Always on the Run

Album: Mama Said (1991)
Charted: 41
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song features Slash from Guns N' Roses on guitar. Slash and Kravitz went to the same high school (Beverly Hills High School), but knew each other only fleetingly. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Martin - Rostock, Germany
  • Kravitz initially invited Slash to record a solo for "Fields Of Joy," but they decided to also write a song together. Slash already had the music in mind for a Guns N' Roses song, but because Steven Adler couldn't do the drumming, he brought it to Kravitz instead.
  • This featured in the films The Waterboy (1998) and Go (1999).
  • Slash met up with Kravitz for a vodka-fueled songwriting session directly after finishing his European tour. "After the last date, he jumped on the Concorde and flew from London to New York at nine in the morning," Kravitz recalled to Rolling Stone. "He had me get a gallon of vodka and a bag of ice, and we went in the studio and bang, there it was. The two of us wrote and cut the tune. I played drums; he played guitar; then I played my guitar, bass and did the vocals. I brought the horn players in and it was done. Then he got on a plane the next morning and went to LA It was a wild day."
  • The album takes its name from the song's first line: "My mama said that your life is a gift." This track, in particular, was inspired by her wisdom. The singer explained: "The lyrics are about how my mom always wanted to give me her wisdom. She would want me to slow down sometimes to think and take things in. I was just on a crazy ride at the time and couldn't slow down. She was telling me this stuff at the time... 'but I'm always on the run."

Comments: 3

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 17th 1993, Lenny Kravitz performed "Always On The Run" on the NBC-TV program 'Saturday Night Live'...
    One year earlier it reached #8 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart...
    The video of the song was directed by singer Bob Dylan's eldest son, Jesse.
  • Michael from Staten Island, NyWow, only one comment on this song and three facts? This song deservs way better. Any song with either Slash or Lenny Kravitz is destined for greatness. Put these two together, and wow. Aerosmith's manager stated that is he were to pick a replacement for Stephen Tyler (as he;s definetly out of the band), he would pick Lenny Kravitz.
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaGreat riff, You gotta love Slash on this.Lenny Kravitz should front Velvet Revolver, now that would be interesting..
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

The Girl in That Song

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Actors With Hit Songs

Actors With Hit SongsMusic Quiz

Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?