Currently, the group comprises singer and harmonica player John Popper, guitarist Chan Kinchla, drummer Brendan Hill, bassist Tad Kinchla and keyboardist Ben Wilson. Tad Kinchla and Ben Wilson joined the band following the death of original bassist Bobby Sheehan in 1999.
While Blues Traveler is best known among fans for their improvisational live shows, the general public is most familiar with the group from their Top 40 singles "Run-Around" and "Hook". They gained mainstream popularity after their fourth studio album four, released in 1994. Sheehan's death and Popper's struggle with obesity put a damper on the group's success, and A&M dropped the band in 2002.
Hippie / Imagine
Blues Traveler Lyrics
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I woke with something in my head
I couldn't escape the memory
Of a phone call and of what you said
Like a game show contestant with a parting gift,
I could not believe my eyes
When I saw through the voice of a trusted friend
Who needs to humor me and tell me lies
Yeah, humor me and tell me lies
And I'll lie, too, and say I don't mind
And as we seek, so shall we find
And when you're feeling open, I'll still be here
But not without a certain degree of fear
Of what will be with you and me
I still can see things hopefully, but you
[Chorus]
Why you want to give me a run-around?
Is it a surefire way to speed things up
When all it does is slow me down?
(oh, yeah)
Shake me and my confidence, about a great many things
But I've been there, I can see it cower
Like a nervous magician waiting in the wings
Of a bad play where the heroes are right
And nobody thinks or expects too much
And Hollywood's calling for the movie rights
Singin', hey, babe, let's keep in touch
Hey, baby, let's keep in touch
But I want more than a touch, I want you to reach me
And show me all the things no one else can see
So what ya feel becomes mine as well
And soon if we're lucky, we'd be unable to tell
What's yours and mine, the fishing's fine
And it doesn't have to rhyme
So don't you feed me a line
But you.
[Chorus]
Tra la-la bomba dear, this is the pilot speakin'
And I've got some news for you
It seems my ship still stands no matter what you drop
And there ain't a whole lot that you can do
Oh, sure, the banner may be torn
And the wind's gotten colder
Perhaps I've grown a little cynical
But I know no matter what the waitress brings
I shall drink in and always be full
Yeah, I will drink it and always be full
Oh, I like coffee, and I like tea
But to be able to enter a final plea
I still got this dream that you just can't shake
I love you to the point you can no longer take
Well, all right, o,k., so be that way
I hope and pray that there's something left to say
But you
[Chorus]
Blues Traveler's song Run is a beautifully crafted piece about the confusion and uncertainty that comes with relationships. The first verse is about waking up in the middle of the night with a memory that won't go away. The singer remembers a phone call with someone they care about, but something is not right. It feels like their friend is lying to them, but they hope against hope that they are wrong. They want their friend to tell them the truth, but they're afraid of what that truth may be. The catchy, upbeat melody belies the serious nature of the lyrics.
The chorus is the heart of the song, where the singer questions why their friend is playing games with their emotions. They feel like they're being led on and that their friend is intentionally slowing down the relationship. They're frustrated and want things to move faster. The repetition of the phrase "give me a run-around" drives home the idea that the singer feels like they are being jerked around.
The second verse continues the theme of feelings of self-doubt and uncertainty. The singer feels like their confidence has been shaken by their friend's behavior. They make a reference to Hollywood and movie rights, suggesting that this relationship is reminiscent of a bad movie. They want more than just a casual fling or a friendship; they want to connect on a deeper level. They want their friend to reach out to them and help them feel seen and understood.
The final verse is a bit of a departure from the earlier parts of the song. The singer makes a reference to being a pilot and weathering storms. They feel like they can handle whatever their friend throws at them because they are strong and resilient. They still love their friend, though, and that love is unshakable. At the end of the day, they still hope that things will work out between them.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, once upon a midnight dearie
Late at night, I woke up with you on my mind
I woke with something in my head
My thoughts are consumed with memories of you
I couldn't escape the memory
My mind is fixated on our past and what was said
Of a phone call and of what you said
Your words from our last conversation are still fresh in my mind
Like a game show contestant with a parting gift,
I hold on tight to the hope that there's still something left between us
I could not believe my eyes
I was shocked by what I heard
When I saw through the voice of a trusted friend
Someone close to me told me something about you
Who needs to humor me and tell me lies
I know they're just trying to make me feel better by sugarcoating the truth
Yeah, humor me and tell me lies
I'd rather be lied to than face the harsh reality of losing you
And I'll lie, too, and say I don't mind
I'll pretend that I'm okay with it, even though I'm really not
And as we seek, so shall we find
We'll find what we're looking for, whether it's good or bad
And when you're feeling open, I'll still be here
I'll be waiting for you, even when you're ready to open up again
But not without a certain degree of fear
I'm afraid of what the future holds for us
Of what will be with you and me
I'm uncertain about our future together
I still can see things hopefully, but you
I still have hope for us, but I'm unsure if you feel the same
Why you want to give me a run-around?
Why are you stringing me along?
Is it a surefire way to speed things up
Are you doing this to move things along faster?
When all it does is slow me down?
All this does is make me feel stuck and prevent me from moving on
Shake me and my confidence, about a great many things
All of this uncertainty is making me question myself and my decisions
But I've been there, I can see it cower
I've faced my fears before and I'm not willing to back down now
Like a nervous magician waiting in the wings
I feel like I'm just waiting for something magical to happen
Of a bad play where the heroes are right
Our story feels like a bad play where the ending is already predetermined
And nobody thinks or expects too much
Everyone's already given up on us and doesn't expect anything to come of this
And Hollywood's calling for the movie rights
Our story is so dramatic that it could be made into a movie
Singin', hey, babe, let's keep in touch
Let's not completely cut ties and still try to stay in touch
Hey, baby, let's keep in touch
Let's not completely say goodbye to each other, at least not yet
But I want more than a touch, I want you to reach me
I don't just want small talk, I want to connect with you emotionally
And show me all the things no one else can see
I want you to open up to me and show me your true self
So what ya feel becomes mine as well
I want to understand your thoughts and feelings so that we can connect
And soon if we're lucky, we'd be unable to tell
We'll be so close that we'll be able to finish each other's thoughts and sentences
What's yours and mine, the fishing's fine
We'll share everything and be happy together
And it doesn't have to rhyme
Our love doesn't have to follow any set pattern, it can be unique to us
So don't you feed me a line
Don't try to lie to me or lead me on
Tra la-la bomba dear, this is the pilot speakin'
This is my inner monologue speaking
And I've got some news for you
I need to tell you something important
It seems my ship still stands no matter what you drop
I'm still standing and able to move on, no matter what happens
And there ain't a whole lot that you can do
You can't control my feelings, and I'm not going to let you manipulate me anymore
Oh, sure, the banner may be torn
Our relationship may be broken, but it doesn't mean it can't be fixed
And the wind's gotten colder
Things have gotten harder between us and our love has cooled
Perhaps I've grown a little cynical
I've become more realistic about our chances and am not as hopeful as before
But I know no matter what the waitress brings
No matter what happens, I'll keep going and keep trying
I shall drink in and always be full
I will live my life to the fullest and not let my love life bring me down
Oh, I like coffee, and I like tea
I'm open to new experiences and don't have any preferences
But to be able to enter a final plea
I want one last chance to connect with you before we say goodbye
I still got this dream that you just can't shake
I still have hope for us and believe that our love can still happen
I love you to the point you can no longer take
I will always love you, even if you don't feel the same way anymore
Well, all right, o,k., so be that way
Alright, if you want to end it, I'll have to accept it
I hope and pray that there's something left to say
I hope that we can still talk and communicate, even if we're no longer together
But you
Your actions and decisions will ultimately determine what happens between us
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats the question of why the other person is leading them on and slowing them down
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN C. POPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind