BOX FIVE is the brainchild of Mary Bichner, a 25-year-old composer and perf… Read Full Bio ↴BOX FIVE is the brainchild of Mary Bichner, a 25-year-old composer and performer hailing from the bustling metropolis of Philadelphia, PA. Combining Mozart-inspired chord progressions and bratty Brit-rock hooks into a musical succotash she likes to call classipop, the eccentric yet loveable redhead hopes to breathe new life into the calcified world of "radio-friendly" contemporary music through her memorable melodies and solid songwriting.

Formerly a permanent ensemble, Box Five is now a solo project which allows Mary to work with a variety of musicians on her diverse compositions.

Running
Box Five Lyrics

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whendit getso cold out?
i think i've frozen solid
i can't feel my fingers
i cannot feel my fingers
you're a broken record
all that you keep saying
is "things will be much better
better once we get there"

but how long we been running?
and are we getting any closer?
how long we been running?
i don't think i can go much further

do you know where we're headed?
you sure that thing ain't backwards?
should the sky be purple?
aren't we making circles?
why do i keep asking
if all that you keep saying
is "things will be much better
better once we get there"?

how long we been running?
and are we getting any closer?
how long we been running?
i don't think i can go much further

i have no idea
don't ask my opinion
i can't make decisions
not without directions
all of this is your fault
you said you were on it
nice that these things come out
now

how long we been running?
and are we getting any closer?
how long we been running?
i don't think i can go much further

how long we been running?
do they even know we're coming?

Overall Meaning

The song "Running" by Box Five is a reflective piece that communicates the feeling of being lost, unsure, and disorientated. The song showcases the singer's uncertainty as they question the direction they are heading, the purpose of their journey, and if they are actually making any real progress. The opening lines of the song illustrate the physical and emotional toll that the journey has taken on the singer. They feel as if they have frozen solid and cannot even feel their fingers. The lyrics of the song are powerful as they showcase the singer's vulnerability and their sense of hopelessness.

The chorus of the song drives home the heart of what the singer is trying to communicate. They ask how long they have been running and if they are getting any closer to their destination. Throughout the track, they question the decisions that led them to this point, their feelings of betrayal by some unseen force that they previously trusted, and their realization that they are entirely helpless without a clear direction.

The lyric "Do you know where we're headed? You sure that thing ain't backward?" is particularly impactful as it underscores the confusion and anxiety that the singer feels. These lines push the listener to question their own surroundings and the decisions that they make.

Overall, "Running" is a gripping and emotional piece that perfectly captures the helplessness and impulsiveness that comes with blindly following someone's plans without a clear understanding of where you are going, why you are going there, or how you will know when you have arrived.

Line by Line Meaning

whendit getso cold out?
When did it get so cold outside?

i think i've frozen solid
I feel frozen and stiff.

i can't feel my fingers
I have lost sensation in my fingers.

i cannot feel my fingers
I still have no feeling in my fingers.

you're a broken record
You keep repeating the same thing over and over.

all that you keep saying
Everything you say is always the same.

is "things will be much better better once we get there"
You always say that things will improve once we reach our goal.

but how long we been running?
But how much time have we spent running?

and are we getting any closer?
Are we making progress towards our goal?

i don't think i can go much further
I don't think I have the strength to continue much longer.

do you know where we're headed?
Do you have any idea where we are going?