There are other artists with the same name:
2. Tonic is a house music producer.
3. A pop band from Belgium active in the 1980s.
Future Says Run
Tonic Lyrics
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Words that make you aware
Your heads spinning
Now one knows you're not there
Blankly staring
Strangers call you a friend
The power you hold
Is a power that mends
You can't go on
No you can't even talk
Your future says run
But you can't even walk
So you harbor
Standing idly by
Indiscretions, slowly turn into lies
Your half empty
They don't know how it feels
The power inside
Is a power that heals
But You can't go on
No you can't even talk
Your future says run
But you can't even walk
The song "Future Says Run" by Tonic tells the tale of an individual who is overwhelmed and paralyzed by their life experiences. The song's lyrics reflect a sense of resignation, hopelessness, and despair. The opening lines, "Holding lightly, Words that make you aware, Your head's spinning, Now one knows you're not there," describe a state of emotional and psychological disconnection that the singer is experiencing. They are present in body but absent in mind, which the term "not there" suggests. The singer is holding on to something, but it is not clear what that might be.
As the verse progresses, the singer is described as "Blankly staring, Strangers call you a friend." It seems that the singer is in a social situation, but they are not fully present. They are disconnected from the people around them, as evidenced by "Blankly staring," but still people approach them and say hello, hence "Strangers call you a friend." However, the power the singer holds is "A power that mends," which could be interpreted in different ways. It could be a sense of inner strength or resilience that the individual draws upon in tough times. Alternatively, it could be a tacit acknowledgment that the singer has the power to make things right if they choose to do so.
The chorus of the song provides a bleak outlook on the singer's future. "You can't go on, No you can't even talk, Your future says run, But you can't even walk," suggests that the singer is in a deeply precarious mental state. They are unable to communicate or articulate how they feel, and their only option seems to be escape. However, even that seems beyond their reach, as they can't even walk. The singer of the song is trapped in a kind of psychological paralysis that they can't break free from.
Line by Line Meaning
Holding lightly
You are not fully committed to the situation or people around you.
Words that make you aware
You are being told something insightful that could change your life for the better.
Your heads spinning
You are overwhelmed and confused about your current state of mind.
Now one knows you're not there
You are not yourself and others can perceive it.
Blankly staring
You are lost in thought and not fully present in the moment.
Strangers call you a friend
You have become so disconnected from yourself that even those who do not know you well mistake your behavior for friendship.
The power you hold
You possess an inherent capability that can be used for the greater good.
Is a power that mends
This capability can be used to heal and better the world around you.
You can't go on
You are stuck and feel helpless.
No you can't even talk
You feel unable to express your thoughts and emotions to others.
Your future says run
Your instincts are telling you to remove yourself from the current situation and find a new path.
But you can't even walk
You feel incapable of taking those crucial steps towards a brand new future.
So you harbor
You are holding onto negative feelings that could cause harm to yourself and others.
Standing idly by
You are not taking action to change your situation and are letting time pass by without any growth.
Indiscretions, slowly turn into lies
Small secrets or mistakes that you keep hidden can create bigger problems for you in the long run.
Your half empty
You are feeling depleted and low on energy.
They don't know how it feels
Others cannot fully understand the struggles you are facing.
The power inside
You possess an internal strength that can help you overcome any obstacle.
Is a power that heals
This strength can help you heal from any pain or trauma in your life.
But you can't go on
You feel like you have hit a roadblock and are unable to progress.
No you can't even talk
Your emotions have become too overwhelming to be expressed in words.
Your future says run
Your instincts are telling you to make a drastic and necessary change in your life.
But you can't even walk
You feel incapable of making any real change and are unsure of where to begin.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EMERSON HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind