Cal Scruby is a 23-year-old product of Cincinnati, OH and the Ohio State Un… Read Full Bio ↴Cal Scruby is a 23-year-old product of Cincinnati, OH and the Ohio State University. Much of his childhood was spent in the small town of Londen, OH surrounded by a close-knit group of family and friends. Cal's interest in hip-hop grew from an early age until he started making music in 2011. His music covers the aspects of his young adult lifestyle, often using wordplay that references sports and pop-culture. With each project, he focuses on personal and artistic progression. Unsigned, released May 21st, 2019, was his first album since ditching his record label Riveting Music.

Runnin'
Cal Scruby Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

V1
Got dreams of selling out the Fillmore, #1 on Billboard
Count 100 thousand on the bed and there’s still more
Tell myself I gotta get my mind right and chill more
But the bills say I gotta kill more, so line em up
I’m drinking straight from the bottle, I couldn’t find a cup
I watch the second-hand tick until the time is up
The time is now, I ride around with cameras on

A nice night, the lights bright, the candles long
The wick burning, I sip bourbon, the whip turning
They tried flipping the script, they only flip burgers
They don’t concern us, to each his own
I’m reaching high, they reaching out, they always leaching on
This here the sermon, yeah I’m preaching on
They yelling “amen, ” and I’m just wishing I could save them
Driving down the road, I’m the rose in the pavement
House in the hills but a house ain’t a home if it’s vacant
It’s vacant, it’s vacant

HOOK
I know you wanna get away, I know you wanna get away
But tell me what are you running from? Tell me what are you waiting for?
Don’t you know that it’s coming? Don’t you know that it’s coming?

V2
I go so deep in my mind, I don’t know when I’ll surface
Take a breath, headfirst into something uncertain
Searching for gold; threw this away like I knew this was old
The temperature perfect, the verses are cold
Imagine that, came back with something that’s brand new
If you don’t stand up, how they gon’ understand you?
Cuz they all brainwashed, this music the shampoo
I’m head and shoulders above em, I can’t lose
Man to be the one chosen is something you can’t choose
You gotta play the hand that you’re dealt
You gotta start counting your blessings instead of your wealth
And if you tryna make a change you better start with yourself
And stop running, stop running

HOOK

Overall Meaning

Cal Scruby's song Runnin' has deep yet relatable lyrics that anyone who has ambitions or dreams of success can understand. The first verse discusses the struggle between chasing one's dreams and dealing with the financial realities of life. Cal Scruby dreams of performing at the Fillmore and topping the Billboard charts, but also acknowledges the need to focus on his financial goals. He drinks straight from the bottle and watches the clock ticking until the time is up, indicating the pressure he feels to succeed. Scruby is determined to achieve his dreams, but he also sees the struggles that come with it.

In the second verse, Scruby describes the introspective journey he embarks on while pursuing his goals. He delves deep into his mind, searching for a new perspective that will help him achieve his ambition. Scruby notes that he has to keep innovating and coming up with new ideas if he wants to stand out in a crowded industry. The lyrics suggest that Scruby is self-motivated and has a strong desire to be heard.

The chorus repeats several times, with Scruby imploring the listener to stop running away from their dreams or fears. He wants people to realize that they can't avoid what's coming and that they need to face it head-on. He reminds listeners that they are capable of creating change in their own life, but they must start by taking control of their own actions.

Line by Line Meaning

Got dreams of selling out the Fillmore, #1 on Billboard
I have aspirations of performing at the Fillmore and having a #1 hit on the Billboard charts.

Count 100 thousand on the bed and there’s still more
I have accumulated a large amount of money and assets beyond that.

Tell myself I gotta get my mind right and chill more
I recognize that I need to be more mindful and practice relaxation techniques to reduce stress despite my busy life.

But the bills say I gotta kill more, so line em up
Despite my desire to relax more, my financial responsibilities require me to keep working and pursuing opportunities.

I’m drinking straight from the bottle, I couldn’t find a cup
I am casually drinking alcohol without care for proper serving utensils.

I watch the second-hand tick until the time is up
I am constantly aware of time ticking away and feel the need to maximize every moment.

The time is now, I ride around with cameras on
I am currently in my prime and documenting my experiences with cameras.

A nice night, the lights bright, the candles long
I am enjoying a luxurious evening with bright lights and candles.

The wick burning, I sip bourbon, the whip turning
I am casually sipping bourbon while driving around in my car.

They tried flipping the script, they only flip burgers
Others have tried to interfere with my success, but they are not successful themselves.

They don’t concern us, to each his own
I am not worried about what others do and believe in personal freedom of choice.

I’m reaching high, they reaching out, they always leeching on
I am striving for more success while others try to cling onto me for their own benefit.

This here the sermon, yeah I’m preaching on
My current message and music represent a sermon and a teaching for others.

They yelling “amen, ” and I’m just wishing I could save them
Others are praising my message, but I wish I could do more to help them personally.

Driving down the road, I’m the rose in the pavement
I stand out and am unique in the midst of my surroundings.

House in the hills but a house ain’t a home if it’s vacant
Despite owning a luxurious house, it feels empty if there is no one to share it with.

I know you wanna get away, I know you wanna get away
I understand that you want to escape and find a new path.

But tell me what are you running from? Tell me what are you waiting for?
I am curious as to what fears or obstacles are preventing you from pursuing your goals.

Don’t you know that it’s coming? Don’t you know that it’s coming?
Success is in your future and you should be prepared for it.

I go so deep in my mind, I don’t know when I’ll surface
I tend to get lost in my thoughts and have trouble coming back to reality.

Take a breath, headfirst into something uncertain
I need to focus on my goals and take a risk despite precarious circumstances.

Searching for gold; threw this away like I knew this was old
I am searching for true success, but have previously disregarded opportunities as not worthwhile.

The temperature perfect, the verses are cold
The instrumental and production quality is good while the lyrics are confident and even cold.

Imagine that, came back with something that’s brand new
I am proud to have created something innovative and unique for my listeners.

If you don’t stand up, how they gon’ understand you?
It is important to stand up for one's beliefs or else you will not be truly understood.

Cuz they all brainwashed, this music the shampoo
Others have been socially conditioned and brainwashed, but my music can cleanse them of their thoughts and beliefs.

I’m head and shoulders above em, I can’t lose
I am confident in my skills and abilities and feel ahead of the rest.

Man to be the one chosen is something you can’t choose
Being selected or chosen is often beyond our control and can be a blessing or curse.

You gotta play the hand that you’re dealt
You have to deal with the life you are given and make the best of it.

You gotta start counting your blessings instead of your wealth
It is important to focus on the good things in one's life rather than strictly monetary gain.

And if you tryna make a change you better start with yourself
If you want to create change in the world, it starts with self-improvement and growth.

And stop running, stop running
It is important to face one's problems and obstacles rather than constantly trying to escape them.

Contributed by Isaiah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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