Released: 2000
Linkin Park’s ‘Runaway’ is a rock anthem of rebellion and self-discovery. It explores themes of distrust, guilt, and the desire for truth and freedom.
The song opens with ‘Graffiti decorations, under a sky of dust / A constant wave of tension on top of broken trust.’ Here, the band paints a picture of a bleak, tension-filled environment, likely a metaphor for a troubled mind or society. The ‘graffiti decorations’ could symbolize acts of rebellion or cries for help, while the ‘sky of dust’ suggests a clouded, uncertain future.
‘The lessons that you taught me, I learned were never true / Now I find myself in question.’ These lines express a sense of betrayal and disillusionment. The speaker feels misled by someone they trusted, leading to self-doubt and questioning.
‘They point the finger at me again / Guilty by association.’ Here, the band touches on the theme of blame and guilt. The speaker feels unjustly accused due to their association with someone or something.
‘I wanna run away, never say goodbye / I wanna know the truth instead of wondering why.’ The chorus is a clear expression of the speaker’s desire to escape their current situation and seek truth and understanding. The repeated phrase ‘I wanna run away’ underscores the intensity of this desire.
‘Paper bags and angry voices, under a sky of dust / Another wave of tension has more than filled me up.’ The second verse mirrors the first, reinforcing the sense of tension and conflict. The ‘paper bags’ could symbolize concealment or suffocation, while ‘angry voices’ suggest conflict and hostility.
The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and a new line, ‘I’m gonna run away and open up my mind.’ This shift from ‘I wanna’ to ‘I’m gonna’ shows the speaker’s resolve to take action and pursue their desire for freedom and understanding.
