"We never knew what to do with it. Day and Age was us trying to be more of a pop group, but Runaways was rootsy and American, and it threw me for a curve," said Flowers. "I knew it was a powerful song. But when it came time to make the album, there was an understanding the four of us had that we were gonna do what we're good at. The Killers write a specific kind of song, and we're not gonna shy away from it. So Runaways became a kind of launching pad."
Runaways
The Killers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A blue-eyed girl playing in the sand
I'd been on a trail for a little while
But that was the night that she broke down and held my hand
The teenage rush, she said, 'maybe I'll just runaway, we got time'
Well that ain't much...
We can't wait 'til tomorrow
You gotta know that this is real, baby why you wanna fight it?
It's the one thing you can choose, oh!
We got engaged on a Friday night
I swore on the head of our unborn child that I could take care of the three of us
But I got the tendency to slip when the nights get wild.
It's in my blood
She says she might just runaway somewhere else, some place good
We can't wait 'til tomorrow
You gotta know that this is real, baby why you wanna fight it?
It's the one thing you can choose
Let's take a chance baby we can't lose
And we're all just runaways
I knew that when I met you, I'm not gonna let you runaway
I knew that when I held you, I wasn't lettin' go
We used to look at the stars and confess our dreams
Hold each other to the morning light
We used to laugh, now we only fight
Baby are you lonesome now?
At night I come home after they go to sleep
Like a stumbling ghost, I haunt these halls
There's a picture of us on our wedding day
I recognize the girl but I can't settle in these walls
We can't wait 'til tomorrow
No we're caught up in the appeal, baby why you wanna hide it?
It's the last thing on my mind
(Why you wanna hide it?)
I turn the engine over and my body just comes alive and we all just runaway
I knew that when I met you, I'm not gonna let you runaway
I knew that when I held you, I wasn't lettin go, no no no!
(No no no!)
(And we're all just runaways)
Yeah runaway
(And we're all just runaways)
Yeah
The Killers’ song “Runaways” is a nostalgic story about two lovers who decide to leave everything behind and start a new life together. The song is written from the perspective of the male protagonist who meets a blue-eyed girl playing in the sand. The two fall in love and decide to run away, defying the concept of time and practicality. However, as time passes, the singer realizes that he has a tendency to slip when the nights get wild, implying his struggle with alcohol addiction. The couple used to look at stars and confess their dreams but now they only fight.
The song is filled with vivid imagery and emotive lyrics that create a sense of longing and regret. The chorus is an invitation to the girl to take a chance and join him, as they both are runaways from their current lives. It’s a bittersweet plea for the girl to trust him and embrace the uncertainty of their future life together. The song is not just about the love between two people, it’s also about the struggles of growing up and trying to overcome personal demons.
Line by Line Meaning
Blonde hair blowin' in the summer wind
A visual description setting the scene of a carefree moment
A blue-eyed girl playing in the sand
Further description of a peaceful, easygoing moment
I'd been on a trail for a little while
Establishing that the singer has been searching for something
But that was the night that she broke down and held my hand
A pivotal moment when the artist and their significant other connect emotionally
The teenage rush, she said, 'maybe I'll just runaway, we got time'
An impulsive suggestion by the significant other to run away together
Well that ain't much...
The singer downplaying the idea of running away as not being a real solution
We can't wait 'til tomorrow
Emphasizing the sense of urgency and living in the present moment
You gotta know that this is real, baby why you wanna fight it?
Questioning why the significant other is resisting the strong emotions they share
It's the one thing you can choose, oh!
Highlighting that the significant other has a choice to make, despite feeling overwhelmed
We got engaged on a Friday night
An important milestone in the artist's relationship
I swore on the head of our unborn child that I could take care of the three of us
Making a promise to be a provider and protector for their future family
But I got the tendency to slip when the nights get wild.
Acknowledging a potential weakness or flaw in the artist's character
It's in my blood
Suggesting that the singer's tendency to slip is inherent and difficult to overcome
She says she might just runaway somewhere else, some place good
The significant other still considering running away as an option
Let's take a chance baby we can't lose
Encouraging the significant other to take a leap of faith into the unknown
And we're all just runaways
A unifying statement that they are all trying to escape from something
I knew that when I met you, I'm not gonna let you runaway
A declaration of commitment and refusal to let their love slip away
I knew that when I held you, I wasn't lettin' go
A reaffirmation of the singer's love and dedication to their significant other
We used to look at the stars and confess our dreams
Remembering a time of closeness and intimacy that has faded
Hold each other to the morning light
Emphasizing the sense of feeling connected to each other
We used to laugh, now we only fight
Acknowledging a shift in their relationship dynamic
Baby are you lonesome now?
Asking if the significant other feels lonely in the current state of their relationship
At night I come home after they go to sleep
Setting the scene for the singer's experiences at home
Like a stumbling ghost, I haunt these halls
Describing the artist's sense of feeling lost and disconnected in their own home
There's a picture of us on our wedding day
A reminder of the love and commitment that once existed between the singer and significant other
I recognize the girl but I can't settle in these walls
Feeling trapped and unable to find contentment within their current situation
No we're caught up in the appeal, baby why you wanna hide it?
Pointing out the allure of trying to run away from their problems
It's the last thing on my mind
A realization that running away won't solve their problems
I turn the engine over and my body just comes alive and we all just runaway
A moment of excitement and impulse to escape together
(No no no!)
Repeating the idea that running away is not the answer
Yeah runaway
Acknowledging the temptation to escape but ultimately rejecting it
(And we're all just runaways)
Repeating the idea that they are all trying to escape from something
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandon Flowers, Dave Brent Keuning, Mark August Stoermer, Ronnie Jr. Vannucci
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pabloalthaus
LYRICS
💙 RUNAWAYS 💙
Blonde hair blowing in the summer wind
A blue-eyed girl playing in the sand
I'd been on her trail for a little while
But that was the night that she broke down and held my hand
A teenage rush
She said, "Ain't we all just runaways? We got time"
But that ain't much
We can't wait till tomorrow
You got to know that this is real, baby, why you want to fight it?
It's the one thing you can choose, oh!
We got engaged on a Friday night
I swore on the head of our unborn child
That I could take care of the three of us
But I got the tendency to slip when the nights get wild
It's in my blood
She said she might just runaway somewhere else
Someplace good
We can't wait til tomorrow
You got to know that this is real, baby, why you want to fight it?
It's the one thing you can choose
Let's take a chance baby, we can't lose
Ain't we all just runaways?
I knew it when I met you, I'm not going to let you runaway
I knew it when I held you, I wasn't letting go!
We used to look at the stars and confess our dreams
Hold each other till the morning light
We used to laugh, now we only fight
Baby are you lonesome now?
At night I come home after they go to sleep
Like a stumbling ghost, I haunt these halls
There's a picture of us on our wedding day
I recognize the girl but I can't settle in these walls
We can't wait till tomorrow
Oh, we're caught up in the appeal baby, why you wanna hide it?
It's the last thing on my mind (Why you want to hide it?)
I turn the engine over and my body just comes alive
Ain't we all just runaways?
I knew it when I met you, I'm not going to let you runaway
I knew it when I held you, I wasn't letting go!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Ain't we all just runaways?
Yeah, runaways
Ain't we all just runaways?
Yeah
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
@jamesgannon6192
For Me Music and Singing are Humankind’s Greatest achievement….
Speech Writing Numbers were Going to Happen….
Music is Where the Brain Mind Emotion Are Fulfilled ❤️
These Guys are Amazing…
So Much Emotion ❤️
@nickygg123
Blonde hair blowin' in the summer wind
A blue-eyed girl playing in the sand
I'd been on a trail for a little while
But that was the night that she broke down and held my hand
The teenage rush, she said, 'maybe I'll just runaway, we got time'
Well that ain't much...
We can't wait 'til tomorrow
You gotta know that this is real, baby why you wanna fight it?
It's the one thing you can choose, oh!
We got engaged on a Friday night
I swore on the head of our unborn child that I could take care of the three of us
But I got the tendency to slip when the nights get wild.
It's in my blood
She says she might just runaway somewhere else, some place good
We can't wait 'til tomorrow
You gotta know that this is real, baby why you wanna fight it?
It's the one thing you can choose
Let's take a chance baby we can't lose
And we're all just runaways
I knew that when I met you, I'm not gonna let you runaway
I knew that when I held you, I wasn't lettin' go
We used to look at the stars and confess our dreams
Hold each other to the morning light
We used to laugh, now we only fight
Baby are you lonesome now?
At night I come home after they go to sleep
Like a stumbling ghost, I haunt these halls
There's a picture of us on our wedding day
I recognize the girl but I can't settle in these walls
We can't wait 'til tomorrow
No we're caught up in the appeal, baby why you wanna hide it?
It's the last thing on my mind
(Why you wanna hide it?)
I turn the engine over and my body just comes alive and we all just runaway
I knew that when I met you, I'm not gonna let you runaway
I knew that when I held you, I wasn't lettin go, no no no!
(No no no!)
(And we're all just runaways)
Yeah runaway
(And we're all just runaways)
Yeah
@stephenroundtree6056
Im new to The Killers, but the drummer ALWAYS looks like he enjoys EVERY minute of what he does. Love it...
@jaysans144
Ronnie is a national treasure
@wendystevens8428
Yep Ronnie is an absolute Drum GOD! The passion, talent and showmanship of he and Brandon combined is an unbeatable, LEGENDARY combination.
@officialpierluk
RONNIE amazing drummer and so funny i saw thee killers in montreal a few months ago freakin great show and at the end of the gig after every musician left the stage he went to the front and started teasing the crow randomly for a minute and i just love the bromance between him and brandon ^^
@jerrysolari1530
Just found these guys they fantastic. The drummer absolutely kills it in every set, totally into it
@davidimrie6916
Always loved his playing.
@Diegower22
"At night I come home after they go to sleep, Like a stumbling ghost I haunt these halls".
Gives me chills everytime.
@jamesgannon6192
“I knew that when I met you im not going to let you …. Run Away…
I knew when that when I held you I wasn’t letting go”
When you meet that Girl that You Truly Love ❤️
@jamesgannon6192
Diego you get It….
Amazing Lyrics…..
Brings me to Tears : … ). …
@michaelusle1477
I've been listening to this song since it came out and only now just got hit by those lettuce lyrics... mind blowing how well they can paint the story so well