When The Sand Runs Out
Rascal Flatts Lyrics


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I spent the morning at an old friend's grave
Flowers and Amazing Grace, he was a good man
He spent his whole life spinnin' his wheels
Never knowin' how the real thing feels
He never took a chance or took the time to dance
And I stood there thinking as I said goodbye
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on
And learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I want to leave something here

Go out on a ledge, with out any net
That's what I'm gonna be about
Yeah I want to be runnin'
When the sand runs out

'Cause people do it everyday
Promise themselves they're gonna change
I've been there, but I'm changin' from the inside out

That was then and this is now
I'm a new man, yeah, I'm a brand new man
And when they carve my stone they'll write these words
"Here lies a man who lived life for all that its worth"

I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on
Learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I want to leave something here

Go out on a ledge, with out any net
That's what I'm gonna be about
Yeah I want to be runnin'
When the sand runs out

And as the cold wind blows
Across the graveyard
I think I hear the voice
Of my old friend
Whisper in my ear

Go out on a ledge, with out any net
That's what I'm gonna be about
Yeah I want to be runnin'
When the sand runs out

I want to be runnin' when




The sand runs out
Ooo, yes I do

Overall Meaning

Rascal Flatts's song "When The Sand Runs Out" is a moving tribute to a friend who has passed away. The singer visits his friend's grave and reflects on how the man had gone through life without truly living it- "Never knowing how the real thing feels. He never took a chance or took the time to dance." This realization is a turning point for the singer who decides to stop looking back and start moving on in his own life, determined to face his fears, love wholeheartedly, and leave something behind.


The song's message is one of carpe diem, urging listeners to make the most of their lives before it's too late. It emphasizes the importance of taking chances and living boldly instead of just "spinnin' [our] wheels." The imagery of the sand running out of an hourglass serves as a reminder that time is finite, and we must make the most of it while we can. The song's final lines, "I want to be runnin' when the sand runs out," encapsulate this sentiment perfectly.


Overall, "When The Sand Runs Out" is a powerful reminder to seize the day and live life to the fullest. It speaks to the universal human experience of grappling with our own mortality and the fleeting nature of time. The song encourages listeners to take risks, face their fears, and leave a positive mark on the world, just like the singer's old friend did.


Line by Line Meaning

I spent the morning at an old friend's grave
I visited my deceased friend's burial site in the morning.


Flowers and Amazing Grace, he was a good man
I paid my respects to my friend by leaving flowers and listened to the hymn 'Amazing Grace' as my friend was a good person.


He spent his whole life spinnin' his wheels
My friend lived his entire life without making any real progress or meaningful changes.


Never knowin' how the real thing feels
My friend never experienced true happiness or fulfillment in his life.


He never took a chance or took the time to dance
My friend never took risks or enjoyed the simple pleasures in life, such as dancing.


And I stood there thinking as I said goodbye
As I bid farewell to my friend, my mind wandered with reflection and contemplation.


Today is the first day of the rest of my life
I realized that every new day is an opportunity for me to start fresh and live my life to the fullest.


I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on
I'm going to stop dwelling on the past and focus on moving forward with my life.


And learn how to face my fears
I want to overcome my insecurities and confront my fears head-on.


Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I want to love unconditionally and make a positive impact in the world.


I want to leave something here
I want to be remembered for something meaningful and impactful in my life.


Go out on a ledge, with out any net
I want to take risks and pursue my dreams without a safety net or fear of failure.


That's what I'm gonna be about
This is the mentality and attitude that I want to embody throughout my life.


Yeah I want to be runnin'
I want to be active and constantly striving for my goals.


When the sand runs out
I want to make the most out of my time on this earth and live my life fully, even up until the very last moment.


'Cause people do it everyday
Many people make the decision to change their lives for the better on a daily basis.


Promise themselves they're gonna change
People often make commitments to themselves that they will make positive changes in their lives.


I've been there, but I'm changin' from the inside out
I've made similar promises in the past, but this time I'm committed to making genuine inner changes.


That was then and this is now
The past is in the past and I'm focusing on the present and the future.


I'm a new man, yeah, I'm a brand new man
I've transformed myself into a new and improved version of myself.


And when they carve my stone they'll write these words
When I pass away, I want to be remembered through an inscription on my grave.


"Here lies a man who lived life for all that its worth"
I want to be remembered as someone who lived their life fully and made the most of every opportunity.


And as the cold wind blows
As the chilly breeze blows through the graveyard,


Across the graveyard
The wind spreads across the entire cemetery.


I think I hear the voice
I imagine hearing the voice of my deceased friend.


Of my old friend
The voice that I imagine is that of my old friend.


Whisper in my ear
I imagine the voice softly speaking into my ear.


Ooo, yes I do
I am absolutely certain that I want to live my life to the fullest.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRAD CRISLER, JAMES LEBLANC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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