You Run Away

Album: All In Good Time (2010)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is the lead single from Barenaked Ladies' eleventh studio album, All In Good Time, their first record following the departure of founding member Steven Page in February 2009.
  • Co-vocalist and guitarist Ed Robertson explained in publicity materials how the writing process for All in Good Time was different from past Barenaked Ladies albums: "This was a chance for me to shed some of my writing dependencies, both good and bad, and explore new ground. I allowed myself to go places that I might not have in the past. I was more literal at times, and more abstract at others, pushing the self-imposed limits I'd adhered to for too long. The writing was cathartic for me in a way that writing hadn't been since the early nineties. It had been a huge and often dark year: an arrest, a plane crash and the death of my mother. All of these things took a heavy toll on my psyche, and spurred a lot of serious exploring."

    The results of Robertson's personal explorations can be heard in this story of missed opportunities and remorse.

Comments: 2

  • Wendy from IowaI always loved this song. To me it speaks to me as sometimes in friendships (or family) you just have to sometimes let people go - no matter how hard you try to help them, they don't want the help. No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes. The lines "I'll give you something you can cry about... hold a mirror shoulder high when you're older look you in the eye" is all about how they will look back and regret their decision to leave. It's happened to all of us... or will.
  • Tiffanie from C-v, Arso i know it has a great beat and under all the... intresting soulful lyrics there is a great meaning.... but
    the other day we were in the car and my friends says, omg! the lyrics sound like some incest, pedifile rapist...lol i knw rite??? but the lyrics if you just overhear it the first time it does sound that way... but it is a good song to just listen to in the car with the top down...lol
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