Run for Your Life

This is a submission for the Harmonic Vocals challenge. It is divided into three parts: the lyrics, an actual recording of the song (with you truly on vocals), and, for the truly musically minded, the song script detailing the musical structure.

The Lyrics

I have laid the lyrics out as if it was a transcript for a vocalist. Where there is a '-', it signifies to elongate that word. Where there is a '/', it means a pause or a stop.

Comments in italics and square brackets give a sense of the musical accompaniment.

[Musical prologue featuring the lead guitar, bass, and drums - 20 bars transcending into song beat and introduction of 4 bars]

Verse 1:

Well, now I'm slow-ly losi-ng my mi-nd/

I'm slowly runn-ing out-of-time/

Thi-ngs just do-n't se-em the sa-me./

[Musical interlude 4 bars]

Verse 2:

Think-ing about the day-s go-ne by/

And the wa-y that thin-gs us-ed to be/

People seem to to only stop and stare/

At realities they don't under-stand./

Chorus:

R-un for your life/

Keep runni-ing with a-ll yo-ur might/

R-un for your life/

Keep runn-ing when you kn-ow you-re right./

[Musical interlude]

Verse 3:

I am listen-ing to the peo-ple complaining/

How a war was lost and how it’s won/

I can see a visi-on Oh!- so clea- ryl/

John boy’s lyi-ng in the gutter in the sun./

Chorus:

R-un for your life/

Keep runni-ing with a-ll yo-ur might/

R-un for your life/

Keep runn-ing when you kn-ow you-re right./

Verse 4:

As I get -old-er and w-iser in my -yea-rs/

I’ve started to slow-ly dis-app-ear/

Hiding and keep-ing out-of-site/

I sense a -realiza-tion -of my -fears./

Chorus:

R-un for your life/

Keep runni-ing with a-ll yo-ur might/

R-un for your life/

Keep runn-ing when you kn-ow you-re right/

[Musical epilogue and finish.]

Listen to how it sounds:

This is a rough homemade recording of the song performed by my band (Trade Secrets) from the 80's. The story behind the song is provided in the author's notes at the end of the story.

Song Script:

The song is 100 BPM. It features a definitive beat pattern, controlled by the bass drum and bass.

The song has an Indie folk feel to it. The vocals are haunting, reflecting the subject content.

The letters in bold above the lyrics are the guitar chords.

[Musical prologue featuring the lead guitar, bass, and rolling snare drum - 16 bars]:

Am G F G

Am G F G

Am G F G

Am G F G

[Prologue transcends into song beat with full accompaniment; introduction of 4 bars]:

Am Am Am Am

Verse 1:

Am F Am

Well, now I'm slow-ly losi-ng my mi-nd/

Am G Am

I'm slowly runn-ing out-of-time/

Am F Am

Thi-ngs just do-n't se-em the sa-me/

[Musical interlude 4 bars]:

A G F A

Verse 2:

Am F Am

Think-ing about the day-s go-ne by/

Am G Am

And the wa-y that thin-gs us-ed to be/

Am F Am

People seem to only stop and stare/

E G F Am

At realities they don't under-stand./

Chorus:

F G Am

R-un for your life/

F G C Am

Keep runni-ing with a-ll yo-ur might/

F G Am

R-un for your life/

F G Am

Keep runn-ing when you kn-ow you-re right/

[Musical interlude - 8 bars in Am chord with lead overlay] :

Verse 3 [As for verse 1]

Chorus

Verse 4 [As for verse 1]

Final Chorus

[The chorus finishes and runs into a musical epilogue featuring the bass beat (A chord) and drum overlay - 8 bars.

The finish is a crisp single note with full accompaniment.

[Author's notes: I wrote 'Run for Your Life' in the early '80s. Back then, I began to question the logic (or lack of it) in the world.

This song is full of reflection. It includes lines like, "I'm thinkin' about the days gone past." It also asks why people don't act on their problems, like when it says, "People only seem to stop and stare."

The Iraq War was a big topic back then. One of my favorite lines from the song is, "I can see a vision oh so clearly; John Boy's lying in a gutter in the sun."

The chorus shows how crazy life has become. You might get left behind if you don’t keep up (keep running).

I released this as a poem some months ago, and then when I found the soundtrack, I added and modified it a bit. The fourth verse was added for this challenge after the recording was made. It reflects my current life, where I am slowly sinking into a life of solitude. I'm trying to care less about things I can't understand. Still, I feel anxious about the grim future I sense is coming.

Till next time,

Calvin

Copyright © 28/3/25 Calvin London. All rights reserved.