RUNNING
NF Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm tired
Of holding on to you, it's time to let
My pride
Go and learn to love myself again, yeah

I don't wanna wait another day, I've waited long enough
I'm ready I can see the sun, it's coming up
There's happiness on the horizon
I'm hopeful I can see the light, I've
Hesitated all my life but I'm all done

I'm done running from you
Spent my whole life in your shadow
Scared of who I'd be if I
Yeah
Said goodbye and I didn't have you here

I wish you well but I can no longer stand aside
And watch you sabotage the two of us
I love you to death, but I can't spend the rest of my
Life in this darkness, I'm done
I'm done

I wish you the best, but I'm not interested
In giving you more of my life, I've already given you too much
I don't wanna lose ya
I don't wanna keep ya
I know that you mean well but when I fail I don't need ya
Rubbing my face in it and treating me like I'm less than you, tell the truth
You know I'd be better without ya
Been in your shoes, don't be a fool
And try to convince me that I'm the
Real issue, when you're the root to every problem

I love you but not enough to allow you to continue to drown the both of us, you're
Holding me back, you're pulling me down, you're making me hate myself, I
Don't wanna leave, but that's what I need, I ain't got a choice, I can't just
Let you deceive and make me believe that I don't deserve to be loved
I am not gonna stand aside
And watch you attempt to rob and steal and sabotage
What little faith I have left, yeah, haven't I sacrificed enough for you?
Hate seeing you cry, but I think it's time to let go and say our goodbyes
Yeah, I'm gonna miss you, but I am not gonna spend the rest of my life running

From you
Spent my whole life in your shadow
Scared of who I'd be if I
Said goodbye and I didn't have you here

I wish you well but I can no longer stand aside
And watch you sabotage the two of us
I love you to death, but I can't spent the rest of my
Life in this darkness, I'm done
I'm done

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of NF’s “Running,” the singer struggles with letting go of a past relationship. They express fatigue from holding onto someone who is not good for them, admitting the need to let their pride go and learn to love themselves again. The singer feels like they have waited long enough and their feelings of happiness and hope for the future are on the horizon. For most of their life, the singer was scared to leave their partner’s shadow, unsure of who they’d be without them. However, they have realized it’s time to move on.


In the second verse, the singer admits that they care for the person they are leaving behind but it’s no longer in their best interest to stay with them. The singer has already invested too much time and energy into the relationship and doesn’t want to continue losing themselves in it. They express a desire to be loved and not have someone constantly making them feel less than. The singer seems to be willing to walk away even though they know it’s going to be difficult. They wish their partner well but can’t stand by and watch them sabotage both of their lives. In the chorus, the singer declares that they are done running from their partner. They have spent too long in their shadow and held back because of them. The singer acknowledges that they don’t want to lose their partner or keep them because they know that they’re not good for each other. The singer doesn’t want to continue being hurt and feeling like they don’t deserve love.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm tired
I am exhausted


Of holding on to you, it's time to let
I need to let go of you after holding on for so long


My pride
My ego


Go and learn to love myself again, yeah
I need to focus on loving myself again


I don't wanna wait another day, I've waited long enough
I do not want to wait anymore and want to start living for myself


I'm ready I can see the sun, it's coming up
I am ready for change and can see a brighter future


There's happiness on the horizon
There is a possibility of contentment in the future


I'm hopeful I can see the light, I've
I am optimistic about the future and see a glimpse of happiness


Hesitated all my life but I'm all done
I have been holding back for far too long, but I am done now


I'm done running from you
I am through with avoiding you


Spent my whole life in your shadow
I have been living in your shadow for far too long


Scared of who I'd be if I
I was afraid of discovering who I could be if I had let you go


Said goodbye and I didn't have you here
I was afraid of losing you if I left


I wish you well but I can no longer stand aside
I hope you fare well, but I can no longer watch you tear us apart


And watch you sabotage the two of us
I cannot watch you destroy our lives any longer


I love you to death, but I can't spend the rest of my
I still love you but cannot continue to live in this misery


Life in this darkness, I'm done
I am finished living in this misery


I wish you the best, but I'm not interested
I hope you have the best life possible, but I am not invested anymore


In giving you more of my life, I've already given you too much
I cannot give you any more of my life after having given you so much already


I don't wanna lose ya
I do not want to lose you


I don't wanna keep ya
I do not want to hold onto you


I know that you mean well but when I fail I don't need ya
I know you have good intentions, but I do not need you when I fail


Rubbing my face in it and treating me like I'm less than you, tell the truth
You make me feel inferior and you need to be honest about it


You know I'd be better without ya
I would be better off without you


Been in your shoes, don't be a fool
I understand how you feel, do not make the same mistake I did


And try to convince me that I'm the
Do not try to persuade me that I am the


Real issue, when you're the root to every problem
You are the source of all our problems


I love you but not enough to allow you to continue to drown the both of us, you're
I love you, but not enough to let you drag us both down


Holding me back, you're pulling me down, you're making me hate myself, I
You are preventing me from thriving, bringing me down and making me dislike myself


Don't wanna leave, but that's what I need, I ain't got a choice, I can't just
I do not want to say goodbye, but I have no other option


Let you deceive and make me believe that I don't deserve to be loved
I cannot let you manipulate me into thinking I am unworthy of love


I am not gonna stand aside
I refuse to sit back and do nothing


And watch you attempt to rob and steal and sabotage
I cannot let you try to steal and ruin our happiness any longer


What little faith I have left, yeah, haven't I scarificed enough for you?
I cannot let you destroy what little faith I have left. I have already sacrificed too much for you


Hate seeing you cry, but I think it's time to let go and say our goodbyes
I do not want to see you sad, but it is time for us to move on and say farewell


Yeah, I'm gonna miss you, but I am not gonna spend the rest of my life running
I will miss you, but I cannot continue to run from our problems for the rest of my life


From you
I can no longer run from you


Spent my whole life in your shadow
I have spent a significant portion of my life in your shadow


Scared of who I'd be if I
I was afraid of who I could become if I left you


Said goodbye and I didn't have you here
I was afraid of letting you go and not having you by my side anymore


I wish you well but I can no longer stand aside
I hope for your happiness, but I cannot let you tear us apart any further


And watch you sabotage the two of us
I cannot let you destroy us any longer


I love you to death, but I can't spent the rest of my
I still love you, but I cannot bear to spend any more time in this misery


Life in this darkness, I'm done
I am finished living in this misery, goodbye




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Spirit Music Group
Written by: David Arthur Garcia, Nate Feuerstein

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Here716

This song made me level up. Helped me not hate myself. Helped me get over my mistakes. Helped me see me for me and im damn proud. I might not be here if it wasnt for this man. I cherrish your inspiration youve given me. Thank you for your passion and music you share with us. You mean more than you know. I love you brother. ❤

@seigaku001

You don't just listen to NF. You experience and feel NF.

@lilskitterbug9028

So true

@stacysaade6759

Fact

@lukaszplata459

I grew up with nf, his words hit really deep, in parts i dont want to remember. i want everyone to know if you are currently going through something hard or just did, everything will be okay, keep youre heads up high and know theres always someone out there that loves you. after all the lows in life there is highs, so fight a bit more and you'll reach the top where youre most happy❤

@placefeature5329

Good bless you!

@placefeature5329

*God

@MeticulousMitchh

I feel many miss the purpose of this song

This is a song saying goodbye to his old self, the depression, the anger, regret, and pain. This is about letting go of who nf (or you) used to be. Letting go of the comfortability of being in that mental state because it becomes like a drug.

Dont hold on to your pain forever.

@OTDECK

I mean it is but you could attribute it to more than just that maybe an ex gf that’s the beauty of music 🎶 Nate’s a legend

@Drewswife0214

You can also connect it to a relationship that killed you

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