BTS, Run: inside the meaning of the lyrics and the story

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Run is one of the most famous songs written by the korean band BTS. It was released in 2015 and it has the same title as the famous web series the band released starting from 2015, so it’s obviously one of the most analysed and streamed songs ever made from them, still today. In this article we will analyse the lyrics, the meaning of the song and the theory about the story behind the song.

You can find below the official video of the song, with the english subtitles of the lyrics.

[MV] BTS(방탄소년단) _ Run

Run: the lyrics and their meaning

Run is a song about love and how difficult a love relationship can be. In the song the band sings about being in love for a girl, so much connected emotionally that they wouldn’t be able to step back anyway. The two lines of the first verse are meaningful in this perspective:

It’s too late, too late, I can’t live without you
Though my branch runs dry, I reach for you with all my strength

It is clear that we are talking about a complicated relationship. The lyrics talk about scars, injuries, branches that get dry, flower that die. But that doesn’t change a thing: the protagonist is anyway in love with her. And he’s ok with it. Despite this relationship creates troubles, “it’s ok to be injured”.

The chours of the song then assumes a specific meaning:

I run run run
I can’t stop
I run run run again
I can’t help it
This is all I can do anyway
All I know is how to love you

Run run run
It’s ok to fall
Run run run
It’s ok to get hurt
I’m alright, even if I can’t have you
Pitiful destiny, point your finger at me

The subjects runs. Symbolically, he cannot stay still. He’s in love with her, he wants her. He doesn’t get what he wants and that drives him crazy. He just cannot relax. And that’s why he tells her: “you make me run”. Everything I’m feeling, all the struggle I’m living, is because of the way you handle your part of the relationship.

The rest of the lyrics insist in describing the pain of being in this situation: it looks like running in circles, chasing butterflies, all fascinating symbols that describe efforts that don’t bring a result. Everything he does, he does it for love. He cannot help. But nothing really works and the situation remains the same. It’s a sad destiny.

The story behind the song

Since BTS have a huge fan base, it’s normal that many theories have emerged about this and their previous songs. According to many fans, Run is a new chapter of a longer story, where the members of the band are dealing with growth and becoming adult. It’s a battle that takes place in their psyche, with many symbolical events that have been showed on their videos. On this perspective, the protagonist is therefore running from adulthood, because it scars them.

A very detailed explanation of the story and the theory behind Run videoclip and its predecessor can be found at this page.

Read other popular song lyrics and their meaning on Auralcrave

The English translation of the lyrics

You’re my sun, the one and only in this world
I bloom for you, but you make me thirsty
It’s too late, too late
I can’t live without you
Even if I‘m drying out, I try harder to reach you

But it’s no use, it’s a dream to be broken
I run and run, but I’m not getting anywhere
Just burn me out, yes
Keep pushing me away
This is a fool, crazy in love, chasing in circles

Make me run
Make me run more
Let my feet rip apart with wounds
At least I can smile when I see you

I run, run, run, I can’t stop
Run, run, run again, I can’t help it
This is all I can do anyway
All I know is how to love you
Run, run, run again, it’s okay to fall
Run, run, run, again, it’s okay to get hurt
I’m alright, even if I can’t have you
Pitiful destiny, point your finger at me

Run (Don’t tell me, bye, bye)
Run (You make me cry, cry)
Run (Love is a lie, lie)
Don’t tell me, don’t tell me
Don’t tell me bye bye

Everyone says it’s over, but I can’t stop
Is this sweat or tears, I can’t really tell, oh
My love stripped bare, the stormy winds
They make me run again, my heart beats again

Make me run
Make me run more
Let my feet rip apart with wounds
At least I can I smile when I see you

I run, run, run, I can’t stop
Run, run, run again, I can’t help it
This is all I can do anyway
All I know is how to love you
Run, run, run again, it’s okay to fall
Run, run, run, again, it’s okay to get hurt
I’m alright, even if I can’t have you
Pitiful destiny, point your finger at me

Memories crumble like dried flower petals
At the tip of my fingers, under my feet
Right behind your back
I’m chasing butterflies, so lost in dreams
I follow your traces
Show me the way, please stop me
Let me breathe

I run, run, run, I can’t stop
Run, run, run again, I can’t help it
This is all I can do anyway
All I know is how to love you
Run, run, run again, it’s okay to fall
Run, run, run, again, it’s okay to get hurt
I’m alright, even if I can’t have you
Pitiful destiny, point your finger at me

Run (Don’t tell me, bye, bye)
Run (You make me cry, cry)
Run (Love is a lie, lie)
Don’t tell me, don’t tell me
Don’t tell me bye bye