Running from Home
Bert Jansch Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Runnin' runnin' from home
Breakin' ties that you'd grown
Catchin' dreams from the clouds

The city sounds burn your soul
Turn your head to the cries
Of loneliness in the night
Just like a fly when it's caught
The spider soon takes it's prey
Spins a dance round your heart

Give me your beauty and age
A pleasure pleasing my mind
Your heart will shatter and fall

Step on pavements so old
Cast a glance at the young
Girls a-making their way

The passing image of you
Reflects a pain to my heart
And disappears in a crowd

Runnin' runnin' from home




Breakin' ties that you'd grown
Catchin' dreams from the clouds

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bert Jansch's song "Running From Home" tells the story of a person who is trying to escape the monotony of their life by running away from home. The person is filled with a yearning to catch their dreams and break the ties that they have grown, which eventually leads them to the city. However, upon reaching the city, the person finds that it is not the paradise they imagined it to be. Instead, the city sounds burn their soul and the loneliness of the night turns their head towards the cries of other lonely people.


In this city, the person is just like a fly caught in a spider's web. The person meets someone who they find beautiful and pleasurable, but this newfound beauty and age ultimately shatter their heart. As they walk the old pavements of the city and see young girls making their way in life, the person’s pain and loneliness are reflected back at them. The song ends with the person still running, still trying to catch their dreams from the clouds, and still lost in the city.


Overall, "Running From Home" is a song that captures the restlessness and yearning for something more that many people feel in their everyday lives. The song is a commentary on the human condition and how we all struggle to find meaning and purpose, and often fall short in our pursuit of happiness.


Line by Line Meaning

Runnin' runnin' from home
Fleeing away from one's home, trying to escape something.


Breakin' ties that you'd grown
Ending connections and attachments that have been built up over time.


Catchin' dreams from the clouds
Chasing after goals or aspirations that are lofty or unrealistic.


The city sounds burn your soul
The noise and stress of urban life has a negative impact on one's mental and emotional well-being.


Turn your head to the cries
Paying attention to the suffering or grievances of others.


Of loneliness in the night
Feeling isolated and disconnected from others during the dark hours.


Just like a fly when it's caught
Being trapped or ensnared in a situation or relationship against one's will.


The spider soon takes it's prey
Someone or something that is predatory and seeks to take advantage of others.


Spins a dance round your heart
Manipulating or enticing someone in a way that is deceptive or harmful.


Give me your beauty and age
Asking for something valuable from someone else, such as youth and attractiveness.


A pleasure pleasing my mind
Enjoying something that brings pleasure or satisfaction to oneself.


Your heart will shatter and fall
Causing emotional pain or distress to the other person.


Step on pavements so old
Walking on ancient or worn-out streets.


Cast a glance at the young
Noticing or admiring youthful and attractive people.


Girls a-making their way
Young women who are trying to establish themselves and make progress in their lives.


The passing image of you
Seeing a brief glimpse of someone who was once important to you.


Reflects a pain to my heart
Stirring up emotions of sadness or regret in oneself.


And disappears in a crowd
Vanishing into a throng of people, making it difficult to find or reconnect with that person.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERT JANSCH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions