On the Run
Roger Waters Lyrics


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Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
You better make your face up in
Your favorite disguise
With your button down lips and your
Roller blind eyes
With your empty smile
And your hungry heart
Feel the bile rising from your guilty past
With your nerves in tatters
When the conch shell shatters
And the hammers batter
Down your door
You'd better run

Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
You better run all day
And run all night
Keep your dirty feelings
Deep inside
And if you're taking your girlfriend
Out tonight
You'd better park the car
Well out of sight
'Cause if they catch you in the back seat
Trying to pick her locks
They're gonna send you back to mother
In a cardboard box
You better run





"Hey, open up!"
"Hammer, hammer"

Overall Meaning

The song "Run Like Hell" by Roger Waters is a cautionary tale about the consequences of living a life of duplicity, deceit, and being a double-crosser. The first verse warns us that we better make our face up in our favorite disguise, with our button-down lips and roller blind eyes. This indicates that we should always be on guard, aware of what we are saying, and to whom. We should be careful not to reveal too much, giving away our true intentions, which could be used against us later. The singer is urged to put on a false smile and hide his true feelings behind a facade of friendliness, despite the bile rising from his guilty past.


In the second verse, the pace accelerates, and Waters urges us to run, run, run, run, run. The message is clear, you better run all day and run all night and keep your dirty feelings deep inside. If you're taking your girlfriend out tonight, you're urged to park the car well out of sight, as they will send you back to your mother in a cardboard box if they catch you in the backseat trying to pick her locks. There is no escape from the consequences of your actions, and you better run if you don't want to get caught.


Overall, "Run Like Hell" is a warning to all of us to live a life of honesty and transparency, as deceit and duplicity will inevitably lead to our downfall. We must be careful not to reveal too much about ourselves, and we must be aware of our actions and their consequences.


Line by Line Meaning

Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
The song encourages running as a form of escape, keeping people on edge.


You better make your face up in
To avoid detection, disguise yourself.


Your favorite disguise
Pick a disguise that you can hide in the best.


With your button down lips and your
Don't reveal your thoughts or emotions.


Roller blind eyes
Stay alert, cautious and distrustful.


With your empty smile
Look happy but don't mean it.


And your hungry heart
Desire things you can't have or would get you in trouble.


Feel the bile rising from your guilty past
Your past is catching up with you, and it's making you feel guilty.


With your nerves in tatters
You are anxious and wound-up.


When the conch shell shatters
A loud noise signals danger.


And the hammers batter
People trying to break through a tough barrier.


Down your door
The place where you should feel safe and secure is being breached.


You'd better run
Run away as fast as you can or face the consequences.


Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
The chorus repeats the message to run, but louder and more insistent.


You better run all day
Running is not a temporary solution - it should be an ongoing activity.


And run all night
Not even nighttime will keep you safe.


Keep your dirty feelings
Don't express your less-than-respectable thoughts, desires or secrets.


Deep inside
Keep them hidden from others and even from yourself.


And if you're taking your girlfriend
If you're with someone you care about.


Out tonight
Out in public, where anyone can see you.


You'd better park the car
Make sure you're hidden and discrete.


Well out of sight
Not even remotely visible.


'Cause if they catch you in the back seat
If someone sees you doing something private and perhaps unbecoming.


Trying to pick her locks
If you're trying to exploit her vulnerabilities for your own gain or pleasure.


They're gonna send you back to mother
There will be negative consequences for your actions.


In a cardboard box
You will be punished harshly and unceremoniously.


You better run
The threat is real and you should flee as soon as possible.


"Hey, open up!"
Someone is trying to forcibly enter, maybe to hurt you.


"Hammer, hammer"
They're using physical force and weapons to break through.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Jon Gilmour, George Roger Waters

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

cejurek

Roger needs a new black t shirt. He’s been wearing the same shirt for 47 years.

Miguel Aldana

Like keanu reeves wearing the same outfit for 25 years.

Guille Witt

IT'S THE UNIFORM OF ALL ROCK STAR

अनमोल शर्मा

Lol. Gilmour too.

Michael

@Chuck Liddell same with gilmour.

Lenin Luna

@Chuck Liddell A far cry from Roger's late 60s days where he was dressed very "colorful" which just as cool as his black shirts. :)

2 More Replies...

Emmanuelle Mercadante

i never understood why people thought he was ugly, he’s very handsome imo

L. Pietrobon

🗿

Mabel Mabel

@Onio
Maybe for you, for me he is all that, that's why I like him so much. (See more about him!)

Onio

@Mabel Mabel Horses are beautiful, strong and noble but Roger certainly isn't.

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