Robert Earl Keen, Jr. (born January 11, 1956 in Houston, Texas) is an Ameri… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Earl Keen, Jr. (born January 11, 1956 in Houston, Texas) is an American singer-songwriter. Growing up, Keen was interested in music, sports, movies and writing. He attended Texas A&M University, enrolling in the school of journalism. Disappointed in the College Station, Texas music scene, he began playing guitar and learned to read and write music, basing his style on folk, country, blues and roots rock. In 1977 he rented a house from landlord Jack Boyett, where his neighbor was a then-unknown Lyle Lovett. The two became friends and performed together on the front porch. This eventually grew into inspiration for a song entitled "The Front Porch Song", which both would add to their repertoire. In 1980, Keen graduated from Texas A&M, moved to Austin, Texas and began writing for a newspaper. Soon he was performing in Austin's nightclubs and live music venues, building a solid following. In 1984 he financed the recording of his own EP and distributed it regionally. In 1986, He moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Discouraged by the polish of the new country sound and unable to land a recording contract, Keen moved back to Austin. In 1989 he released his national debut album, West Textures. His 1993 release, A Bigger Piece Of Sky, gained wider acclaim, both amongst fans and critics. Over the next ten years, Keen would continue to write, record, perform and tour. Today, he is popular with traditional country music fans, folk music fans, the college radio crowd and alt-country fans. Keen currently resides in Bandera, Texas.

Runnin
Robert Earl Keen Lyrics

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It's midnight on the interstate and I'm flying like a bird
I was talking to a friend of mine, he said, "Have you heard the word?"
"I've got some people comin' by to celebrate the show
Some of them are new in town and some of them you know"

I've got a local station on, Tejano music playing
I do my best to sing along but I don't know what they're saying
No le puedo entender but you know that it's alright

I'm headed down to San Antone, runnin' with the night

I've never been no daytime guy
Love the neon light
I'm a saxophone, a flash of chrome
Runnin' with the night

I lost my job a month ago, so I took a small vacation
I went out west to make the best of my lowdown situation
Moved in with my sister you know she works every day
We don't see each other much and I guess it's just that way

I've never been no daytime guy
Love the neon light
I'm a swingin' door, meteor
Runnin' with the night

Settled down a time or two and tried the other way
But I don't know what to do with myself all day
The sun goes down, you give your love one last long goodnight kiss
Then you stay awake thinkin' 'bout everything you miss

I've never been no daytime guy
Love the neon light
I'm a secret plan, a highwayman
Runnin' with the night

I was born in the wintertime underneath the purple sky
Packed my things at seventeen and I kissed my folks goodbye
Got no complaints, no regrets, I got no grand design
I'll ride the horse that brought me here 'til I cross that finish line

I've never been no daytime guy
Love the neon light
I'm an amber eye, a coyote's cry
Runnin' with the night

I'm a wall of fire, an angel choir
Runnin' with the night
With the night

With the night
With the night

Overall Meaning

"Runnin'" by Robert Earl Keen is a song about a man who is driving on the interstate at midnight, heading to San Antonio to celebrate the show. The song is an ode to the night, to the neon lights and the freedom that comes with being on the move. The singer of the song is a night person, he loves the darkness and the excitement of the night. He lost his job, traveled out west but ended up staying with his sister who he doesn't get to see much. For him, the night symbolizes freedom, and he is happy to keep running with it.

The song's lyrics invoke a sense of dreamy escapism as the singer runs with the night, describing himself as various things throughout the song: "a saxophone, a flash of chrome," "a swingin' door, a meteor," "a secret plan, a highwayman," "a wall of fire, an angel choir." All of these descriptions conjure up images of speed, motion, and excitement. He confesses that he's never been a daytime guy and has no intentions of changing it, enjoying the way the night feels to him.

"Runnin'" is a story about the joys of the night, a celebration of the way it makes us feel alive. The singer of the song seems to be someone who feels most at home when he's on the move, and the night is a symbol of that for him. The song is an ode to that feeling of freedom, of being able to escape into the night, and the joy it brings.

Line by Line Meaning

It's midnight on the interstate and I'm flying like a bird
I am driving fast on the interstate at midnight as though I am flying.

I was talking to a friend of mine, he said, 'Have you heard the word?'
A friend asked me if I knew about something.

"I've got some people comin' by to celebrate the show Some of them are new in town and some of them you know"
People are coming to celebrate the show with me, some of whom I know and some of whom are new in town.

I've got a local station on, Tejano music playing I do my best to sing along but I don't know what they're saying No le puedo entender but you know that it's alright I'm headed down to San Antone, runnin' with the night
I'm listening to Tejano music on a local station and though I don't understand the lyrics, it's okay. I'm driving to San Antonio, enjoying the night.

I've never been no daytime guy Love the neon light I'm a saxophone, a flash of chrome Runnin' with the night
I don't like being up during the daytime, but I love neon lights. I'm like a saxophone, sleek and shining, running with the night.

I lost my job a month ago, so I took a small vacation I went out west to make the best of my lowdown situation Moved in with my sister you know she works every day We don't see each other much and I guess it's just that way
I lost my job, so I decided to go on a short trip out west to make the best of my situation. I'm living with my sister, even though she works every day and we don't see each other much.

Settled down a time or two and tried the other way But I don't know what to do with myself all day The sun goes down, you give your love one last long goodnight kiss Then you stay awake thinkin' 'bout everything you miss
I've tried to settle down before and live a different life, but I get bored during the day. At night, when you say goodbye to your loved ones, you're left to think about what you're missing.

I was born in the wintertime underneath the purple sky Packed my things at seventeen and I kissed my folks goodbye Got no complaints, no regrets, I got no grand design I'll ride the horse that brought me here 'til I cross that finish line
I was born in winter under a purple sky. When I was seventeen, I left my parents and haven't looked back since. I have no complaints or regrets, and I'll continue to live my life until the end.

I'm a wall of fire, an angel choir Runnin' with the night With the night With the night With the night
I'm like a wall of fire, and I sound like an angel choir. I'm running with the night and enjoying it.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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