Playlist: Songs About…. Running/Running Away (Not Necessarily An Exercise Playlist)

Image of Jim Fixx’s iconic 1977 book ‘Running,’ taken from the internet and probably copyrighted

Apparently school just started around here…I don’t have any kids in school but there are signs. Every year about this time my Playlist: Songs About School starts spiking in views/listens. And suddenly, all through my neighborhood and the surrounding environs there are large packs of high school kids who appear to be out just running, seemingly aimlessly. When I was that age, if I was running it was likely from the authorities. Apparently the long held tradition of “cross country” training is alive and well. When it comes to running I tend to agree with baseball legend Satchel Paige, “Avoid running at all costs. Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” The man was indeed a philosopher. It was fitness author Jim Fixx who is credited with starting the jogging craze in America. Of course Jim Fixx sadly died of a heart attack while out jogging at the tender age of 52… and Keith Richards and Willie Nelson are still alive. Draw your own conclusions.

I actually used to love to go out jogging. Alas, too many sports injuries ended those days for me. Ah, but back in the day, I’d walk across my neighborhood to the park to a mile-long running track. I can remember crossing the street and once I hit the corner of the park taking off and it felt like I’d just slipped out from under the weight of the world. One time, just as I started running, hundreds of crows took off from the trees lining the park… I thought I was hallucinating… and who knows, I might have been, but it was a pretty cool feeling, the physical embodiment of all the things that were troubling me taking flight and leaving. Well, at least for the brief time I was plodding around the park. And the crows came back and landed back in the trees… so there’s that. A pretty apt metaphor if I’m being honest.

I was sitting at a red light the other day, ironically on a street that borders another park I used to run in, when one of the aforementioned packs of wild high school kids went running by as if in admonition of my giving up jogging a few years back. Worse yet, they were all cheerful and chatting away. When I ran I was fighting to get enough air to avoid collapse, even in my 20s. I was listening to music in the car as this pack of kids scampered by and at that very moment Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell” came on. I couldn’t help but conclude this was a sign from the Playlist Gods for me to put together a playlist of songs about running or running away. We all need to read the messages the universe sends, people. Of course there is more to running than jogging. Many times running is more about trying to put emotional distance between yourself and something, well, unpleasant. They say we’re all running away from something or toward something. I think the latter is probably preferable to the former. And of course as my first boss used to say, “If you’re being chased out of town, make it look like you’re leading a parade.”

Along those lines, I couldn’t help but think of the Jackson Browne lyric which always rang true to me from “Your Bright Baby Blues” – a track I didn’t include here as it’s on my Playlist: Songs About Eyes – “No matter how fast I run, I can never seem to get away from me.” It seems Satchel Paige was right about not looking back but in my case the thing that was gaining on me was well, me… or at least my unpleasant memories. It wasn’t until I finally turned and faced them that I was able to stop running. As I compiled this list, I realized there are a lot of songs about running away or more specifically runaways. No matter how tough things were for me growing up with my father – his nickname was “the Hard Guy,” after all – I never once considered running away from home. But I know there are myriad horrific situations that force a kid’s hand into running away. I can’t imagine the Hell those kids go through. We don’t have a good, consistent system to take care of those kids and they usually end up in an even worse situation. This playlist, which includes songs about running away is in no way meant to make light of those kid’s situation. I wish we could do better by our kids around here but we just don’t.

As usual, I got started with the aforementioned Pink Floyd track and then running songs came flooding to my mind. I don’t think this is a list you’d actually jog to, but you might…to each their own. As usual I’m all over the place stylistically. There are fast songs, slow songs and everything in between. Listen straight through, or randomly, dealer’s choice. Skip the tracks you don’t like. There’s a stretch of weird songs, mellow songs, and metal songs. My goal, as always, is to introduce you to something you’ve never heard or at least put a song you haven’t heard in a long time back in your ear. I never get it perfect but maybe we’ll inspire you to put together your own themed playlist…at least I won’t be alone in my music obsession. You might not play this list while you run, but it might add a little something to an evening of sipping whiskey on the back porch watching the leaves turn. If you have suggestions of songs I left out, please leave them in the “comments” section and I’ll add them. These are our playlists, not mine. Here’s my list with my comments about each track below:

1. Pink Floyd, “Run Like Hell” – I can’t hear any of The Wall without being taken directly back to high school, riding in my buddy Brewster’s car (superb stereo) and cranking up Pink Floyd… especially this one.
2. Bruce Springsteen, “Born To Run” – Well, this is an obvious choice, but still, it’s iconic. Bruce just released an outtake from the Born To Run sessions, “Lonely Night In The Park” that I’m obsessed with.
3. Paul McCartney & Wings, “Band On The Run” – The tale of a band who has apparently fallen astray of the law. After a daring jail break, they are running from a pursuing Sheriff…
4. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, “Nowhere To Run” – One of my all time favorite Motown tracks. Perfectly used in Robin Williams‘ flick Good Morning Vietnam.
5. Bob Seger, “Against The Wind” – “We were young and strong, we were runnin’ against the wind.” Spent a lot of my youth doing just this… and yes, “Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then…” Peak Bob Seger….
6. Van Morrison, “Come Running” – A jaunty little song from Van…He just put out a great new album, Remembering Now. A welcome comeback.
7. Rod Stewart, “Cut Across Shorty” – If I’m writing about running songs, I might as well have a song about a footrace. “Shorty musta had something boys that can’t be found in books…” Indeed.
8. Jackson Browne, “Running On Empty” – Sure, we’re in a car in this song but it’s a metaphor. Spent a lot of time like Jackson does here… “I don’t know where I’m runnin’ now, I’m just runnin’ on…” The running just gets to be a habit.
9. Lenny Kravitz, “Always On The Run” – Our hero tries to be good as mama instructed, and yet, “I’m always on the run.”
10. Van Halen, “Runnin’ With The Devil” – From their fabulous debut album.
11. Tom Petty, “Runnin’ Down A Dream” – Aren’t we all runnin’ down our dreams? Nice name check of Del Shannon’s “Little Runaway.” I still miss Tom Petty.
12. Pearl Jam, “Running” – Punk energy from Dark Matter.
13. Neil Young & Crazy Horse, “Born To Run” – Not to be confused with Springsteen’s song. Great deep track from Archives II. Should have been released on Zuma.
14. Billy Squier, “She’s A Runner” – Reminds me of someone I used to know… “Take my soul to the lost and found…”
15. A Flock Of Seagulls, “I Ran (So Far Away) – Single Edit” – We hated these guys when we were in college. I kinda dig this song now. Of course whenever I used to get a bad haircut, I’d name check these guys. I have a fabulous “stylist” now.
16. Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” – A track made famous again by Stranger Things.
17. The Velvet Underground, “Run, Run, Run” – I’m not sure the advice, “Run, run, run, take a drag or two,” which implies smoking while running to me, is good advice. Sorry, Lou.
18. Bob Marley & The Wailers, “Running Away” – There’s always room for Bob Marley on a playlist.
19. Allman Brothers Band, “No One To Run With” – Man, I lived this song when all my buddies got married. Thankfully my buddy Alf came along…
20. Bad Company, “Run With The Pack” – Oh to be young with friends galore to go out and run with. We were like a gang… well, without the weapons and the tattoos or the menace. These guys were just rightfully selected for the Rock Hall of Fame.
21. The Doobie Brothers, “It Keeps You Runnin'” – Early Yacht Rock from the Admiral of the Genre, Michael McDonald on one of his first hits with the Doobies.
22. Jefferson Starship, “Runaway” – I had completely forgotten about the existence of this song but man, is it an earworm!
23. Garbage, “Run Baby Run” – A track the Rock Chick turned me onto…from a band she turned me onto.
24. Billy Idol, “Running From The Ghost” – From his 2022 EP, The Cage.
25. Dion, “Runaround Sue” – This song and “The Wanderer” must have made Dion the King of 1961. He’s recreated himself as a blues guy... and frankly, it’s great.
26. Gregg Allman, “Can’t Keep Running” – I loved the album I’m No Angel. Gregg just put out a live album from his vaults that everyone should hear…
27. George Harrison, “Run So Far” – Also covered by Eric Clapton… I like George’s version better.
28. Crosby, Stills, Nash, “Run From Tears” – Great Stephen Stills track from CSN from 1977.
29. U2, “Running To Stand Still” – Song about heroin and drug addiction.
30. Eddie Money, “Running Back” – A bit of a reggae vibe from Mr. Money.
31. Yes, “Run Through The Light” – From an album my brother had, Drama.
32. Slade, “Run Runaway” – I don’t remember much from the 80s but I remember this song from MTV.
33. Judas Priest, “On The Run” – Prime metal from Judas Priest!
34. Def Leppard, “You Got Me Runnin'” – From my favorite of their albums, High N Dry.
35. Bon Jovi, “Runaway” – Call me sentimental, but I still love this track. That falsetto at the end!
36. Scorpions, “Bad Boys Running Wild” – From their landmark album, Love At First Sting.
37. Iron Maiden, “Run To The Hills” – The arrival of the white man from the perspective of the natives…Good to remember we’re all immigrants here except the Native Americans.
38. Airbourne, “Runnin’ Wild” – Hard rock from Australia which came to me courtesy of the Rock Chick.
39. Social Distortion, “I Won’t Run No More” – From their last LP in, checks notes, 2011. We could use some new Social D.
40. Starcrawler, “Runaway” – From their last album, She Said.
41. Liam Gallagher, “You Better Run” – Nice to see Liam reunite with his original band this year…
42. Warren Zevon, “Run Straight Down” – Great track from Zevon’s “concept album,” Transverse City.
43. Billy Joel, “Running On Ice” – Overlooked gem from The Bridge. Check out the new documentary on Billy, And So It Goes.
44. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, “Dogs On The Run” – Great Petty deep track from Southern Accents.
45. The Beatles, “Run For Your Life” – Rather menacing track from the Fab Four.
46. The Black Keys, “Run Right Back” – Great band whose latest, No Rain, No Flowers is still in high rotation here. This track is from the great, El Camino.
47. John Mellencamp, “I’m Not Running Anymore” – Mellencamp telling us that eventually we’ve all got to stop running, face our demons and find contentment. Very Zen from the pugnacious rocker.
48. Crosby & Nash, “Take The Money And Run” – Graham Nash lamenting how badly CSNY were ripped off on that 1974 stadium tour.
49. Sheryl Crow, “Run, Baby, Run” – I’m not a huge Crow fan, but always dug this track.
50. Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty, “I Will Run To You” – Their second duet…and it might be my favorite.
51. The Call, “You Run” – Great song from an oft overlooked band. Worth exploring!
52. Steve Miller Band, “Take The Money And Run” – Outlaws on the run… oh the adrenaline surge.
53. Roger Waters, “The Powers That Be” – “They say the toothless get ruthless, you better run… you better run on home.” Sage advice these days… even if Waters’ latest comments about the loss of Ozzy reinforce what an idiot he can be.
54. Van Halen, “Runaround” – From the great Van Hagar album, F.U.C.K.
55. Journey, “Keep On Runnin'” – This track sounds tame now, but I remember in high school thinking it rocked. A bit of nostalgia…
56. Heart, “Who Will You Run To” – I have no connection to this song whatsoever. I tend to be drawn more toward their earlier stuff, but this one works.
57. Bryan Adams, “Run To You” – Perhaps Mr. Adams’ biggest hit? I couldn’t skip putting it on here.
58. Traveling Wilburys, “Runaway” – The Wilbury’s covering the aforementioned (# 11) Del Shannon track.
59. The Rolling Stones, “Turd On The Run” – Great Stones deep track…
60. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, “Running Man’s Bible” – Great, bluesy Petty from Mojo.
61. Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Gimme Three Steps” – Our hero gets caught talking to another man’s woman and while facing down a gun, asks for just a small favor…
62. Little Feat, “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now” – Title track from a great album.
63. Pete Townshend, “I Won’t Run Anymore” – Pete just put out a box set of all his studio albums.
64. Yes, “Long Distance Runaround” – My second entry from Yes! Every playlist needs some prog.
65. Audioslave, “Sound Of A Gun” – “Running from the sound of a gun, till your weary…” Sad that this song makes me think of our school kids…
66. Fleetwood Mac, “Running Through The Garden” – Great Stevie Nicks track from an album that’s over 20 years old now…much to my amazement.
67. Eagles, “The Long Run” – This one probably doesn’t fit our theme, but damn, it’s a great song.
68. The Spencer Davis Group, “Keep On Running” – Perhaps a little obscure, but we can all use an encouraging word from Steve Winwood’s first band.
69. Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Run Through The Jungle” – Great track about our soldiers in Vietnam in the 60s.
70. The Who, “Run Run Run” – I almost went with the Live At The BBC version… hard to know which is definitive. Great, punchy early Who track. I’m still cranking Live At The Oval 1971.
71. Johnny Cash & Tom Petty, “The Running Kind” – Great Merle Haggard song… couldn’t resist going with this version.
72. Cage The Elephant & Beck, “Night Running” – One of my favorites from Cage, who I saw recently, I wish Beck would stop his endless touring and record something new for us!
73. Bodeans, “She’s A Runaway” – I should play more Bodeans around here.
74. Santana, “Nowhere To Run” – I’d kind of forgotten about this one… it kind of sounds like Journey. I think Greg Rollie may have played on this track, maybe that’s why?
75. Sam Cooke, “I’ll Come Running Back To You” – The greatest singer… ever?
76. Soul Asylum, “Runaway Train” – Poignant track (with accompanying video) about the sad plight of kids who run away from home. Too iconic to leave off.
77. No Doubt, “Running” – I fell in love with No Doubt after seeing them live… sometimes you have to see a band perform to get it. However, Gwen Stefani’s solo stuff has been the most disappointing ever.
78. Jayhawks, “I’d Run Away” – Great country rock band.
79. Stephen Stills, “Know You’ve Got To Run” – Boy, Stills always seems to be on the run from something… Probably all that coke he did in the 70s.
80. Stills-Young Band, “Long May You Run” – Yes, this is a song about a car, but it felt like a nice sentiment to end on… “Long may you run,” indeed.

Well, like I said you may not want to actually run to this playlist, but there’s enough upbeat stuff on here you can string together something to accompany your workout if you’re so inclined. Me, I’ve just been sitting on the back porch listening to the leaves turn color (ok, watching them, there has been whiskey involved). If there’s a great track about running out there that I missed, please drop it in the comments. Hopefully, whether you’re running, walking or driving somewhere, this music will help get you where you’re going.

Hang in there… I know a lot of people feel like running these days…from their personal situation or the situation in general… but take care of each other, we’ll get through it. As my late accountant used to tell me, “You know what I say…fuck ’em.”

Cheers!