Released in 1982, “Run to the Hills” is a heavy metal track about the violent clash between European settlers and Native Americans. It shows both the Native struggle for survival and the settlers’ ruthless drive to conquer.
Below is an interpretation of the lyrics in “Run to the Hills.”
- Song: Run to the Hills
- Artist: Iron Maiden
- Songwriter: Steve Harris
- Released: 1982
- Album: The Number of the Beast
- Genre: Heavy metal
What is “Run to the Hills” About?
Intro: The Arrival of the Settlers
White man came across the sea
He brought us pain and misery
This is from the perspective of the Native Americans.
The arrival of the Europeans is described as a force that immediately brings violence and suffering.
It introduces the theme of conquest and the destruction of existing ways of life.
He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
He took our game for his own need
The tribes were killed, and their spiritual practices and traditions were attacked. Colonizers often tried to convert Native Americans to Christianity.
Hunting grounds and natural resources were taken for the settlers’ benefit. They exterminated animals like the bison, which were a crucial food source for Native peoples. This was often a deliberate strategy to starve the tribes.
We fought him hard, we fought him well
Out on the plains we gave him hell
Native Americans fought to defend their land and culture. They were not passive victims, but warriors who fought for their homes.
There was pride in the fight, but also an awareness that the struggle was uneven.
But many came, too much for Cree
Oh, will we ever be set free?
The Cree were one of the largest groups of First Nations in North America.
Despite their strong resistance, the Native Americans were overwhelmed by the sheer number of settlers.
This section ends on a somber, hopeless note, questioning whether they will ever be free from the oppression and violence they face.
Verse 1: The Settlers’ Perspective
Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes
Galloping hard on the plains
The settlers charge across the land, focused on conquest.
They view their actions as a race to expand and dominate the territory.
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Fighting them at their own game
The use of the slur “redskins” is a deliberate choice, showing the dehumanizing language used during this period.
The settlers saw their actions not as an invasion, but as a justified pursuit to force the Natives from their lands, almost as if they were chasing animals.
The settlers believed they were adapting to the harsh rules of the conflict, rather than being the instigators.
Murder for freedom, the stab in the back
Women and children are cowards, attack
They justify killing in the name of freedom, while denying freedom to others.
They killed women and children, acting with ruthless brutality and no moral restraint.
Chorus: Desperate Warning
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Running to the hills is a warning to escape the attack. It’s about fleeing to safety and higher ground, but it’s also about escaping relentless violence.
It is both a command and an acknowledgment that survival means retreat.
Verse 2: Forced Removal and Destruction
Soldier blue in the barren wastes
Hunting and killing’s their game
For some of these soldiers, the conflict had become a sport, with hunting and killing seen as a game.
It’s a cold, detached attitude toward the violence, showing how some of the men were desensitized to their actions.
Raping the women and wasting the men
The only good Indians are tame
Sexual violence and murder are presented here as part of the campaign to destroy Native communities.
Labeling Native people as tame meant they had to surrender to survive, abandoning their culture and accepting European control. The soldiers treated the Native Americans like wild animals that needed to be broken.
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold
Enslaving the young and destroying the old
Alcohol was often introduced deliberately, fueling addiction and weakening Native societies.
Wealth was stolen, children were enslaved, and elders, the carriers of tradition and culture, were killed or cast aside.
“Run to the Hills” Song Meaning: Violence, Hypocrisy, and Survival
“Run to the Hills” tells the story of colonization as a cycle of destruction. It gives both sides of the history, first showing Native resistance and then exposing the mindset of settlers and soldiers. Overwhelming numbers, violence, and exploitation destroyed Indigenous lives and cultures.
The song highlights the hypocrisy at the heart of colonization. Settlers spoke of freedom while taking it away from others.
“Run to the Hills” is both a history lesson and a reminder of how quickly ideals can be twisted.
Songs Like “Run to the Hills”
Here are a few other songs with a similar theme:
1. “The Trooper” by Iron Maiden
Another Iron Maiden classic, “The Trooper” tells the story of a soldier in the Crimean War. It’s about the frantic, chaotic nature of battle and the desperation of a single soldier facing his fate.
2. “Cortez the Killer” by Neil Young
“Cortez the Killer” is about the Spanish conquest of Mexico and the destruction of the Aztec civilization by Hernán Cortés. It’s from the viewpoint of the conquered people and shows the violence and exploitation that occurred.
3. “Indians” by Anthrax
“Indians” also details the injustices and suffering inflicted upon Native Americans. It’s about the loss of their land and way of life, touching on themes of broken promises and forced displacement.
Conclusion: Conflict and Consequences
“Run to the Hills” is a hard-hitting song, both sonically and lyrically, about the violent history of colonization. It tells of a clash of cultures and the devastating loss of life and freedom. The warning to “run to the hills” is a cry for escape, but also an acknowledgment of what was lost and the violence that shaped history.
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