Running in the Family
Level 42 Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Our dad would send us to our room
He'd be the voice of doom
He said that we would thank him later
All day he was solid as a rock
But by eight o'clock
We'd be crumbling
One night
My brother Joe and me
Climbed down the family tree
That grew outside our bedroom window
We ran though we knew it couldn't last
Running from the past
From things that we were born to be

Looking back it's so bizarre
It runs in the family
All the things we are
On the back seat of the car
With Joseph and Emily
We only see so far
And we all have our daddy's eyes
Looking back it's so bizarre

Dad rang the officer in charge
A man so large
He barely fit his circumstances
He said two kids out on the street
Were picked up on the beat
And in the station
So there's me
With Emily and Joe
Daddy driving home
All heading in the same direction
He knew no matter what the breaks
We'd make the same mistakes
Couldn't take his eyes of Joe and me

Looking back it's so bizarre
It runs in the family
All the things we are
On the backseat of the car
With Joseph and Emily
We only see so far
And we all have our daddy's eyes
Looking back it's so bizarre
It runs in the family
All the things we are
Looking back it's so bizarre

Like a dream within a dream
We're all somewhere in between

Like a drummer plays his drum
Like a father like a son
And your gonna have to face the music

Hey hey
We keep it running in the family
Hey hey
We keep it coming in the family

Hey hey
We keep it running in the family
Hey hey
We keep it coming in the family


Looking back it's so bizarre
It runs in the family
All the things we are
On the backseat of the car
With Joseph and Emily
We only see so far
'Cause we all have our daddy's eyes
Take me back into your arms
It's no longer a mystery
There's no cause for alarm
Could have never come this far
With no sense of history
It always leaves a scar
And we all have our daddy's eyes
Looking back it's so bizarre

Running in the family

Running in the family




And we all have our daddy's eyes
Looking back it's so bizarre hey

Overall Meaning

The song "Running in the Family" by Level 42 is a nostalgic reflection on the family dynamic, particularly the relationship between the singer and his father. The opening verse describes the father as a strict disciplinarian, constantly sending the singer and his siblings to their room. However, the father believes that his tough love will be appreciated later in life. By 8 pm, the children have crumbled under the pressure of their father's expectations. The next verse reflects on a daring escape from the family home, as the singer and his brother climb down the family tree and run from their past. Looking back, the singer realizes that their family quirks and struggles are just part of who they are, on full display in the back seat of the car with his siblings. Despite all of the challenges, the father's eyes are always watching them, prompting reflection on the singer's own children and their potential to inherit the quirks and challenges of their own family.


The song's nostalgia is underpinned by a sense of inevitability: no matter how much we try to escape from our past, we are always shaped by our family history. The lyrics are full of tactile imagery- the family tree outside their window, the backseat of the car- that reinforce the sense of familial closeness. However, the refrain's upbeat lyrics- "We keep it running in the family / We keep it coming in the family"- create a sense of continuity, highlighting that there is always hope for the future, and that the family's quirks and challenges are not necessarily a negative thing.


Line by Line Meaning

Our dad would send us to our room
Our father would punish us by sending us to our room when we misbehaved.


He'd be the voice of doom
He would use a stern tone to intimidate and discourage us from wrongdoing.


He said that we would thank him later
He believed that his strict discipline would benefit us in the long run and we would appreciate it later on in life.


All day he was solid as a rock
Our father was unwavering in his principles and remained steadfast throughout the day.


But by eight o'clock
However, in the evening, he started to become more lenient.


We'd be crumbling
We became more relaxed and started to enjoy ourselves without fear of punishment or criticism.


One night
On a particular occasion,


My brother Joe and me
My brother Joe and I,


Climbed down the family tree
We sneaked out of our bedroom window by climbing down the tree that was adjacent to it.


That grew outside our bedroom window
The tree sprouted on the side of the house next to our bedroom window.


We ran though we knew it couldn't last
We hurried away from our home even though we were aware that this escape could not continue for long.


Running from the past
We were attempting to flee from the consequences of our actions and the troubles that we had caused.


From things that we were born to be
We were trying to escape the paths that were laid out for us and resist the expectations that were imposed on us by our backgrounds and upbringing.


Looking back it's so bizarre
In retrospect, it is strange and surreal to remember those events.


All the things we are
All the characteristics, flaws, and strengths that define us as individuals.


On the back seat of the car
While sitting on the rear bench of the automobile,


With Joseph and Emily
Accompanied by my siblings Joseph and Emily.


We only see so far
We have limited knowledge and perception of the world and the future.


And we all have our daddy's eyes
We inherited some of our father's traits, such as his perspectives, attitudes, and values.


Dad rang the officer in charge
Our father contacted the person in charge of the situation.


A man so large
A person of significant size and importance.


He barely fit his circumstances
His physical size did not suit his position and role.


He said two kids out on the street
He reported that two youngsters were roaming the streets unsupervised.


Were picked up on the beat
They were apprehended by the police officer.


And in the station
They were taken to the police station.


So there's me
That is the situation I found myself in.


With Emily and Joe
With my siblings Emily and Joe.


Daddy driving home
Our father was driving the car on the way back home from the station.


All heading in the same direction
Everyone was in agreement and moving towards the same goal.


He knew no matter what the breaks
Our father believed that regardless of any setbacks or challenges we faced,


We'd make the same mistakes
We would inevitably repeat the same errors and poor decisions.


Couldn't take his eyes of Joe and me
Our father was concerned and worried about us, particularly Joe and me.


Like a dream within a dream
Something that seems unreal or fantastical, within another dreamlike scenario.


We're all somewhere in between
We are all positioned between two extremes or polar opposites.


Like a drummer plays his drum
Like a musician who expertly plays their instrument.


Like a father like a son
As we grow older, we often become similar to our parents in ways we did not anticipate.


And you're gonna have to face the music
You will eventually need to confront the consequences of your actions.


We keep it running in the family
We continue to repeat and perpetuate certain behaviors, attitudes, or traditions, that have been passed down through generations of our family.


We keep it coming in the family
We continue to maintain and strengthen the bonds, connections, and traditions that unite us as a family.


Take me back into your arms
Let me feel your embrace and comfort again.


It's no longer a mystery
The unknown, obscure, or confusing aspects of our lives have become clearer over time.


There's no cause for alarm
There is no need to panic or worry about the future or the past.


Could have never come this far
Without our history, experiences, and hardships, we could not be where we are today.


With no sense of history
Without being aware of our past, roots, and heritage.


It always leaves a scar
The events and people that have shaped our lives have left a lasting mark on us.


And we all have our daddy's eyes
We all see the world and our lives through some of our father's perspectives and values.


Running in the family
The tendency to exhibit certain traits, behaviors, or attitudes as a result of our ancestry.


And we all have our daddy's eyes
We all have inherited some of our father's views and attitudes towards life.


Looking back it's so bizarre
In hindsight, it seems strange and surreal.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Waliou Jacques Badarou, Philip Gabriel Gould, Mark King

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Lordro1o

This video couldn't get anymore 80s

@hansihinterseher9156

In a very positive way 🙂

@Dreamskater100

Yes!

@onlogica

Please let's go back ...

@leepatrick5856

sok its great music

@veronicajimenez2716

@@onlogicayes, bring me back

3 More Replies...

@Perthshire

My mom died of cancer last year. This song was one she would play in car when we were growing up in the 80s. Our family has a very strong bond and her love and guidance runs in the family forever. Love you, mom! ❤

@calamatylostherhorse6506

😢

@mishaqueshaikh

Must ɓe real tough. Stay strong & composed.

@richgiunto3432

😢

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