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Colombo Posted 13 years ago
Song Writing & Lyrics
Meaning of 'Running Scared'
I've been listening to Roy Orbison's 'Running Scared' for ages, but only today have realized I don't really know what the title means. Does the verb 'to run' here mean something close to 'to be' (like in 'problems are running deep'), or is it related to the physical action of going quickly? I'm copying the whole lyrics below:
Just running scared each place we go
So afraid that he might show
Yeah, running scared, what would I do
If he came back and wanted you?
Just running scared, feeling low
Running scared, you loved him so
Just running scared, afraid to lose
If he came back, which one would you choose?
Then, all at once, he was standing there
So sure of himself, his head in the air
My heart was breaking, which one would it be?
You turned around and walked away with me
Just running scared each place we go
So afraid that he might show
Yeah, running scared, what would I do
If he came back and wanted you?
Just running scared, feeling low
Running scared, you loved him so
Just running scared, afraid to lose
If he came back, which one would you choose?
Then, all at once, he was standing there
So sure of himself, his head in the air
My heart was breaking, which one would it be?
You turned around and walked away with me
Top answer
Running scared is a common expression, meaning 'being scared over an ongoing period of time'. Note that in the lyrics, the verb 'run' contrasts nicely with, in the last verse, the verbs 'stand' and 'walk'. Clive
- Running scared is a common expression, meaning 'being scared over an ongoing period of time'.
- Note that in the lyrics, the verb 'run' contrasts nicely with, in the last verse, the verbs 'stand' and 'walk'.
- Clive
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2 Answers
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Running scared is a common expression, meaning 'being scared over an ongoing period of time'.
Note that in the lyrics, the verb 'run' contrasts nicely with, in the last verse, the verbs 'stand' and 'walk'.
Clive
Note that in the lyrics, the verb 'run' contrasts nicely with, in the last verse, the verbs 'stand' and 'walk'.
Clive
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Hello Clive,
Thank you very much for your answer. I had no idea that 'running scared' was sort of a set phrase. I see that its meaning is close to what has always been my idea of what the song is about (as I said, it was only a couple of days ago that, I don't know why, the possibility of the singer physically running came into my mind... Which is almost a stupid notion!)
Good po
Thank you very much for your answer. I had no idea that 'running scared' was sort of a set phrase. I see that its meaning is close to what has always been my idea of what the song is about (as I said, it was only a couple of days ago that, I don't know why, the possibility of the singer physically running came into my mind... Which is almost a stupid notion!)
Good po
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