While Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson are proud of their successful first effort, they are excited to have teamed with producer Josh Leo (Alabama, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) on their RCA effort. "We love performing" says Stephen. "The way we are recording now is the way our influences made records: live with a band. It's a lot more organic.".”
Eric’s earthy voice is the perfect complement to Stephen’s high-altitude tenor. The guys happily share lead vocals, harmonize like a church choir, and bolster their band with their own guitar work. “Stephen and I have always been on the same page as far as the vision for Love and Theft and what we want it to be,” says Eric. “We feel like we have made the record we’ve always wanted to make.”
The result is a nod to the duo’s varied influences. “She’s Amazing” evokes the brilliant harmonies of the Eagles. The seductive “Amen” channels all the yearning of Roy Orbison. And the rollicking first single “Angel Eyes” brings to mind Elvis Presley’s “(You’re the) Devil in Disguise.”
While Johnny Cash and Orbison are both enormous influences, it might surprise fans to learn who the duo’s favorite artist is. “Hands-down, Elvis,” says Stephen. “My dad was really into him, so I got into him. I was all over Elvis growing up.”
Coincidentally, both Stephen and Eric—who didn’t meet until they were in their early 20s—were raised as pastors’ kids, and their respective fathers fed them a steady diet of gospel, oldies and country. “Our parents didn’t want us listening to secular music that much. But they’d let us listen to Elvis, Roy, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band…,” says Eric. “It was cool to grow up that way, and that’s still my favorite kind of music.”
It isn’t lost on the guys that they’re now recording for the very label that released some of their hero’s biggest hits. “We’re excited to be on RCA, the same label Elvis was on,” Stephen says with a smile.
Perhaps it was some divine intervention that led the friends to this point in their career. Eric and Stephen, after all, will be the first to tell you that their shared spirituality is a cornerstone of Love and Theft. In fact, both used to lead worship at their churches.
“That’s how we got our start playing music. Our faith is a huge part of our lives,” says Eric, pondering the fate of it all. “I feel like it was meant to be this way from the beginning. Our journey over the past four years was preparing us for where we’re at now.”
Which is squarely at the doorstop of a prosperous career in country music. With a young, vibrant sound, a captivating live show, and a passionate fan base, Love and Theft are poised to become the genre’s next great duo.
http://www.loveandtheft.com/
Runaway
Love and Theft Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sick of where I work, my boss is such a jerk, don't care if I get fired.
My backs about to break, no money in the bank, and she don't call me anymore.
I'm down to my last ring, it's time to sell my things
And pack my bags, and never look back,
Run a parallel line with the railroad tracks, and make my get away.
I put the pedal to the metal as the sun goes down.
And at the break of day, I'll be a runaway!
A hundred miles in, I got a stupid grin on my scruffy face.
With every cigarette, I'm burning my regrets.
Don't want to leave a trace.
And from the rear-view, I've got clear view of who I used to be.
A little bit faster now, don't wanna turn around.
I'm gonna pack my bags, and never look back.
Run a parallel line with the railroad tracks, and make my get away.
I put the pedal to the metal as the sun goes down.
Leave everybody sleepin' in this sleepy town tonight.
And at the break of day, I'll be a runaway! I'll be a runaway!
I'll be a runaway, I'll be a runaway! (I'll be a runaway!)
It's crazy, I know, to count on this road and give me what I need.
But with every state line, somehow I find, another part of me.
Yeah-e-yeah!
I'm gonna pack my bags, and never look back.
Run a parallel line with the railroad tracks, and make my get away.
I put the pedal to the metal as the sun goes down.
Leave everybody sleepin' in this sleepy town tonight,
And at the break of day, I'll be a runaway!
I'll be a runaway! I'll be a runaway!
I'll be a runaway! I'll be a runaway!
I'll be a runaway! I'll be a runaway!
I'll be a runaway!
The lyrics of Love and Theft's song "Runaway" are about a person who is fed up with their current life and decides to leave everything behind and become a runaway. The singer enumerates the reasons why they are unhappy - a long week, a boss who is a jerk, a lack of money, and a relationship that is falling apart. The singer decides to pack their bags and hit the road, leaving everything behind and starting fresh. They speak about wanting to run parallel to the railway tracks and make a getaway, without looking back at their past life.
The song has a certain energy to it, which is brought out by the upbeat music and the pulsating chorus. The singer speaks about leaving their old life behind and the excitement of the open road, and this mirrors the tone of the music. The song is relatable to anyone who has ever felt stuck in life and longed to hit the road and escape their problems.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a long week, I've got a slow leak, in my left front tire.
I've had a tough week and to top it off, my car has a slow tire leak making everything even more troublesome.
I'm sick of where I work, my boss is such a jerk, don't care if I get fired.
I hate my job and my boss is unbearable to work for, so I don't care if I lose my job anymore.
My backs about to break, no money in the bank, and she don't call me anymore.
I'm under a lot of pressure, have no money, and my girlfriend stopped answering my calls.
I'm down to my last ring, it's time to sell my things
I'm completely out of money and it's time to sell what I can to make ends meet.
And pack my bags, and never look back, Run a parallel line with the railroad tracks, and make my get away.
I'm going to leave everything behind and take off along the railroad tracks to escape and start anew.
I put the pedal to the metal as the sun goes down. Leave everybody sleepin' in this sleepy town tonight, And at the break of day, I'll be a runaway!
I'll leave town as fast as possible while everyone is asleep, and by the time they wake up, I'll be long gone.
A hundred miles in, I got a stupid grin on my scruffy face. With every cigarette, I'm burning my regrets. Don't want to leave a trace. And from the rear-view, I've got clear view of who I used to be. A little bit faster now, don't wanna turn around.
After a hundred miles, I feel a sense of freedom and am no longer weighed down by my regrets. I don't want to leave any traces behind and can see my old self in the rear-view mirror. I'm picking up speed and don't want to look back.
It's crazy, I know, to count on this road and give me what I need. But with every state line, somehow I find, another part of me.
It may seem reckless to rely on the road to provide for me, but with every state line I cross, I find a new piece of myself I never knew existed.
I'll be a runaway!
I'm determined to carry out my plan and become a runaway.
Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, ROCKAPOP MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stephen Barker-Liles, Robert Blackledge, Canaan Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CobraStriker
Runaway Lyrics
By Chase Bennett
Verse 1: Its been a long week I've got a slow leak in my left front tire I'm sick of where I work my boss is such a jerk don't care if I get fired my backs about to break no money in the bank and she don't call me anymore I'm down to my last ring its time to sell my things.
Chorus: And pack my bags and never look back from the parallel line with the railroad tracks and make my getaway I put the pedal to the metal as the sun goes down and everybody sleeping in this sleepy town tonight at the break of day Ill be a runaway.
Verse 2: 100 miles in I got a stupid grin on this scruffy face with every cigarette I'm burning my regrets don't wanna leave a trace and from a rear view I got a clear view from who I used to be a little bit faster now don't wanna turn around.
Chorus: I'm gonna pack my bags and never look back from the parallel line with the railroad tracks and make my getaway I put the pedal to the metal as the sun goes down and everybody sleeping in this sleepy town tonight at the
break of day Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway.
Verse 3: It's crazy I know to count on this road to give me what I need but with every state line somehow Ill find another part of me yeah yeah.
Chorus: I'm gonna pack my bags and never look back from the parallel line with the railroad tracks and make my getaway I put the pedal to the metal as the sun goes down and everybody sleeping in this sleepy town tonight at the break of day Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway Ill be a runaway.
eqborn
These guys should've been huge! This brings back such memories of being a teenager ☺️
Cristian Ruiz
The lead singer's mom was one of my high school teachers. She would play their Debut album with this song in it and it hadn't come out yet! They are great! Fun fact the song "hey stephen" from Taylor swift is about the lead singer of love and theft!
Elijah Delaney
This is how rock country should be. I don't think this song will ever get old for me.
Jem
This song was one of the songs that gave me strength when I moved from Idaho to Los Angeles. This song, the beat, the lyrics helped me drive away to meet my new life. LOVE this song.
missychan63
That's funny... I'm in Boise getting ready to start my new life as soon as I can figure out what I want to be when I grow up 😊. I've had 60 years to decide, I better figure it out quick. I think some salt water might help need decide?
cardsfanbj
Still one of my all time favorite songs. Love this group.
coffee4laff
I believe in you guys. You might not be very famous now but you certainly have potential. Keep on rocking x
Debbie Smitherman
It's 2019 and I'm still listening to this. I love this song sooooooo much. Love you guys too.
The Coal Train
2021 still my favorite
Gypsy Rain
2022 This song rocks!