Girl, I want to be good to you
I never want to do you no harm
I'm caught up in those fascination
Coping with your alarms
Ignore life if you want to, babe
Do what you've got to do
I need some time in the countryside
I want to feel so brand new

You make me run away
You make me run away
You make me run away, angel
You make me run away
Runaway

I see your name on the walls again
I painted you on my toes
Celebrate to resuscitate
We'll drink to ourselves
You'd collect lovers like gemstones
You talk of them as your friends
Dangle me from your wristchain
Another one lost to the wills of change

You make me run away
You make me run away
You make me run away, baby
You make me run away
Runaway

Still, I try to be good to you
You'll always be my friend
I've spent some time to define my mind
I want to be someone new

Why don't we run away?
Why don't we run away
Yeah, we can run away, angel
Yeah, we could run away

Why don't we run away?
You make me run away, baby
I want to run away
I want to run away

Overall Meaning

In The Kooks's song "Runaway," the lyrics provide a depiction of a toxic relationship, where one partner is infatuated with the other, while the other does not reciprocate emotions. The song's narrator expresses his desire to be good to his partner and not cause them harm, but he cannot help feeling caught up in their fascination. This is evident in the line, "I'm caught up in those fascination/Coping with your alarms." His partner's behavior is causing him alarm, but he feels the need to cope with it to continue the relationship.

The singer also mentions that he needs to get away to the countryside to feel brand new, indicating that the relationship is taking a toll on him mentally. He sees his partner's name on the walls and has even painted their name on his toes, showing that he is consumed by his partner's presence, whereas his partner collects lovers like gemstones, indicating that their partner is self-centered and not interested in a committed relationship. The line "Dangle me from your wrist chain/Another one lost to the wills of change" implies that his partner views the singer as nothing more than an accessory in her life.

Despite the persistent feelings of wanting to escape or run away, the singer still values the relationship and is willing to be a good friend, indicating that the relationship is complex and not just one-sided.

Line by Line Meaning

Girl, I want to be good to you
I want to treat you right and make you happy, girl.

I never want to do you no harm
I never intend to hurt you in any way.

I'm caught up in those fascination
I am captivated by your charm and allure.

Coping with your alarms
I am dealing with your insecurities and fears.

Ignore life if you want to, babe
Do what you need to do and live your life, girl.

Do what you've got to do
Take care of yourself and do what's best for you.

I need some time in the countryside
I need a break from the city and want to be surrounded by nature.

I want to feel so brand new
I want to feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

You make me run away
You cause me to want to escape.

I see your name on the walls again
I am reminded of you everywhere I go.

I painted you on my toes
I have you on my mind constantly.

Celebrate to resuscitate
We are partying to revive our spirits and feel alive.

We'll drink to ourselves
We'll indulge in our own company and enjoy each other's company.

You'd collect lovers like gemstones
You have many lovers and treat them well, like precious stones.

You talk of them as your friends
You see your lovers as close friends and companions.

Dangle me from your wristchain
You have me on your arm, like a piece of jewelry.

Another one lost to the wills of change
Another person lost to the unpredictable nature of life.

Still, I try to be good to you
I am still doing my best to treat you well, girl.

You'll always be my friend
Even if things don't work out, I'll still cherish your friendship.

I've spent some time to define my mind
I've taken some time to figure out who I am and what I want.

I want to be someone new
I want to change and grow as a person.

Why don't we run away?
Why don't we escape together and start fresh?

Yeah, we can run away, angel
Yes, let's go on an adventure and escape from our problems, girl.

You make me run away, baby
You are the reason I am compelled to escape, baby.

I want to run away
I need to leave this all behind and break free.

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