Brave Men Run
Sonic Youth Lyrics


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Seven days and seven nights
I dreamt a sailor's dream at sea
Seven days and seven nights
I dreamt a sailor's dream of me
Seven days and seven nights
The world was made and lost again
Seven days and seven nights
Brave men run
In my family
Brave men run
Into the setting sun
Brave men run
Into captivity
Brave men run
In my family





Brave men run
Away from me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Brave Men Run by Sonic Youth are shrouded in symbolism, and the underlying message could be interpreted in various ways. The recurring theme seems to be the idea of embarkation, both physical and spiritual, and the peril and adventure that accompany it. The lines "Seven days and seven nights, I dreamt a sailor's dream at sea" vividly evoke the experience of being at sea, far from familiar shores and facing the vast unknown. Similarly, the lines "Seven days and seven nights, the world was made and lost again" encapsulate the impermanence of existence, the ephemeral nature of all things.


The line "Brave men run in my family" could be a reference to the singer's ancestry, implying that courage and adventure are ingrained in their family history. The line "Brave men run away from me" could indicate that the singer is an outsider in their own family, their idiosyncrasies and non-conformist views setting them apart from the rest of the family.


The repeated refrain of "Brave men run into the setting sun/Brave men run into captivity" could be interpreted as a commentary on the human condition, with all our aspirations and endeavors leading ultimately to death or imprisonment. Overall, the song seems to suggest that life is a journey fraught with danger and uncertainty, but also filled with wonder and possibility.


Line by Line Meaning

Seven days and seven nights
For a week straight, time was passing and experiences were occurring.


I dreamt a sailor's dream at sea
I had a vivid dream that took place on a ship out at sea.


Seven days and seven nights
Another week went by with more occurrences and experiences.


I dreamt a sailor's dream of me
In my dream, I was the main character of a sailor's story.


Seven days and seven nights
A third week has passed with new events taking place.


The world was made and lost again
A lot of happenings took place, but they were fleeting and didn't last.


Brave men run
Men in my family are fearless and willing to take risks.


In my family
This trait of bravery is a common thread amongst my relatives.


Brave men run
Men in my family display courageous behavior.


Into the setting sun
They will continue to do so even as things come to an end.


Brave men run
They face their fears head-on and sometimes end up in difficult situations.


Into captivity
Their fearlessness can sometimes lead to them being confined or trapped.


Brave men run
Men in my family exhibit fearlessness even when faced with danger.


Away from me
But they have no association with me or anything related to me.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KIM A. GODRON, LEE M. RANALDO, ROBERT BERT, THURSTON J. MOORE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@PrimitiveInTheExtreme

🌜 Seven days and seven nights
I dreamt a sailor's dream at sea
Seven days and seven nights
I dreamt a sailor's dream of me
Seven days and seven nights
The world was made and lost again
Seven days and seven nights

Brave men run
In my family
Brave men run
Into the setting sun
Brave men run
Into captivity
Brave men run
In my family

Brave men run
Away from me 🌛



All comments from YouTube:

@SaintMartins

I was a Sonic "Youth" when Bad Moon Rising was released in 1985.
Now i'm a Sonic "Adult" still listening to Bad Moon Rising in 2023 !

@PrimitiveInTheExtreme

🌜 Seven days and seven nights
I dreamt a sailor's dream at sea
Seven days and seven nights
I dreamt a sailor's dream of me
Seven days and seven nights
The world was made and lost again
Seven days and seven nights

Brave men run
In my family
Brave men run
Into the setting sun
Brave men run
Into captivity
Brave men run
In my family

Brave men run
Away from me 🌛

@MeineVideokasetten

Who's still listening to it in 2023?

@ieua69

Still my favorite band of all time.

@alekseifernandezpastor8987

Desearía verlos jóvenes siempre 😢

@ono1dij

OMG!!! Together again, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@pachacache5186

amazing video...

@sebastopprogre1979

😅

@goose2788

Such a criminally underrated band of the 90’s and 00’s . I loved these guys and still do.

@ShiceSquad

Criminally underrated = wildly influential and absolutely legendary?

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