Run To The Hills by Iron Maiden

Album: The Number Of The Beast (1982)

Charted: 7

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Songfacts®:

"Run To The Hills" is about the European arrival to the "New World," told from the perspective of both the oppressed Cree and the invading Anglo-Saxon soldiers. The first verse ("White man came across the sea, he brought us pain and misery") is from the point of view of the Natives. The second verse ("Chasing the redskins back to their holes, fighting them at their own game") is from the white man's eyes, and the last verse ("Selling them whiskey and taking their gold, enslaving the young and destroying the old") is an impartial third-person narration.
Released as a single on February 12, 1982 with the B-side "Total Eclipse," this was the first Iron Maiden single that featured Bruce Dickinson's "air-raid siren" vocals. It wasn't just a studio trick; on December 2, 1985, a live version was released as a single, and you can hear the siren go off on that rendition as well.
The cover art for the single shows a Native American with an axe wrestling a devil in Hell. Considering the lyrics, this caused some controversy, as many interpreted this to mean the band was suggesting that the imperialistic whites were devils.
Steve Harris, Iron Maiden's bass player and primary songwriter, wrote this one. "I wanted to try and get the feeling of galloping horses," he explained. "But when you play this one, be careful not to let it run away with you."
"Run To The Hills" was Iron Maiden's first Top 10 hit in the UK. The 1982 single charted at #7; the 1985 live version went to #26.
The single's cover art had the same setting as the cover art for the album The Number of the Beast. They were both set in Hell, with a red humanoid devil and spiraling gray clouds against the night sky. Both were designed by Derek Riggs, who does most Maiden cover art.
In 2002, this was re-released as a single to help promote a tour the band organized to raise money for former drummer Clive Burr, who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis.
The official biography of Iron Maiden, written by Mick Wall, is titled Run to the Hills. >>
Suggestion credit:
Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for all above
This song was "covered" by Metallica on their 1986 mini-EP Garage Days Re-Revisited. At the very end of the last track, they fade out to the introduction of this song, and quite off key, as well. This was their nod to Iron Maiden, who were one of their New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) inspirations. >>
Suggestion credit:
Jon - Warner Robins, GA
Bruce Dickinson doesn't always take this song so seriously. On Iron Maiden's 2018 Legacy Of The Beast tour, he would ride an invisible horse, Monty Python style, when he performed it. He would even feed the horse an invisible apple.

Comments: 30

Swan from UsThe ridiculous comments about people living in peace. While I desire peaceful coinhabitance just as much as the next person, the reality is that land is “won” at the hand of armies. So, whether the Arawaks, Cree, Apache, or even the modern day British empire (who is slowly being taken over by Islamic peoples), land has been, is, and always will be fought over. And while it is easy to point a judgemental finger at a nation, race, or conquistador, the hard reality is that the greater armies will always win and retain power over land until one day they lose to an enemy greater than THEMSELVES.
Sandra Sipes Morrison from PennsylvaniaAlot of people I've read alot of history books about this subject.What a knowledgeable song about such a sad time.
Young Boy George from Wuskwi Siphikthe white men used their numbers and guns to massacre, rape, pillage, torture and brainwash our kids. they killed off most of our buffalo and forced us into a world of hate.
this song kicks ass tho ngl
Nikki Z from Upstate NyLet me tell ya one of the best range of vocals I have ever heard.. gives me goosebumps and wanna Run to the Hills.
Jim from West Palm Beach, FlBruce Dickenson put the cherry on the top.
"Raping the young, enslaving the old, woman and children and cowards attack!"
The Joker from Aylesbury, United Kingdomyou have to say that bruce has one of the most powefull voice singing live and he is a commercial airline pilot as well!!!!
Guido from Detroit, MiA cover of this song is on Rock Band. Listening to someone try to imitate Bruce just reminds you how much he completely rocks.

And this song isn't just about the Arawaks. It's about the whites and all of the Natives. It mentions the Cree, who are plains indians.
Kayla from Carmel, InThis song single-handedly turned me on to metal.
Ryan from Bethany, OkGood lord. Bruce can wail!!
Jason from Denver, CoTo Hunter in South West,Mi. Hopefully this will answer your question about whammy bars and pedals.
A whammy bar just increases or decreases the tension of the string. A good example is Motley Crue's Kickstart my heart or Sammy Hagar's Bad motor scooter. A pedals is more of an electronics thing. You can get some Damn good effects if you learn to use both together.
Hunter from South West, MiI wonder if a whammy bar could have the same effect as a pedal?
Levi from Saginaw, MiThe very beginning of this song (white man came across the sea, he brought us pain and misery. He killed our tribes, he killed our creed) refers to Columbus' arrival in the Bahama Islands. He enslaves the native Arawaks to work in gold mines. They would try to escape by "running to the hills" but the Spaniards would track them down with dogs and kill them. The Spaniards almost wiped out the entire population of Arawaks on those islands, estimated to be close to a million people. This was a peaceful nation of people living together in harmony with no concept of private ownership or capitalism at all, a social utopia. Good thing for us the Spaniards destroyed them in the name of capitalism, civilization, and "progress". Not.
Joe from ??, KyThis song is probably Iron Maiden's best. I love the wah-wah pedal in the solo. Dave Murray deserves way more recognition than he gets too. He was extremely talented and a very creative guitarist.
Ed from Phoenix, AzI heard a cover band in Phuket, Thailand play this at the Rock and Roll Bar and it kicked ass!
Matthew from Fairview, NjI just don't understand how the drummer keeps playing the sixteenth notes, then sixteenth note triplets, throughout the WHOLE song with exception of intro and last maybe 20 second.
Steve from Winnipeg, Canadalove the beat good sh*t
Zac from Sydney, AustraliaAmazing, it says that people who liked evanescence's "call me when you're sober" also liked this song and "coming from the lips of an angel."

these three songs have all gotta be in my top 100 lol

i love the intro of this how it starts slow with the horse-like drums and then the guitar then the singing... Mad
Shayne from Peterborough, CanadaThis song appears in the movie "Fubar" when Terry and Deaner are going camping with Farrell. That is one of the best movies ever.
Evan from Otway, OhPat, yea I remember when they used to play Run to the Hills on VH1, they had the little kitty running...well to the hills. When I heard it on that commercial, I thought...sounds a bit...wild..then I learned it was Maiden and well..the rest was history..as they say. By the way, this song fits so many video games...like the last level on Halo, for example. Kick ass song!
Jon from Regina, CanadaNothing much better than listening to this while you're flying down the highway at about 110 miles an hour, heh heh...
Anonnymous from Nashville, TxThe first time I heard it, I thought it was a little racial, but when you hear the whole the whole thing, it is a very educational song. Iron Maiden writes lyrics great. They are very smart. Great riff, too.
Ben from Nyc, Msmaidens a pretty tight band, I really like them.
Kyle from Lake Village, Inthis song is good but is the most over played iron maiden song most people havent listned to anything else by the band
Dan from Zagreb, Croatiathe band regularly finishes the show with this song. when "Run To The Hills" is over, you know it's over and Maiden is going home. after that song, "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" by Monty Python is played in background.

I think they started playing this song as the last one to remember the fact that they were finishing the Bruce's farewell tour with this song.
Dee from Indianapolis, InThis was my intro to Iron Maiden. I always thought this song was great, but never really listened to anything else by them till my college years. I've never had a chance to see them, but would like to if Bruce is with them for the vocals though. Eddie use to scasre me when I was younger, but now I find the art work humerous in it's own way.
Emmeline from Plymouth, Englandamazing song! classic
Travis from Minneaplouis, Mnthe song is 3:50
Sam from Stourbrige, Englandgreat high notes by dickingson
Charlie from Thomaston, Ctgreat vocals on this song
Pat from Philly, PaVH1 uses this song in a promo for their station

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