A second album by this duo, entitled Superwolves, followed in 2021. It is formally credited to Matt Sweeney & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (the artists' names listed the other way 'round), but Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Matt Sweeney is the by far most popular and most used tag for this collaboration here on Last.fm.
Only Someone Running
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Matt Sweeney Lyrics
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Would run right into me
Unless that someone was someone free like me
There are things I will not do
I will even be mean and cruel
And I will not stay with you
Unless you give me all of yourself
When I was a sandy blue
And friendship dwelled in Western true
Smoke and pill and lovely too
That was before you gave of you
We'll make our future dream be ours
Through your eyes, I swallow flowers
And disdain the winter showers
Choosing them to bath in you
And I sing evil, I sing good
I sing as a seagull should
And if you melted then I would
Melt myself all into you
Can you love the one that god does?
Can you love the lily of the field?
Can you tend the soil inside of her
Until all has been revealed?
And I sing evil, I sing good
I sing as a seagull should
And if you melted then I would
Melt myself all into you
Can you love the one that god does?
Can you love the lily of the field?
Can you tend the soil inside of her
Until all has been revealed?
The lyrics to "Only Someone Running" by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Matt Sweeney express the idea that the only person who would willingly come into someone else's life is someone who is also free and not tied down to anything or anyone else. The singer acknowledges that there are things that they would not do, and that they would only stay with someone if they were given everything the other person had to offer. The first verse sets the scene for this idea, stating that only someone who is running would willingly collide with the singer's life. The second verse brings up the singer's past, and makes a reference to drug use and a time before the other person came into their life. The rest of the song gets more abstract, with a focus on love and connection.
The chorus repeats the question, "Can you love the one that god does?" This question can be interpreted in many different ways, but it could be asking whether the other person is capable of loving unconditionally, like God does. The references to the lily of the field and tending the soil could be seen as metaphors for nurturing something or someone in order to reveal their full potential. The repetition of the line "And I sing evil, I sing good" suggests that the singer is open to all facets of life and emotion, and is willing to fully experience everything that comes their way, whether it be good or bad.
Overall, the song has a sense of longing and searching for a deep connection with another person. The idea that only someone who is free and unencumbered could come into the singer's life suggests that they are looking for a partner who is also independent and self-sufficient.
Line by Line Meaning
Only someone running
It takes an adventurous and daring person to unconsciously run into someone like me.
Would run right into me
They would happen to come across me and collide with me.
Unless that someone was someone free like me
Except, of course, if that person is someone as free-spirited and independent-minded as I am.
There are things I will not do
There are certain things I am unwilling to do.
I will even be mean and cruel
I would not even hesitate to be harsh and hurtful if that's what it takes.
And I will not stay with you
I cannot be with you forever.
Unless you give me all of yourself
Unless you are willing to give me your whole self and commit to me completely.
When I was a sandy blue
Back when I was carefree and innocent.
And friendship dwelled in Western true
When genuine friendship was still prevalent in the western world.
Smoke and pill and lovely too
When I still enjoyed smoking and taking pills and found them enjoyable.
That was before you gave of you
That was before you entered into my life and opened up to me.
We'll make our future dream be ours
Together, we will make our vision for the future a reality.
Through your eyes, I swallow flowers
You make everything seem so beautiful and lovely, and I am drawn in by your perspective.
And disdain the winter showers
I have no interest in the cold, harsh elements of winter without you.
Choosing them to bath in you
Instead, I choose to be with you and bask in your warmth and radiance.
And I sing evil, I sing good
I sing both of the good and the bad in life.
I sing as a seagull should
I sing as freely and joyfully as a seagull soaring above the waves.
And if you melted then I would
If you were to reciprocate my love, then I would.
Melt myself all into you
Fuse myself entirely with you and be inextricably intertwined.
Can you love the one that god does?
Do you have the capacity to love someone as unconditionally and purely as God does?
Can you love the lily of the field?
Can you find beauty and love in simple things like a lily in a field?
Can you tend the soil inside of her
Can you nurture and care for the innermost parts of her being?
Until all has been revealed?
Until she shows you all of herself, good and bad, and you still love and accept her completely?
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
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