Run to the Hills

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.{{Cite book|last = Shooman|first = Joe|title = Bruce Dickinson: Flashing Metal with Iron Maiden and Flying Solo|year = 2007|publisher = Independent Music Press|isbn = 978-0-9552822-4-9}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.bookofhours.net/bdwbn/ginoklar.htm |title=A Conversation with Bruce Dickinson |publisher=Book of Hours |date=28 April 1996 |access-date=12 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025113518/http://www.bookofhours.net/bdwbn/ginoklar.htm |archive-date=25 October 2007 }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/iron-maiden-bruce-dickinson-reveals-musical-secret-behind-run-to-the-hills/|work=Loudwire|title=Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson Reveals the Musical Secret Behind 'Run to the Hills'|last=Hartmann|first=Graham|date=11 October 2012|access-date=6 March 2013}}

"Run to the Hills" depicts the historical conflict between Native Americans and European settlers.{{cite web |last=Huey |first=Steve |title=Review: The Number of the Beast |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-number-of-the-beast-r9911/review |access-date=1 January 2011 |work=AllMusic |publisher=Rovi Corporation}}{{cite journal |last=Doran |first=John |year=2005 |title=Devil Incarnate |journal=Metal Hammer Presents: Iron Maiden 30 Years of Metal Mayhem |publisher=Future Publishing |pages=140–141}} 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.{{Citation |title=Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills |url=https://genius.com/Iron-maiden-run-to-the-hills-lyrics |access-date=2023-12-07}}{{cite book |last1=Bushell |first1=Garry |url=https://archive.org/details/ironmaidenrunnin00bush/page/101 |title=Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden |last2=Halfin |first2=Ross |publisher=Zomba Books |year=1985 |isbn=0-946391-84-X |edition=2nd |page=[https://archive.org/details/ironmaidenrunnin00bush/page/101 101] |author-link1=Garry Bushell |author-link2=Ross Halfin |url-access=registration}}{{cite web |last=Stagno |first=Mike |date=17 July 2006 |title=Review: Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast |url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=221 |access-date=19 November 2010 |website=Sputnikmusic}}

The song was released as a single on 8 February 1982; 7 weeks prior to the album's release on 29 March 1982.{{cite book | author=Wall, Mick |author-link=Mick Wall | title=Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.)| publisher=Sanctuary Publishing | year=2004 | isbn=1-86074-542-3 |page=226}} 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.{{cite book | author=Wall, Mick | author-link=Mick Wall|title=Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.)| publisher=Sanctuary Publishing | year=2004 | isbn=1-86074-542-3 |page=225}} 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." 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).{{cite web | url = http://derek.server311.com/riggsart/Pages/maiden.dir/03beast03.html | title = 'Run to the Hills'- Riggs Commentary | publisher = Derek Riggs | access-date = 23 September 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110813092556/http://derek.server311.com/riggsart/Pages/maiden.dir/03beast03.html | archive-date = 13 August 2011}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|title = BRIT Certified}}

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.{{cite web | url = http://derek.server311.com/riggsart/Pages/maiden.dir/08death03.html | title = 'Run to the Hills (live)'- Riggs Commentary | publisher = Derek Riggs | access-date = 23 September 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110808213945/http://derek.server311.com/riggsart/Pages/maiden.dir/08death03.html | archive-date = 8 August 2011}}

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.{{cite book | author=Wall, Mick |author-link=Mick Wall| title=Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.)| publisher=Sanctuary Publishing | year=2004 | isbn=1-86074-542-3 |page=361}} Two variations were issued, the original studio version and a live version taken from the Rock in Rio concert, with different B-sides.{{cite news | url = http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=1181 | title = Iron Maiden Benefit Single Details Revealed | access-date = 4 January 2012 | date = 15 April 2009 | work = Blabbermouth.net}}

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.{{cite news | url = http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/iron-maiden-numbers-from-the-beast-all-star-tribute-album-due-in-october | title = Iron Maiden: Numbers From The Beast All-Star Tribute Album Due in October | access-date = 13 October 2011 | date = 27 September 2005 | work = Blabbermouth.net}}{{cite magazine | url = http://www.bravewords.com/news/162058 | title = Michael Schenker Covers Iron Maiden, Rush, Black Sabbath on New Album | access-date = 13 October 2011| date = 16 May 2011 | magazine = Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles}} The all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens recorded the song on their 2005 debut album, World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden.{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-iron-maidens-mw0000465952 | title = The Iron Maidens- The Iron Maidens | access-date = 4 January 2012 | publisher = Rovi Corporation|work=AllMusic}} Former Babes in Toyland singer and guitarist Kat Bjelland's Katastrophy Wife covered the song in their Heart On EP in 2007.{{cite web | url = http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/8900/Heart-On-from-Katastrophy-Wife.htm | title = Katastrophy Wife's KatBjelland gets her Heart-On | access-date = 4 January 2012 | publisher = Fasterlouder | date = 3 May 2007 | last = Bann | first = Chantel}} The song was covered in 2008 by Sign on the tribute CD Maiden Heaven: A Tribute to Iron Maiden released by Kerrang! magazine.{{cite web|url=http://www2.kerrang.com/2008/06/maiden_heaven_track_listing_re.html |title=Maiden Heaven Track Listing Revealed! |work=Kerrang! |date=25 June 2008 |access-date=9 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502102306/http://www2.kerrang.com/2008/06/maiden_heaven_track_listing_re.html |archive-date=2 May 2009 }} The Swedish lounge metal band Hellsongs included a cover version on their 2008 album Hymns in the Key of 666.{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/639x | title = Hellsongs: Hymns in the Key of 666 | access-date = 5 January 2012 | date = 7 August 2008 | last = Quinn | first = Michael | publisher = BBC Music}} 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.{{cite web | url = http://swedishcharts.com/archiv.asp?sparte=s&jahr=2010&monat=01&tag=01&todo=show | title = Swedish Top 60 Singles Chart 1 January 2010 |website= Swedishcharts.com | publisher = Sverigetopplistan}} 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.{{cite web | url = https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000K4Y1W4 | title = Dream Theater – Official Bootleg: The Number of the Beast | website = Amazon | access-date = 13 October 2011 }}

The song is also featured in the soundtracks of several video games, including SSX on Tour (2005) as the title's main theme,{{cite web | url = http://www.cheatcc.com/gc/rev/ssxontourreview.html | title = SSX on Tour | access-date = 24 September 2011 | publisher = Cheat Code Central}} and Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned (2009).{{cite web | url = http://www.rockstargames.com/thelostanddamned/music | title = The Lost and Damned soundtrack | publisher = Rockstar Games | access-date = 4 January 2012 | archive-date = 29 June 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170629142012/http://www.rockstargames.com/thelostanddamned/music/ | url-status = dead }} In addition, a cover version is featured in Rock Band (2007), in which it received an "Impossible" difficulty rating,{{cite web|url=http://www.rockband.com/songs/runtothehills |title='Run to the Hills' by Iron Maiden (cover version) |publisher=Rock Band |access-date=13 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114203113/http://www.rockband.com/songs/runtothehills |archive-date=14 November 2011 }} while the original version was made available via download in June 2009.{{cite web | url = http://www.rockband.com/songs/artists/Iron+Maiden | title = Iron Maiden – All Songs by Artist | publisher = Rock Band | access-date = 24 September 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110304182807/http://www.rockband.com/songs/artists/Iron+Maiden | archive-date = 4 March 2011}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247007/|title = The Uncovered Wagon|website = IMDb|date = 8 July 1923}}

;7" single

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Run to the Hills

| length1 = 3:51

| writer1 = Steve Harris

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title2 = Total Eclipse

| length2 = 4:24

| writer2 = Dave Murray, Harris, Clive Burr

}}

;1985 7" Live single

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Run to the Hills

| note1 = Live at Long Beach Arena, California, America, 14–17 March 1985

| length1 = 4:03

| writer1 = Harris

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title2 = Phantom of the Opera

| note2 = Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 8–10 & 12 October 1984

| length2 = 7:27

| writer2 = Harris

}}

;1985 12" Live single

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Run to the Hills

| note1 = Live at Long Beach Arena, California, America, 14–17 March 1985

| length1 = 4:03

| writer1 = Harris

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title2 = Phantom of the Opera

| note2 = Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 8–10 & 12 October 1984

| length2 = 7:27

| writer2 = Harris

| title3 = Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)

| note3 = Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 8–10 & 12 October 1984

| length3 = 4:14

| writer3 = Harris

}}

;2002 7" Red Vinyl single

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Run to the Hills

| length1 = 3:51

| writer1 = Harris

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title2 = Total Eclipse

| note2 = Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 20 March 1982

| length2 = 4:24

| writer2 = Burr, Harris, Murray

}}

;2002 Enhanced CD Part. I

{{track listing

| headline = Compact Disc

| title1 = Run to the Hills

| note1 = Live at Rock in Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 19 January 2001

| length1 = 5:00

| writer1 = Harris

| title2 = Children of the Damned

| note2 = Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 20 March 1982

| length2 = 4:34

| writer2 = Harris

| title3 = Total Eclipse

| note3 = Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 20 March 1982

| length3 = 3:59

| writer3 = Murray, Harris, Burr

| title4 = Run to the Hills

| note4 = Live video

| length4 = unknown

| writer4 = Harris

}}

;2002 Enhanced CD Part. II

{{track listing

| headline = Compact Disc

| title1 = Run to the Hills

| length1 = 3:56

| writer1 = Harris

| title2 = 22 Acacia Avenue

| note2 = Live at the Reading Festival, Reading, England, 28 August 1982

| length2 = 6:34

| writer2 = Harris, Adrian Smith

| title3 = The Prisoner

| note3 = Live at the Reading Festival, Reading, England, 28 August 1982

| length3 = 5:56

| writer3 = Harris, Smith

| title4 = Run to the Hills

| note4 = Camp Chaos video

| length4 = Unknown

| writer4 = Harris

}}

;2002 Enhanced CD European Edition

{{track listing

| headline = Compact Disc

| title1 = Run to the Hills

| note1 = Live at Rock in Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 19 January 2001

| length1 = 5:01

| writer1 = Harris

| title2 = Run to the Hills

| length2 = 3:54

| writer2 = Harris

| title3 = The Prisoner

| note3 = Live at the Reading Festival, Reading, England, 28 August 1982

| length3 = 5:56

| writer3 = Harris, Smith

| title4 = Children of the Damned

| note4 = Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 20 March 1982

| length4 = 4:34

| writer4 = Harris

| title5 = Run to the Hills

| note5 = Live video

| length5 = Unknown

| writer5 = Harris

}}

Production credits are adapted from the 7-inch vinyl cover.{{cite AV media notes |title="Run to the Hills" 7 Inch Single|others=Iron Maiden |date=12 February 1982 |publisher=EMI }}

• Bruce Dickinson – vocals
• Dave Murray – guitar
• Adrian Smith – guitar
• Steve Harris – bass
• Clive Burr – drums

;Production

• Martin Birch – producer, engineer
• Derek Riggs – cover illustration
• Ross Halfin – photography

Production credits are adapted from the 7-inch vinyl,{{cite AV media notes |title="Run to the Hills live" 7 Inch Single|others=Iron Maiden |date=2 December 1985 |publisher=EMI }} and 12-inch vinyl covers.{{cite AV media notes |title="Run to the Hills live" 12 Inch Single|others=Iron Maiden |date=2 December 1985 |publisher=EMI }}

;Iron Maiden

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

;Production

• Martin Birch – producer, engineer, mixing
• Derek Riggs – cover illustration

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

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Iron Maiden|title=Run to the Hills|award=Platinum|relyear=1982|certyear=2024|access-date=27 September 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Iron Maiden|title=Run to the Hills|award=Platinum|relyear=1982|certyear=2023|access-date=27 September 2024|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Iron Maiden|title=Run to the Hills|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=6 August 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Iron Maiden|title=Run to the Hills|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=14504-1438-1|access-date=26 September 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

• List of anti-war songs

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{IronMaiden}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1982 singles

Category:1982 songs

Category:1985 singles

Category:2002 singles

Category:Anti-imperialism

Category:EMI Records singles

Category:Iron Maiden songs

Category:Protest songs

Category:Songs about Native Americans

Category:Songs written by Steve Harris (musician)