Champs are Michael and David Champion, two brothers from the Isle of Wight'… Read Full Bio ↴Champs are Michael and David Champion, two brothers from the Isle of Wight's Victorian seaside retreat of Ventnor.

Their debut album, Down Like Gold, was recorded at Studio Humbug, an old water tower inside the walls of Osborne House, Queen Victoria's retreat on the north of island. Designed by Prince Albert in 1845, the building has a large top floor that now houses a studio and above it all sits a glorious metal roof that acts as a natural echo chamber - a utility this band really made the most of.

Running
Champs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I fell asleep with a full on feeling
I knew I had a place to go
I fell asleep with the desert screaming
In you I saw the orange glow

Children in the aisle screaming out my name
Danger in the alley, buckets full of rain
Trouble in the sky, trouble in the sea

Emptyness of you staring back at me

And now I'm always running, always chasing, always hiding
And when I'm running
I see nothing but you
And when I'm running no more bones are shaking, bones are breaking
I'm only looking for you

I fell asleep with a full on feeling
I knew I had a heart to break
I fell asleep with the desert screaming
I knew I had a dream to make

I can see you running faster than before
I can see a storm settle on the shore
While there's a wind blowing at my back
Devil in the sky, ready to attack

And now I'm always running, always chasing, always hiding
And when I'm running I see nothing but you
And when I'm running no more bones are shaking, bones are breaking
I'm only looking for you

And now I'm always running, always chasing, always hiding
And when I'm running I see nothing but you
And now I'm always running, always chasing, always hiding
And when I'm running I see nothing but you
And now I'm always running, always chasing, always hiding
And when I'm running I see nothing but you

And now I'm always running, always chasing, always hiding
And when I'm running I see nothing but you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Champs's song "Running" reflect a sense of restlessness, anxiety, and longing. The opening lines suggest the singer is seeking an escape in sleep or dreams, but even then can't shake the feeling of needing to move, to run. He sees the desert, and imagines an "orange glow" that is perhaps a metaphor for a sense of direction, a path to follow. The second verse introduces more concrete danger, with screaming children, alleys full of rain, and ominous trouble in the sky and sea. Even with all this chaos, the "emptiness of you" is still present, a haunting absence that the singer can't ignore.

The chorus hammers home the theme of constant motion and pursuit, with a repetitive plea to find the object of the singer's desire, represented by the "you" figure. He sees nothing else when he's running but this figure, and even after the chase and the shaking and breaking of bones, the ultimate goal is always to find this person.

The final verse introduces another narrator who is also running, someone who is perhaps escaping the same danger and chaos that the first narrator is experiencing. They're running faster, but the singer is still fixated on finding their elusive and unnamed "you," as the devil looms in the sky.

Overall, "Running" captures a sense of anxiety and fear, but also a deep-seated desire for connection and purpose. The repeated phrases in the chorus emphasize the singer's desperation and the intensity of the chase. The orange glow, the danger in the sky and sea, and the devil all add to the unease and uncertainty of the overall narrative. Ultimately, the song leaves us with a sense of longing and persistence, as the singer continues to run and search for something that may always remain just out of reach.

Line by Line Meaning

I fell asleep with a full on feeling
I went to bed feeling overwhelming emotions

I knew I had a place to go
I had a purpose or destination in mind

I fell asleep with the desert screaming
My surroundings were loud and chaotic

In you I saw the orange glow
I found comfort or hope in you

Children in the aisle screaming out my name
I'm being called upon or needing to fulfill responsibilities

Danger in the alley, buckets full of rain
I'm facing obstacles or challenges

Trouble in the sky, trouble in the sea
There are difficulties all around me

Emptyness of you staring back at me
I feel alone or lacking something important

And now I'm always running, always chasing, always hiding
I'm constantly on the move, seeking or avoiding something

And when I'm running I see nothing but you
You're always on my mind, no matter what I do

And when I'm running no more bones are shaking, bones are breaking
I'm no longer afraid or in pain