"Run to the Hills"
Single by Iron Maiden
from the album The Number of the Beast
B-side
  • 1982 single
  • "Total Eclipse"
  • 1985 live single
  • "Phantom of the Opera" (live) (7" & 12")
  • "Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)" (live) (12")
  • 2002 live single
  • Part 1
  • "22 Acacia Avenue (live)"
  • "The Prisoner (live)"
  • "Run to the Hills
  • (Camp Chaos video)"
  • Part 2
  • "Children of the Damned (live)"
  • "Total Eclipse (live)"
  • "Run to the Hills (video)"
Released12 February 1982
2 December 1985
11 March 2002
RecordedJanuary 1982
20 March 1982
28 August 1982
8–12 October 1984
14–17 March 1985
19 January 2001
GenreHeavy metal
Length3:51
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Steve Harris
Producer(s)Martin Birch
Iron Maiden singles chronology
"Purgatory"
(1981)		 "Run to the Hills"
(1982)		 "The Number of the Beast"
(1982)
"Running Free (Live in 1985)"
(1985)
"Run to the Hills (Live in 1985)"
(1985)
"Wasted Years"
(1986)
"Out of the Silent Planet"
(2000)
"Run to the Hills (Live in 2001)"
(2002)
"Wildest Dreams"
(2003)
1985 live single
2002 CD 2 cover
Bruce Dickinson as Eddie
2002 Limited Edition Red Vinyl 7"

"Run to the Hills" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released as their sixth single and the first from the band's third studio album, The Number of the Beast (1982). It is their first single with Bruce Dickinson as vocalist. Credited solely to the band's bassist, Steve Harris, Dickinson contributed to the song but could not be credited due to a contractual agreement with his former band Samson. "Run to the Hills" remains one of the band's most popular songs, with VH1 ranking it No. 27 on their list of the 40 Greatest Metal Songs,[1] No. 14 on their list of the Greatest Hard Rock Songs,[2] and Rolling Stone ranking it No. 10 on their list of the 100 greatest heavy metal songs[3]

A live version of the song, from Live After Death, was released in 1985 and the original single was reissued in 2002, with all income donated to former drummer Clive Burr's MS Trust Fund. In 1990, as part of The First Ten Years box set, both the original and the 1985 live single were reissued on CD and 12" vinyl, combined with "The Number of the Beast" and "Running Free (live)" respectively.

Composition

Due to contractual issues with his previous band, Samson, Dickinson could not be credited for any of his contributions made during the writing of The Number of the Beast.[4] Although bassist Steve Harris alone receives credit for the song, Dickinson states that he made a "moral contribution" to the song, in addition to "Children of the Damned" and "The Prisoner" from the same album.[5] While speaking at the IBM Smarter Business conference in Stockholm on 10 October 2012, Dickinson revealed that parts of the song are based on the "rising sixth" interval within a scale, inspired by a documentary he watched which explored why "My Way" was one of the most popular recorded songs.[6]

Themes

"Run to the Hills" depicts the historical conflict between Native Americans and European settlers.[7][8] The song begins with the perspective of the Native Americans: 'White man came across the sea / He brought us pain and misery.' This verse reflects the suffering and upheaval caused by European arrival. The subsequent verses shift to the European viewpoint, with lines such as 'Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes / Galloping hard on the plains' and 'Hunting and killing's a game.' These parts depict the Europeans' actions and attitudes towards the conflict. The recurring chorus, 'Run to the hills / Run for your lives,' serves as a haunting reminder of the dire consequences of these conflicts. Overall, the song presents a vivid portrayal of this tumultuous period in history from both perspectives.[9][10][11]

Original 1982 release

The song was released as a single on 12 February 1982; more than 5 weeks prior to the album's release on 22 March 1982.[12] The single marked Iron Maiden's debut release with new vocalist Bruce Dickinson. "Total Eclipse" was selected as the single's B-side over the song "Gangland", which in turn would appear on the initial version of the album.[13] The band later regretted this decision, with Steve Harris commenting, "We chose the wrong track as the B-side. I think if "Total Eclipse" had been on the album instead of "Gangland", it would have been far better."[13] The song was added to The Number of the Beast album when it was remastered in 1998, and was also included in the original Japanese version.

It is the second of three single covers featuring Derek Riggs' depiction of Satan, which debuted on "Purgatory" and later appeared on "The Number of the Beast" covers. According to Riggs, the idea behind the original "Run to the Hills" cover was based around the idea of a "power struggle in hell", in which the band's mascot, Eddie, battles Satan with a tomahawk (referencing the song's subject matter).[14]

As of 2017 the single has sold more than 200,000 copies in UK and has been certified Silver by BPI, the first to do so.[15]

Other releases

In 1985, a live version of "Run to the Hills", taken from Live After Death, was released as the band's thirteenth single, along with live versions of "Phantom of the Opera" and "Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)" as its B-sides. According to Riggs, he was asked to paint a cover illustration for both "Run to the Hills" and "Phantom of the Opera" and so the artwork depicts Eddie as the phantom in a hilly landscape.[16]

Following former drummer Clive Burr's announcement that he was suffering from multiple sclerosis, "Run to the Hills" was released again in 2002 to raise money for the newly established Clive Burr MS Trust Fund.[17] Two variations were issued, the original studio version and a live version taken from the Rock in Rio concert, with different B-sides.[18]

Appearances in media

An all-star cover version of the song is found on the 2005 tribute album Numbers from the Beast, featuring Robin McAuley on vocals, Michael Schenker and Pete Fletcher on guitars, Tony Franklin on bass and Brian Tichy (Derek Sherinian, B'z) on drums.[19][20] The all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens recorded the song on their 2005 debut album, World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden.[21] Former Babes in Toyland singer and guitarist Kat Bjelland's Katastrophy Wife covered the song in their Heart On EP in 2007.[22] The song was covered in 2008 by Sign on the tribute CD Maiden Heaven: A Tribute to Iron Maiden released by Kerrang! magazine.[23] The Swedish lounge metal band Hellsongs included a cover version on their 2008 album Hymns in the Key of 666.[24] In 2009, the eventual Swedish Idol 2009 series winner Erik Grönwall sang it during the live shows and released it as a single in the same year, which peaked at No. 23 in the Swedish Singles Chart.[25] Progressive metal band Dream Theater covered the song live, along with the entire The Number of the Beast album, and released it as an "official bootleg" in 2006.[26]

The song is also featured in the soundtracks of several video games, including SSX on Tour (2005) as the title's main theme,[27] and Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned (2009).[28] In addition, a cover version is featured in Rock Band (2007), in which it received an "Impossible" difficulty rating,[29] while the original version was made available via download in June 2009.[30]

Video

The official video features fight scenes from the 1923 silent movie The Uncovered Wagon, a parody on the movie The Covered Wagon, also from 1923.[31]

Track listing

7" single
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills"Steve Harris3:51
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Total Eclipse"Dave Murray, Harris, Clive Burr4:24
1985 7" Live single
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills" (Live at Long Beach Arena, California, America, 14–17 March 1985)Harris4:03
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Phantom of the Opera" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 8–10 & 12 October 1984)Harris7:27
1985 12" Live single
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills" (Live at Long Beach Arena, California, America, 14–17 March 1985)Harris4:03
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Phantom of the Opera" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 8–10 & 12 October 1984)Harris7:27
3."Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 8–10 & 12 October 1984)Harris4:14
2002 7" Red Vinyl single
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills"Harris3:51
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Total Eclipse" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 20 March 1982)Burr, Harris, Murray4:24
2002 Enhanced CD Part. I
Compact Disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills" (Live at Rock in Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 19 January 2001)Harris5:00
2."Children of the Damned" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 20 March 1982)Harris4:34
3."Total Eclipse" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 20 March 1982)Murray, Harris, Burr3:59
4."Run to the Hills" (Live video)Harrisunknown
2002 Enhanced CD Part. II
Compact Disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills"Harris3:56
2."22 Acacia Avenue" (Live at the Reading Festival, Reading, England, 28 August 1982)Harris, Adrian Smith6:34
3."The Prisoner" (Live at the Reading Festival, Reading, England, 28 August 1982)Harris, Smith5:56
4."Run to the Hills" (Camp Chaos video)HarrisUnknown
2002 Enhanced CD European Edition
Compact Disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills" (Live at Rock in Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 19 January 2001)Harris5:01
2."Run to the Hills"Harris3:54
3."The Prisoner" (Live at the Reading Festival, Reading, England, 28 August 1982)Harris, Smith5:56
4."Children of the Damned" (Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 20 March 1982)Harris4:34
5."Run to the Hills" (Live video)HarrisUnknown

Personnel

1982 studio single

Production credits are adapted from the 7-inch vinyl cover.[32]

Production

1985 live single

Production credits are adapted from the 7-inch vinyl,[33] and 12-inch vinyl covers.[34]

Iron Maiden
  • Bruce Dickinson – lead vocals
  • Steve Harris – bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Murray – lead guitar
  • Adrian Smith – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Nicko McBrain – drums
Production
  • Martin Birch – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Derek Riggs – cover illustration

2002 studio / live single

  • Bruce Dickinson – lead vocals
  • Dave Murray – lead guitar
  • Adrian Smith – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Janick Gers – rhythm guitar
  • Steve Harris – bass, backing vocals
  • Nicko McBrain – drums

Charts

Run to the Hills

Chart (1982) Peak
position
Australian Singles (Kent Music Report)[35] 27
French Singles(SNEP)[36] 64
Germany (Official German Charts)[37] 55
Ireland (IRMA)[38] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[39] 7

Run to the Hills (Live)

Chart (1985) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[40] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[41] 26

Run to the Hills/The Number of the Beast

Chart (1990) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[42] 3

Running Free (Live) / Run to the Hills (Live)

Chart (1990) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[43] 9

Run to the Hills

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart[44] 11
France (SNEP)[45] 73
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[46] 5
Germany (Official German Charts)[47] 86
Ireland (IRMA)[48] 38
Italy (FIMI)[49] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[50] 60
Norway (VG-lista)[51] 15
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[52] 28
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[53] 75
UK Singles (OCC)[54] 9

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs". VH1. 1–4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 16 January 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  2. ↑ "spreadit.org music". VH1. Archived from the original on 4 January 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  3. ↑ "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Shooman, Joe (2007). Bruce Dickinson: Flashing Metal with Iron Maiden and Flying Solo. Independent Music Press. ISBN 978-0-9552822-4-9.
  5. ↑ "A Conversation with Bruce Dickinson". Book of Hours. 28 April 1996. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  6. ↑ Hartmann, Graham (11 October 2012). "Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson Reveals the Musical Secret Behind 'Run to the Hills'". Loudwire. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Review: The Number of the Beast". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  8. ↑ Doran, John (2005). "Devil Incarnate". Metal Hammer Presents: Iron Maiden 30 Years of Metal Mayhem. Future Publishing: 140–141.
  9. ↑ Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills, retrieved 7 December 2023
  10. ↑ Bushell, Garry; Halfin, Ross (1985). Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden (2nd ed.). Zomba Books. p. 101. ISBN 0-946391-84-X.
  11. ↑ Stagno, Mike (17 July 2006). "Review: Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  12. ↑ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 226. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
  13. 1 2 Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 225. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
  14. ↑ "'Run to the Hills'- Riggs Commentary". Derek Riggs. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  15. ↑ "BRIT Certified".
  16. ↑ "'Run to the Hills (live)'- Riggs Commentary". Derek Riggs. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  17. ↑ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 361. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
  18. ↑ "Iron Maiden Benefit Single Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  19. ↑ "Iron Maiden: Numbers From The Beast All-Star Tribute Album Due in October". Blabbermouth.net. 27 September 2005. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  20. ↑ "Michael Schenker Covers Iron Maiden, Rush, Black Sabbath on New Album". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  21. ↑ "The Iron Maidens- The Iron Maidens". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  22. ↑ Bann, Chantel (3 May 2007). "Katastrophy Wife's KatBjelland gets her Heart-On". Fasterlouder. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  23. ↑ "Maiden Heaven Track Listing Revealed!". Kerrang!. 25 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  24. ↑ Quinn, Michael (7 August 2008). "Hellsongs: Hymns in the Key of 666". BBC Music. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  25. ↑ "Swedish Top 60 Singles Chart 1 January 2010". Swedishcharts.com. Sverigetopplistan.
  26. ↑ "Dream Theater – Official Bootleg: The Number of the Beast". Amazon. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  27. ↑ "SSX on Tour". Cheat Code Central. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  28. ↑ "The Lost and Damned soundtrack". Rockstar Games. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  29. ↑ "'Run to the Hills' by Iron Maiden (cover version)". Rock Band. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  30. ↑ "Iron Maiden – All Songs by Artist". Rock Band. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  31. ↑ "The Uncovered Wagon". IMDb. 8 July 1923.
  32. ↑ "Run to the Hills" 7 Inch Single (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 12 February 1982.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ↑ "Run to the Hills live" 7 Inch Single (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 2 December 1985.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ↑ "Run to the Hills live" 12 Inch Single (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 2 December 1985.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  35. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  36. ↑ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – I". Infodisc.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2012. Select Iron Maiden from the menu, then press OK.
  37. ↑ "Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  38. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Run to the Hills". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  39. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  40. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Run to the Hills (Live)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  41. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  42. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  43. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  44. ↑ "Iron Maiden, Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  45. ↑ "[Live+(Song)&cat=s Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills [Live] (Song)"] (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  46. ↑ "Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills [Live (Song)"] (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  47. ↑ "Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills [Live (Song)"] (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  48. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Run to the Hills [Live (Song)"]. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  49. ↑ "[Live+(Song)&cat=s Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills [Live] (Song)"]. Top Digital Download. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  50. ↑ "[Live&cat=s Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills [Live]"] (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  51. ↑ "[Live+(Song)&cat=s Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills [Live] (Song)"]. VG-lista. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  52. ↑ "[Live+(Song)&cat=s Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills [Live] (Song)"]. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  53. ↑ "[Live+(Song)&cat=s Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills [Live] (Song)"]. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  54. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  55. ↑ "British single certifications – Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
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