MxPx started as three 15-year-old kids calling themselves Magnified Plaid pounding out music inspired by and similar to The Descendents and other Southern California punk rock bands. They didn’t really love their band name, however, which was a tribute to the original guitarist’s penchant for wearing one particularly loud plaid shirt. Consequently, the name was abbreviated to M.P., but in Yuri’s handwriting, periods become “X“‘s and since he made up the show posters for the band, the four-letter moniker stuck.
Andy Husted, the former guitarist, left the band in 1995 to continue college.
Andy was replaced by Tom to solidify the line-up that would take the band into their post-teen years. Maybe Tom’s background as a drummer made up for his relative inexperience playing guitar (he had only played for a year at the time). He and Yuri lock into backbreakingly fast rhythms that rank with vintage Minor Threat for speed and percussive attack. Mike then adds to the mix his signature sing-along melodies that call to mind SoCal punk bands from the early ’80s.
Bremerton had been a town most famous for its naval shipyards until MxPx caught the attention of Tooth & Nail Records when they played a “showcase” for the T&N label in 1993 in Herrera’s parents’ garage. Mike Herrera had practiced so much before the first show, he lost his voice.
MxPx released three albums with Tooth & Nail Records: Pokinatcha in 1994, Teenage Politics in 1995, and Life in General in 1996. After a falling out with Tooth & Nail, MxPx left the label and signed with A&M Records.
In July 2010 drummer Yuri Ruley announced he would be retiring from the band to focus on his family. Ruley played his last show with the band in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 18, 2010. In a recent video message from Mike, he stated that Tom and Yuri have both finished touring full time, but will continue to play one-off shows with the band.
running away
MxPx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So much has changed and I'm not getting through
Faced with the possibility of growing old alone
And backed with a head that's made of stone
The black cloud follows me
Wherever I go
If I ignore it for another day
I'm running away
I'm running away
I don't care where I go or where I stay
The question can't be answered so easily
Deep in it all we can't seem to agree
Waking up the bad taste won't leave me alone
I'm like a man out of time
A man without a home
The black cloud follows me
Wherever I go
If I ignore it for another day
Then maybe it'll go away
I'm running away
I'm running away
I don't care where I go or where I stay
It's always hard to admit
When I've been wrong all along
It's always hard to admit
I'm always wrong
The black cloud follows me
Wherever I go
If I ignore it for another day
Then maybe it'll go away
I'm running away
I'm running away
I don't care where I go
I don't care where I stay
I'm running away
I'm running away
I don't care what I do or what you say
I don't care what I do or what you say
In MXPX’s song “Running Away,” the singer is expressing his frustration and confusion in a relationship that has become strained over time. He feels as though he is not being heard, despite his attempts to communicate openly with his partner. The phrase “strong words is all I can think to say to you” indicates that the singer is at a loss for words, and can only communicate his feelings through powerful language. He is aware of the possibility of growing old alone, and feels unsupported and helpless, as if “backed with a head that’s made of stone.” The black cloud is a metaphor for the singer’s emotional state - the cloud follows him wherever he goes, and he struggles to ignore it or forget about it.
The chorus of the song, “I’m running away, I don’t care where I go or where I stay,” shows the singer’s desire to escape and start fresh. He is tired of feeling trapped in a relationship that is causing him emotional pain and frustration. The lyrics “It’s always hard to admit when I’ve been wrong all along, I’m always wrong” show the singer’s self-awareness and his willingness to own up to his faults in the relationship. However, he still feels as though he is not being heard, and the black cloud follows him wherever he goes.
Overall, “Running Away” is a powerful and emotional song about the struggles of communication and relationships. It highlights the importance of open, honest communication and the difficulties that can arise when two people are unable to see eye-to-eye.
Line by Line Meaning
Strong words is all I can think to say to you
I am at a loss for the right words to say to you
So much has changed and I'm not getting through
Things are different and I am unable to connect with you
Faced with the possibility of growing old alone
I am afraid of being alone as I get older
And backed with a head that's made of stone
I am stubborn and inflexible in my thinking
The black cloud follows me
I feel a dark cloud of sadness and uncertainty around me
Wherever I go
No matter where I am or what I do
If I ignore it for another day
I hope that avoiding my problems will make them disappear
Then maybe it'll go away
Perhaps my issues will resolve on their own
I'm running away
I am trying to escape my problems
I don't care where I go or where I stay
I have no particular destination or plan in mind
The question can't be answered so easily
We cannot resolve our issues easily or quickly
Deep in it all we can't seem to agree
We are fundamentally at odds with each other
Waking up the bad taste won't leave me alone
I am haunted by memories of our disagreements
I'm like a man out of time
I feel disconnected from the times and people around me
A man without a home
I do not feel a sense of belonging or comfort anywhere
It's always hard to admit
It is difficult to acknowledge
When I've been wrong all along
When I have been mistaken for a long time
I don't care what I do or what you say
I am not interested in considering your perspective or opinions
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Michael Herrera
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind