Hill | 3BOPS

1 .Isaac Dunbar, “woman on the hills”

Balloons don’t float here • Isaac Dunbar • 2019

“Don’t turn your back when you’re near / The woman on the hills / Taking photographs of you / Taking ahold of you.” Isaac Dunbar intrigues on “Woman on the Hills,” which appears as the second track on his 2019, eight-song project, balloons don’t float here. Dunbar wrote and produced “Woman on the Hills” – pretty impressive for a teenager.

The aforementioned lyrics hail from the chorus, which continues as follows:

“Don’t laugh or craft when you’re near
The woman on the hills
She needs more from you
She needs less of you.”

Sigh. Of “Woman on the Hills,” Dunbar told Apple Music that “‘The woman on the hills’ is a metaphor for Hollywood in a sense – someone who might want to change you for their own benefit. For me, it kind of has to do with the music industry, but it can apply to you.”  The music industry side seems to seep through the lyrics from the second half of the brief second verse:

“She found me and tore me apart
And told me for the millionth time.”

Of course, both verses lead to a very telling section, the pre-chorus, where ‘the woman on the hills’ (fame), urges him “Take the whole world by the throat / Boy, you have something no one else has got…” Vocally, Dunbar sounds great.

Also appears on :

15 Marvelous Songs About Women

2. Ed Sheeran, “Castle on the Hill”

÷ (Divide) • Atlantic • 2017

“And I miss the way you make me feel, and it’s real / We watched the sunset over the castle on the hill.” “Castle on the Hill” is one of the best songs from Divide, the third studio album by Grammy winner Ed Sheeran. The record embraces a singer-songwriter, pop/rock sound.

Sheeran, who co-writes with Benny Blanco, superbly constructs a narrative and autobiographical approach, particularly on the verses:

“When I was six years old, I broke my leg
I was running from my brother and his friends
And taste the sweet perfume of the mountain grass I rolled down
I was younger then, take me back to when I...”

The chorus – excerpted at the top – is the selling point, as he delivers enthusiastic, energetic vocals.  Beyond thoughtfully composed verses and chorus, the bridge is also incredibly strong.

“One friend left to sell clothes
One works down by the coast
One had two kids but lives alone
One’s brother overdosed
One’s already on his second wife
One’s just barely getting by
But these people raised me
And I can’t wait to go home.”

Also appears on :

13 Songs About Buildings, Real or Imagined

Castles… Palaces: 5ive Songs No. 18 (2020)

11 Songs About Castles, Kingdoms, Palaces & Such

3. The Weeknd, “The Hills”

Beauty Behind the Madness • Republic • 2015

“I only love it when you touch me, not feel me / When I’m fucked up, that’s the real me…” Woo, woo, WOO! Grammy winning Canadian R&B artist The Weeknd had everybody on board with his 2015 album, Beauty Behind the Madness, which was chocked-full of hits.  That said, Beauty Behind the Madness isn’t a clean, family friendly album in the least.  A prime example of a huge hit being a bit edgy is the f-bomb laden, yet irresistible, dramatic slow jam, “The Hills.” 

In 2015, everybody was singing that glorious chorus, which commences with the lyrics, “I only call you when it’s half past five.” Besides the memorable chorus, there were a number of reasons why this record shined.  First and foremost, the distinct, beautiful vocals by The Weeknd.  As always, he sings with great expression, truly selling the lyrics.  Also, the lyrics – well – they’re pretty strong, delivering a pretty compelling narrative (“Drivin’ through the gated residential / Found out I was comin’, sent your friends home / Keep on tryna hide it, but your friends know”).  Throw in elite production work ( Illangelo and Mano) and a tuneful melody to match those notable lyrics, and “The Hills” literally has ‘hit’ written all over it.

“Hills have eyes, the hills have eyes
Who are you to judge? Who are you to judge?
Hide your lies, girl, hide your lie
Only you to trust, only you.”