OneRepublic: Love Runs Out Meaning
Song Released: 2014
Love Runs Out Lyrics
I'll be the bright and black that's making you run.
And I feel alright, and we'll feel alright,
'Cause we'll work it out, yeah we'll work it out.
I'll be doin' this, if you ever doubt,
'til...
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1TOP RATED
#1 top rated interpretation:The song is about never giving up, " till the loves runs out" any kind of Love , which it can run out, but we are always loving something, wanting something, running for something, etc etc It is a song about endurance, perseverance, introspection, encouragement for ourselves and others. Above all is a very positive song and I love it!
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2TOP RATED
#2 top rated interpretation:This is a classic relationship between a narcissist and his latest victim
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3TOP RATED
#3 top rated interpretation:Ok, so Ryan Tedder grew up in a fundamentalist religious home and I think he is spiritually conflicted in this song (also Counting Stars: "Everything that kills me makes me feel alive"). He is saying he will try to be everything ("I'll be your...") to everyone until he runs out of love which is exactly how is feels when you are expected to perform and behave according to rules rather than live in God's grace. He is trying to "work it out" but eventually he always fails to do everything right. Eventually, he finds himself living a double standard life: "Mama said, 'Do what you want, say prayers at night," so he does whatever he wants, and prays for forgiveness at night to be sure he is covered. I know how this feels and have felt this many times. The good news is we are free and forgiven through faith in Christ. But he is expressing what it's like to live under that religious pressure.
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My past lover was 18 years my junior. Maybe he's serenading the 'red lady's. I do hope so...
Love isn't a number. -
Here’s a novel concept. Ask the guy who wrote the song and then you might find the real answer as to the lyrics meaning!!
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This song is about the love between mother and son....this is it.....
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I think this song is like a mirror. A mirror looks different based on who's looking into it. I used to avoid this song because I don't like relationships that begin with the end in view. But recently I came to realize the author is just expressing a feeling. I speculate that he found himself in a situation where he had to make a choice or rather the passion burning within him brought him to a fork in the road and he decided to give himself over to his love with complete abandonment even though there is the possibility that his love will not always be reciprocated. I think, by the tone of the song, he is saying whatever you do do it with your whole heart. That is what the runners do. This is good advice for anyone regardless of his believes. That being said, I see some sarcasm towards religion. His prayers are a formality. He could be comparing how ridiculous throwing love at someone who may not have a lifelong commitment in view is to absorbing your life in religious ceremonies in hopes of saving your soul. For me personally, this song is sarcastic. It represents the arbitrary choice to love someone who is unworthy for some personal gain. It's about doing what you have to do in order to get what you want.
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Ryan Tedder came from a pastoral upbringing. There is definitely a theme of struggle for doing what's right and what you love (and all that comes with it). Like many artists (yes M&S, TOP, etc.) it can mean one or two totally different things (Tyler wrote Hethens with two totally different meanings in mind and they both work perfectly in concerts and cinemas) to the artist, and yet something completely different to you. Let it mean whatever you want it to mean to you, though I'd love to hear Ryan's personal meaning.
- Ryan "Deadly Dos" D. -
I believe this is honestly whatever you interpret it to be, such as running being synonymous with living and the man living on God's love till it "runs out" (? God's love can't run out... That needs more justification... ), but in the eyes of the artist I think it is quite clear. As I've read some say, I think that the man is talking about his differentiating views between good and evil, using God and Mestophiles ( probably spelled that wrong ) to convey this. It says that "momma said do what you want, says prayers at night." If this is truly fully about religious belief, then his mother was quite confused. This shows that the singer is doing what he likes, and praying to God to justify his actions, but this is insincere. The singer in all has decided to live and be happy doing what he loves in life till "the loves runs out", or his life ends. So, in other words, he is doing what he wants despite the two side of good an evil badgering him; he just wants to live life to the fullest before it ends and ignore the consequences. What the singer runs for is love and his own happiness ( or of others ) in life, not bothering with the morals of it all. What we might run for is included too, ( "for God, for fate, for love, for hate, for gold and rust, for diamonds and dust" ), but the purpose of this song is to tell us that he runs to live and love. I hope this helps! And just to add, another answer said "he has an angel and the devil on his shoulders, but ultimately the love wins out." I'd just like to remind you that God is the ultimate love and the Devil the complete opposite, filled with everything that is awful in the world- this man who is singing is ( in my opinion ) confused as to what the best love is; he thinks it to be living life best and enjoying every second, but he cannot see that what something inside of him is running for is Jesus, because he wants to live for love and happiness, but he thinks that he can only do this if he generates it on his own accord. Anyways, that's my interpretation of what it's fundamentally about.
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The song is about love, true love and what it takes when there are struggles in the relationship and how no matter what they are able to work it out. He is working on himself to be with her. Completely devoted to her bit he needs time to get his life back together. It's hard because there are obstacles in his life he needs to get rid of and he is asking her to wait for him and she does becuse love never runs out.
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Mephistopheles is a demon featured in German folklore.
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Many times we understand by our level of perception. This song could have many religious/christian references. Sometimes music meets us where we are personally and what we have experienced personally. I can't see a girl break-up in this at all.
It seems to me by the video that he is going to live life full of love until it runs out. Then there is fire which is always representative of hell, battle of Armageddon, the End of Time.
He is going to run until they start a fire and shut it. -
I'd like to make two comments: 1)in response to the #1 top rated interpretation: Certainly there are religious innuendos, but I question that the love which may run out is God's love- this never occurred to me. As a literal athletic runner you run - hopefully- because you love running. You stop when your - the runner's- love for running runs out, that is generalized, when you have lost passion for running or - life. I see this song as a love commitment to running - life- whatever you're passionate about. You are dedicated, committed out of passion for what you love to do. God's love? If a human being loves running, making music, painting, designing, sweeping the streets...whatever, they will be doing this until their love for it runs out. If that is connected to God's love, who knows? Could be but needn't.
2) Personal significance: You may already have guessed I'm a runner. After struggling with chronic injuries for over 14 years, my body is now well enough to do serious running again: I just registered for the Athens Marathon :-). The song is inspirational to me, I committed to the race, I am more passionate than 20 years ago and soon will be fitter even, too. That is this song's significance for me :-) -
Tbh, I thought it was about a guy cheating on a girl, til the love runs out then we'll work it out. Black and bright making you run, a girl scared of disloyalty. Just my idea. What evers.
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Honestly...this song confuses the heck out of me but all I know is the dude is going to the love runs out. And that we all run for something, for love, hate, etc.
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Of course all the religious people want to claim this song as pro-religion, but in actuality, it's someone questioning those types of beliefs. He is struggling and will continue on with life until the love runs out. He has an angel and the devil on his shoulders, but ultimately, it's just love that wins out.
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Each word/s in each verse all have to do with each other. Like "I'll be your light, your match, your burning sun, I'll be the bright and black that's making you run"-- I see this as God during creation, along with the mere fact that he is in control. In the video it shows the sun setting and rising over and over, representing time. And to me the word "run", and " running" symbolize living life. Than there's "I'll be your ghost, your game, your stadium- l'll be your fifty thousand clapping like one" to me this also symbolizes God. The next group of verses after the chorus to me symbolizes him choosing the right path either to go with Mephistopheles or the angel, and hopefully choosing the right path, and saying prayers because he's so devout. And than there's the chorus, this I see him realizing that he's choseen his path in life and he will be living it till the love runs out (Gods love). Than, "we all want the same thing, we all run for something, for God, for fate, for love for hate, for gold and rust, for diamonds and dust" to me this speaks for itself, that we all choose our path and we will keep running till the love runs out, (once again Gods love). I mean it makes sense because Christian s believe that life is Gods love, that He has and gives you the choice to accept him and live by his undying love or choose another path. I think this song is like many of Mumford and sons songs, in that it can have two meanings, cause I do see what other people are seeing.
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Wow that's twisted, but makes sense.
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