"Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" by Kate Bush // Song Review

-

Released as the lead single from her fifth album Hounds of Love in 1985, Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" stands as one of the most defining art‑pop songs of all time. Its stunning melody, hypnotic production, and sensual, synth‑driven atmosphere created a sound that was so ahead of its time then and continues to feel remarkably fresh decades later. Her distinct sound left an indelible mark on the music industry, opening doors for countless female artists who followed and helped shape the experimental landscape of modern pop. It has been featured across numerous greatest songs of all time lists, including NME and Rolling Stone, and has only continued to have immense cultural impact as new generations reinterpret its meaning.

At its core, the song carries a distinct sense of yearning as she captures the desire to be understood and to understand another just as deeply. "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," she sings in the iconic chorus. The religious imagery is stunning as she fully captures the ache of wanting to be truly seen by a partner, especially in moments of conflict or misunderstanding.

The song reflects the uphill battle she and her partner face as well as the effort it takes to persevere through those hard moments. As the opening track of Hounds of Love, it sets the tone for many of the themes she explores throughout the album. It is passionate and deeply layered, which is why it can be interpreted in so many different ways depending on the listener and the context in which they hear it.

In a 1992 interview with Radio 1, Kate explained the meaning behind the song and the thought process that shaped it. "I was trying to say that, really, a man and a woman, can't understand each other because we are a man and a woman," she said. "And if we could swap our roles, be in each other's place for a while, I think we'd be very surprised! It would lead to greater understanding. I thought the only way it could be done was, you know, a deal with the devil. And then I thought: well no, why not a deal with God? Because that's so much more powerful..."

Nearly forty years after its original release, "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" found a second life with an entirely new generation of listeners. In 2022, the song experienced a massive resurgence following its inclusion in a pivotal sequence in Stranger Things Season 4 and again in Season 5 in 2025. It became the emotional centerpiece of both seasons, particularly in what was arguably the greatest scene of the entire series. It was a major focal point in the character arc of Max, portrayed by actress Sadie Sink, whose performance throughout the series matched the song's climactic feeling and life-or-death stakes so perfectly. Actress Winona Ryder, who portrays Joyce Byers in the show, pushed for the song to be included in the series, having been a fan of Kate's since childhood. Although she rarely licenses her songs, Kate turned out to be a fan of the show already and gave permission to feature it. 

Following its inclusion in the show, the song reached number one in eight countries, including the UK, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100, a remarkable achievement decades after its debut. In 2023, it also reached a billion streams on Spotify.

Music has always been a cornerstone of Stranger Things, but its use of "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" stands out as the most iconic of them all. Not only that, but it also opened up an entire new generation up to the magic of Kate Bush's music and Hounds of Love. 

Check out more from my song of the week series here. ☆ Thanks for reading!



Photo Credit: EMI Records, Kate Bush


Related Posts:

Stranger Things: The WSQK Collection // Target Exclusive Vinyl





Pure Heroine by Lorde // 10 Year Anniversary Album Review

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

"Pool" by Samia // Song Review

-
Image
"Pool", the opening track of Samia 's 2020 debut album The Baby , is a haunting and introspective introduction that sets the emotional tone for the rest of the project. It's a slow burn that focuses on fleeting intimacy in such a vulnerable way. While the rest of The Baby is more varied stylistically, "Pool" beautifully represents so many of the themes that recur throughout the rest of the album. The Baby feels thoughtfully bookended by "Pool" and the closing track, "Is There Something in the Movies?" as well. "Pool" opens with her grandmother, also named Samia, singing a song she used to sing to her as a child, which is such a deeply personal and grounding way to begin the album.  In a track-by-track breakdown of The Baby , Samia told  Flood Magazine  that "Pool" is about "hiding away with someone in a stranger's house in Texas for a few days, spending most of it staring at the moon from the pool, knowing fu...
Read more

"Wait a Minute!" by Willow // Song Review

-
Image
"Wait A Minute!" by Willow is such a captivating and introspective song, one that continues to stand out as a highlight from her early work. This song effortlessly blends experimental neo-funk sounds with emotional complexity. Wanting to stop and reflect for a moment amidst a chaotic situation, "Wait A Minute!" gives honest insight into her thoughts on growing up, falling in love and exploring her spirituality. The ethereal and atmospheric production, paired with her engaging vocal delivery really makes this song so memorable. "Hold on, wait a minute, feel my heart's intention, oh," she sings in the chorus, "Hold on, wait a minute, I left my consciousness in the sixth dimension, left my soul in his vision, let's go get it, oh, oh".  This song was featured as the thirteenth track on her 2015 debut album  Ardipithecus, but it didn't start gaining traction until around 2019 as one of the first notable songs to go viral on TikTok, which a...
Read more

"Spring Into Summer" by Lizzy McAlpine // Song Review

-
Image
Lizzy McAlpine 's "Spring Into Summer" is a beautifully written reflection on the cyclical nature of relationships, using the changing seasons as a powerful metaphor for love, regret, and personal growth. The song captures both the melancholy act of letting go and the hope that comes with stepping into a new season of life, embracing change despite knowing that the cycle will inevitably continue. It signals change after the darkness of winter, carrying a sense of warmth and renewal as summer approaches. At the same time, it carries this anticipation that the fall will eventually come again. As always, Lizzy's intimate storytelling shines through in the lyricism, beautifully depicting the emotional transitions that this song represents. "Spring into summer, and the winter's gone, I try to hold on to it, but the current's too strong, somebody finds me in the state I am, love you like I mean it when I know I can't," she sings in the opening lines. I...
Read more

"No One Noticed" by The Marías // Song Review

-
Image
"No One Noticed" by The Marías explores themes of longing for human connection and isolation in the digital age, while yearning for someone to finally see her the way a lost love once did. Lamenting for the past and what could have been she sings, "No one tried to read my eyes," she sings in the second verse, "No one but you, wish it weren't true". This song poignantly captures the distinct sense of isolation that comes from being surrounded by room full of people, yet still feeling completely alone, as well as the notion that others may never fully grasp the depth of your inner thoughts and struggles in those moments. It was featured as the eleventh track on The Marías' 2024 sophomore album,  Submarine ,  which was one of my favorite new music discoveries from last year. "I remember just waking up one morning and sitting on my bed grabbing the guitar and just starting to play. The windows were open the birds, were chirping like it was just a...
Read more

"From The Start" by Laufey // Song Review

-
Image
Laufey 's "From The Start" is a refreshingly unconventional blend of jazz and pop that feels both timeless and modern. The instrumentation leans into a classic, vintage style while the lyrics are cheeky and youthful, creating a playful contrast that feels uniquely her.  The song is a sweet and sincere portrait of unrequited love. On "From The Start", Laufey confesses her feelings for a friend who doesn't feel the same, and the vulnerability in her lyrics paired with the way she performs them feels deeply diaristic. "Don't you notice how I get quiet when there's no one else around?" she sings in the opening verse. "Me and you and awkward silence, don't you dare look at me that way, I don't need reminders of how you don't feel the same".  "You know when you're in high school or middle school or something, and you have a friend, and you kind of like them, and you're listening to them describe somebody they li...
Read more