Benét's father loved classical music and inspired an interest in music in his son. By his teens, Eric had formed a vocal group with his sister and cousin called "Benét." The group released a self-titled album in 1992 that sold 70,000 copies.
Also in 1992, Benét's girlfriend, Tami Stauff, gave birth to a daughter they named India. The couple's happiness was short-lived when 25-year old Tami was killed in a car accident on April 24, 1993.
In 1994, Benét signed with Warner Bros. Records, releasing his solo debut album, True to Myself, in fall (1996). His next album, A Day in the Life, was released in 1999; its first single, "Georgy Porgy (featuring Faith Evans)" received significant airplay, but the second single, "Spend My Life With You (featuring Tamia)", became a smash hit. "Spend My Life With You" rose to number one on the American R&B charts, was certified gold, and nominated for a 2000 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. The album, A Day In The Life also won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Male. Benét also recorded for Earth, Wind, and Fire's 30th anniversary CD.
Benét has also been active as an actor; he had a recurring role on the television program For Your Love (1998 - 2002). He made his film debut in Glitter (2001).
Runnin'
Eric Benét Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All over town just to see what I could find
Every now and then I'd find some company
But every kiss, temporary
I try to tell myself that it was just a game
I'd run again to try and ease that lonely pain
No matter where I traveled, there I'd be
Stuck in those walls of skin called me
And I was just runnin' to find somethin' true
And I just be runnin' with nothing to prove
And I kept on runnin' and had nothing to show
They all saw me runnin' and said there he go
You caught my eye one day while I was on a run
Somehow you made me feel my life had just begun
I've seen the last of all my roamin' days
'Cause I grew from you I'd never run away
Now you got me runnin' to get home to you
And my heart keeps runnin' when I think of things you do
And I won't be runnin' to the one else, no one
They all see me runnin' and say that's love for sure oh yeah
I'm not hesitating no, as soon as work is done yeah
As fast as my legs can carry me yeah
Yeah life ain't complicated oh no
When you've got only one, one heart, one joy
One place to be
And now I'm watching people runnin' all around
Chasing after things that'll just run them down
And life is so much better if they change their ways
I wish I could tell them but you know I can't stay
'Cause I gotta get runnin' and get home to you, gotta get home
And my heart keeps runnin' when I think of things you do,
And I won't be runnin', no one else, no one no more
They all see me runnin' and say that's love for sure
And I'll just be runnin' to get home to you, gotta get home
And my heart keep runnin' when I think of things you do,
And I won't be runnin' to no one no more
They all see me runnin' and say that's love for sure
They all see me runnin' and say that's love for sure
They all see me runnin' and say that's love for sure
Eric Benét's "Runnin'" is a reflective and deeply personal song about a man who used to run around town aimlessly, trying to find something real and true, but never finding anything lasting. He admits that every kiss he had was temporary, and he was stuck in a cycle of trying to escape the loneliness he felt. However, one day while on a run, he met someone who captured his heart and made him feel like his life had just begun. From that moment on, the singer no longer was running away from himself or his loneliness, instead, he was running towards something true and meaningful - his love.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase, "They all see me running and say that's love for sure." It's a powerful statement that highlights the idea that love has the power to change a person's life in profound ways. The singer, once a runner with nothing to show, now has found love that has given his life direction and meaning. He's no longer aimlessly searching for something, but he's found what he's been looking for all along.
Benét's lyrics convey a message of hope and the transformative power of love. It's a reminder that even when we feel alone, lost or uncertain, there's always hope for something better. The song's message is communicated through a smooth and soulful R&B sound that makes it easy to listen to repeatedly.
Line by Line Meaning
Runnin' used to be the way I pass my time
I used to wander aimlessly to fill my time
All over town just to see what I could find
I would go anywhere to find something to do
Every now and then I'd find some company
Sometimes I found someone to be with
But every kiss, temporary
But any affection I received was fleeting
I try to tell myself that it was just a game
I tried convincing myself it was just a passing amusement
I'd run again to try and ease that lonely pain
To forget the loneliness, I continued wandering
No matter where I traveled, there I'd be
No matter where I went, I couldn't escape myself
Stuck in those walls of skin called me
Trapped within the confines of my own being
And I was just runnin' to find somethin' true
I was searching for something genuine
And I just be runnin' with nothing to prove
I was aimlessly wandering without a purpose
And I kept on runnin' and had nothing to show
I continued searching but had nothing to display
They all saw me runnin' and said there he go
Those around me watched as I wandered without direction
You caught my eye one day while I was on a run
I noticed you while aimlessly wandering
Somehow you made me feel my life had just begun
Your presence gave me a sense of starting anew
I've seen the last of all my roamin' days
I no longer wander since meeting you
'Cause I grew from you I'd never run away
I became a better person through you, and I won't leave
Now you got me runnin' to get home to you
I run to be with you
And my heart keeps runnin' when I think of things you do
I feel excitement thinking about what we'll do together
And I won't be runnin' to the one else, no one
I won't wander to find someone else
They all see me runnin' and say that's love for sure oh yeah
Others recognize that I am running towards love
I'm not hesitating no, as soon as work is done yeah
I don't hesitate to run to be with you after work
As fast as my legs can carry me yeah
I run as quickly as possible to see you
Yeah life ain't complicated oh no
Life is not complicated anymore
When you've got only one, one heart, one joy
When you have only one person you love, life is simple
One place to be
Being with you is the only place I want to be
And now I'm watching people runnin' all around
I observe people aimlessly wandering
Chasing after things that'll just run them down
Pursuing things that will ultimately exhaust and unfulfill them
And life is so much better if they change their ways
Life would improve if they altered their behavior
I wish I could tell them but you know I can't stay
I wish I could help them, but I have to go home to you
'Cause I gotta get runnin' and get home to you, gotta get home
I must get going to see you
And my heart keeps runnin' when I think of things you do,
I feel joyful thinking about the things we do together
And I won't be runnin' to no one no more
I won't wander to be with anyone else
They all see me runnin' and say that's love for sure
Those around me recognize that I am running towards love
And I'll just be runnin' to get home to you, gotta get home
I'll keep running towards you
And my heart keep runnin' when I think of things you do,
I'll keep feeling excited thinking about what we'll do together
And I won't be runnin' to no one no more
I won't wander to be with anyone else
They all see me runnin' and say that's love for sure
Others recognize that I am running towards love
They all see me runnin' and say that's love for sure
Others recognize that I am running towards love
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC BENET JORDAN, GEORGE T. JR. NASH, AFTON TERRELL SR. JOHNSON, JOHN W. MCVICKER, JONATHAN D. RICHMOND, ERICK D. WALLS, Crystal Johnson, Mats Valentin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@glitzycutz3975
Runnin used to be the way I pass my time
All over town just to see what I could find
Every now and then I find some company
But every kiss, temporary
I try to tell myself that it was just a game
I'd run again to try and ease that lonely pain
No matter where I travel there I'd be, stuck in those walls of skin called me
And I was just runnin' to find somethin true
And I just be runnin with nothing to prove
And I kept on runnin and nothing to show
They all saw me runnin and said there he go
You caught my eye one day when I was on a run
Somehow you made me feel my life had just begun
I've seen the last of all my roamin days
'Cause I knew from you I'd never run again
Now you've got me runnin to get home to you
And my heart keeps running when I think of things you do
And I won't be runnin to no one else no more
When yall see me runnin, say that's love for sure oh yeah
I'm not hesitating no and as soon as work is done yeah
As fast as my legs can carry me yeah
Mhmh yeah life ain't complicated oh no
When you got only one, one heart one joy
One place to be
And now I'm watching people runnin all around
Chasing after things that'll just run them down
Life is so much better if they change their way
I wish I could tell them but you know I can't stay
'Cause I gotta get runnin and get home to you, gotta get home
And my heart keeps runnin when I think of things you do,
And I won't be runnin, no one else, no one no more
When yall see me runnin, say that's love for sure
I gotta get runnin and get home to you, gotta get home
And my heart keep runnin when I think of things you do,
And I won't be runnin, no one else, no one no more
When yall see me runnin, say that's love for sure
when yall see me running, say that's love for sure
They all see me runnin and say that's love for sure
@tj9801
Sooo underrated, both the song and the singer.
I love you eric!!
@melissascholfield1162
Eric Benet is soooooooo under rated. I really need someone to give him his props. His voice is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
@tyanalynn1906
I love this song soo much his voice &the notes that he can hit is incredible ❤️✨ who’s still listening ?
@hildat8
🙋🏽♀️
@tawandaholshouser1905
2023 and i’m still listening to my baby❤❤❤❤
@lateshiachilds3640
What an amazing CD, I love Eric Benet I'm a huge fan.
@ChelseaWilson-ng3kj
This is a beautiful nice picture of eric benet still love his music 💕💕
@OnMyGrindEveryDay
this is definitely a candidate for being my wedding song..
@glitzycutz3975
Runnin used to be the way I pass my time
All over town just to see what I could find
Every now and then I find some company
But every kiss, temporary
I try to tell myself that it was just a game
I'd run again to try and ease that lonely pain
No matter where I travel there I'd be, stuck in those walls of skin called me
And I was just runnin' to find somethin true
And I just be runnin with nothing to prove
And I kept on runnin and nothing to show
They all saw me runnin and said there he go
You caught my eye one day when I was on a run
Somehow you made me feel my life had just begun
I've seen the last of all my roamin days
'Cause I knew from you I'd never run again
Now you've got me runnin to get home to you
And my heart keeps running when I think of things you do
And I won't be runnin to no one else no more
When yall see me runnin, say that's love for sure oh yeah
I'm not hesitating no and as soon as work is done yeah
As fast as my legs can carry me yeah
Mhmh yeah life ain't complicated oh no
When you got only one, one heart one joy
One place to be
And now I'm watching people runnin all around
Chasing after things that'll just run them down
Life is so much better if they change their way
I wish I could tell them but you know I can't stay
'Cause I gotta get runnin and get home to you, gotta get home
And my heart keeps runnin when I think of things you do,
And I won't be runnin, no one else, no one no more
When yall see me runnin, say that's love for sure
I gotta get runnin and get home to you, gotta get home
And my heart keep runnin when I think of things you do,
And I won't be runnin, no one else, no one no more
When yall see me runnin, say that's love for sure
when yall see me running, say that's love for sure
They all see me runnin and say that's love for sure
@carolgraham3359
Thx for sharing the lyrics, I just sang this song 5x's in a row with the lyrics. Might break a record
Lol