnin' up that buildin'
If I only could, oh-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-oh
[Chorus 2]
And if I only could
Make a deal with God
And get Him to swap our
Places
Be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
With no problem
And if I only could
Make a deal with God
And get Him to swap our
Places
Be runnin' up that road
Be runnin' up that hill
With no problem
(If I only could
Be running up that hill
If I only could
Be running up that hill
If I only could
Be running up that hill
If I only could
Be running up that hill
If I only could
Be running up that hill
If I only could
Be running up that hill
If I only could
Be running up that hill)
About
Placebo covers “Running up that Hill” by Kate Bush in a far more downbeat track. The tone and rough, low-fi delivery of the song make even the positive lyrics come off as ironic and despairing.
Bush originally explained this song as a rather facile wish to “reverse the gender experience” between her and her lover. The lyrics tend to belie this explanation somewhat, as the speaker is clearly experiencing serious damage, comparable to a bullet wound. Placebo also removes several words in their delivery, giving the song an even darker and more unresolved tone.
Placebo released the song as a digital single in 2007, 4 years after the release of the Covers album, to coincide with it appearing on a slew of shows in the US, including Bones, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and The OC. No video was released with the single.
The band were interviewed about the track by Kate Bush’s fan site:
We met and she does like it and we’re relieved by that fact because we’re big fans.
It’s also claimed Brian approached Kate at a party and made sure she was OK with their cover.
In 2013 Brian said:
I grew up listening to that song, and I always thought it was an amazing song, but I thought the tempo was too fast. It didn’t give enough space for the real emotion to shine through. When we decided to cover it, I really, really wanted to slow it down so that [there was enough space to express] what was really going on — the fear and the abandon.
The song has been used in numerous productions.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Pure Morning
- 2.Jesus’ Son
- 3.Come Home
- 13.Soulmates
- 14.Meds
- 15.Bright Lights
- 17.Infra-Red
- 18.Running Up That Hill
- 19.B3
- 21.Teenage Angst
- 23.Ashtray Heart
- 24.Broken Promise
- 26.Bruise Pristine
- 27.This Picture
- 28.Protège Moi
- 30.Black-Eyed
- 31.Lazarus
- 34.Special Needs
- 35.Special K
- 36.Loud Like Love