Running Up That Hill

The speaker wants a loved one to understand their pain and the strain between them. They imagine making an impossible bargain so the two could exchange places and experience each other’s feelings. The mood shifts between hurt, anger, and a hopeful wish to overcome their problems together.

The “deal with God” suggests a desperate appeal for a change that ordinary conversation cannot bring. Swapping places is a way to imagine empathy: each person would know what the other carries. Running uphill or up a road evokes struggle and effort, but the repeated hope of doing it “with no problems” points toward a wish for a relationship made easier.

The lyrics suggest that love does not prevent people from hurting one another; strong feelings can coexist with resentment and pain. The speaker also seems unsure whether both people matter equally, asking for reassurance. The exchange of experience might mean taking on each other’s emotional burdens, though it could also suggest a broader wish to escape conflict. The repeated refrain sounds less like a practical plan than an urgent longing for understanding and relief.