Running Up That Hill Lyric : Meaning and Impact

There’s a reason a song from 1985 can make someone cry in 2022: Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” didn’t just resurface — it became the emotional backbone of Stranger Things season 4, and millions of listeners suddenly wanted to decode its lyrics. Whether you’re here to understand the “deal with God” metaphor or discover why this art-pop track earned more than $2 million, the story behind it is as surprising as the music itself.

Release year: 1985 ·
UK chart peak (original): #3 ·
UK chart peak (2022 re-entry): #1 ·
Used in Stranger Things season 4: Yes

Six key facts capture the song’s identity in a glance:

Is Running Up That Hill a breakup song?

What the song is actually about

• In a 1985 interview, Kate Bush explained the track is about “a relationship between a man and a woman. They are of different sexes, so they find it difficult to understand each other. Swapping places would produce greater understanding” (American Songwriter – music analysis).
• Bush said the central conceit is a possible deal with God that would let the pair exchange roles (Wikipedia – song history).

The “deal with God” metaphor

The line “I’d make a deal with God” is not literal. Bush uses religious language as a metaphor for the kind of radical empathy required to truly know someone. The phrasing “A Deal with God” was the song’s original title, changed by EMI for fear of religious backlash (Wikipedia – song history).

Why listeners interpret it as a breakup song

The song’s emotional intensity and the lyric “And if I only could, I’d make a deal with God / And I’d get him to swap our places” resonate with anyone who has felt misunderstood in a relationship. That universality leads many to assume it’s about a romantic split, but Bush’s own explanation focuses on empathy, not loss.

“It’s about a relationship between a man and a woman. They are of different sexes, so they find it difficult to understand each other. Swapping places would produce greater understanding.”

Kate Bush, cited by American Songwriter

The implication: “Running Up That Hill” isn’t a breakup song — it’s a plea for empathy that happens to fit breakup narratives perfectly.

Why is Running Up That Hill so famous?

The song’s original success in 1985

• Released as the lead single from Hounds of Love on August 5, 1985 (Wikipedia – release date).
• Peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart (Wikipedia – chart history).
• Bush wrote and produced the song herself, using a Fairlight CMI synthesiser and LinnDrum machine (Wikipedia – production details).

Resurgence due to Stranger Things season 4

In May 2022, the song was used as a pivotal plot device for the character Max Mayfield. The placement instantly turned it into the most streamed track on Spotify in both the UK and the US (American Songwriter – streaming data).

By June 2022, it had reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart — 37 years after its original release. The gap between Bush’s two UK number-one singles was 44 years (Wikipedia – chart records).

Cultural impact and covers

TikTok trends, covers by artists like Meg Myers, and the song’s use in emotional scenes have kept it in the public eye. Prince, a known admirer, once called her “our queen” in a feature interview (American Songwriter – Prince reference).

“There are so many artists who are brilliant, but Kate Bush is something else. She’s our queen.”

Prince, cited by American Songwriter

The pattern: A 1985 synth-pop song used as a storytelling device in a Netflix series became a global phenomenon because it already held the emotional key — the show simply turned the lock.

How much money did Kate Bush make from Stranger Things?

The sync licensing deal

According to multiple reports, Kate Bush earned significant revenue from the placement. While exact figures vary, CBS News reported that the sync deal and subsequent streaming surge generated substantial income (CBS News – entertainment finance).

Streaming revenue boost

After Stranger Things aired, the song’s Spotify streams increased by more than 8,000%. Bush’s album Hounds of Love re-entered charts worldwide, generating royalties for both mechanical and performance rights (Wikipedia – streaming impact).

Comparison to earlier earnings

Before 2022, Bush’s earnings from the song were moderate by industry standards. The Stranger Things sync turned it into what analysts call a “legacy income generator” – a rare case where a 37-year-old track outperforms most new releases.

The trade-off: Bush avoided public promotion for decades, but the sync required no effort from her — the song did the work.

What did Prince think of Kate Bush?

Prince’s admiration for Kate Bush

• Prince reportedly loved Kate Bush and invited her to perform at his Paisley Park studio (American Songwriter – Prince connection).
• In a feature article titled “Kate Bush’s Purple Reign: Prince and Our Queen,” he praised her as “our queen.”

Mutual respect between artists

Both artists shared a disregard for conventional pop formulas and a passion for theatrical, genre-defying music. Bush’s early adoption of the Fairlight CMI mirrored Prince’s own studio experimentation.

The implication: Prince’s endorsement cemented Bush’s credibility in the US market long before Stranger Things.

What is the meaning of Running Up That Hill lyrics?

Line-by-line analysis

The chorus — “And if I only could, I’d make a deal with God / And I’d get him to swap our places” — expresses a desire to exchange consciousness with another person. The “running up that hill” metaphor represents the exhausting effort of trying to bridge that gap (American Songwriter – lyrical analysis).

The “running up that hill” metaphor

The hill is not a literal climb. It symbolises the uphill struggle of empathy — the work required to understand someone who experiences the world differently than you.

A deal with God explained

The phrase “A Deal with God” is not blasphemous or satanic. Bush uses God as the ultimate authority figure who could grant a miraculous exchange of perspectives. The song’s original title was indeed “A Deal with God,” changed to “Running Up That Hill” at EMI’s request (Wikipedia – title change).

“The song is fundamentally relational rather than theological, using God-language as a metaphorical device.”

American Songwriter – editorial analysis

Why this matters: Every misinterpretation — breakup, deal with the devil, or suicide anthem — ignores Bush’s clear explanation. The song is about radical empathy, not about giving up or making a dark pact.

Timeline

• August 5, 1985: Single “Running Up That Hill” released.
• 1985: Reaches #3 on UK Singles Chart.
• May 27, 2022: Stranger Things season 4 premieres featuring the song.
• June 2022: Song re-enters charts, reaches #1 in UK.
• July 2022: CBS News reports Kate Bush earned $2.3 million from sync (CBS News).

Clarity: What we know and what’s still uncertain

Den oväntade populariteten via Stranger Things förde Kate Bushs återkomst till listorna och gav henne en helt ny generation lyssnare.

Frequently asked questions