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Run of the Mill Lyrics
Everyone has choice
When to and not to raise their voices
It's you that decides
Which way you will turn
While feeling that our love's not your concern
It's you that decides
No one around you, will carry the blame for you
No one around you, will love you today and throw it all away
Tomorrow when you rise
Another day for you to realize me
Or send me down again
As the days stand up on end
You've got me wondering how I lost your friendship
But I see it in your eyes
Though I'm beside you I can't carry the blame for you
I may decide to get out with your blessing
Where I'll carry on guessing
How high will you leap?
Will you make enough for you to reap it?
Only you'll arrive
At your own made end
With no one but yourself to be offended
It's you that decides
When to and not to raise their voices
It's you that decides
Which way you will turn
While feeling that our love's not your concern
It's you that decides
No one around you, will love you today and throw it all away
Another day for you to realize me
Or send me down again
As the days stand up on end
You've got me wondering how I lost your friendship
But I see it in your eyes
I may decide to get out with your blessing
Where I'll carry on guessing
Will you make enough for you to reap it?
Only you'll arrive
At your own made end
With no one but yourself to be offended
It's you that decides
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Great song from All Things Must Pass. When you listen to this album you can come to understand why he remained so bitter about the break up of the Beatles. Clearly it affected him tremendously and the hurt comes through in many of his songs on the album.
Run of the Mill is a prime example. Here his subject appears to be Paul as he's mentioned, but it could just as well be John.
"Another day for you to realize me or send me down again" sounds to me like George talking about his Second Class Beatle status. Many of his songs were passed over (and ended up on this album)and outright criticized by John during the Get Back sessions.
"You've got me wondering how I've lost your friendship" is most likely to Paul, as at the time George was still friendly with John. "Though I'm beside you" could be in the studio, at the boardroom table (Apple) or whatever, but the subject is clearly someone who George felt very close to.
This ranks right up there with McCartney's "Dear Friend" on the Wild Life album in terms of their true feelings towards each other during the early 70s. Both, actually have similar themes, though Paul's song is almost "shocked" whereas George has a more resigned sadness. It's a very dark album, really.
Brilliant song. Can't explain it - it's just pure brilliance.
We reap what we sow, not that difficult to explain. That says it all.
We reap what we sow, not that difficult to explain. That says it all.
I do recall reading that he he wrote this about Paul -- circa the breakup. From Harrison's book, I Me, Mine, it's pretty clear that it is about him, if anyone. It is pretty cutting, but reflective of that time in their relationship.
@rhk59 People make an awful lot of assumptions when it comes to artists music and lyrics as you know, you're most likely the closest of all by saying it's about him, and also about everyone in general. It's about people and trying to get them to wake up that what they reap they will sow in the end. Much deeper meaning than that of any personal relationships he may have had with anybody.
@rhk59 People make an awful lot of assumptions when it comes to artists music and lyrics as you know, you're most likely the closest of all by saying it's about him, and also about everyone in general. It's about people and trying to get them to wake up that what they reap they will sow in the end. Much deeper meaning than that of any personal relationships he may have had with anybody.
I happened to hear this song immediately after hearing selections from Derek and the Dominoes' album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs," also released in 1970, the title track of which was of course written about George's wife Patti. It got me to wondering if these lyrics might have also been written with Patti in mind. In the absence of information about exactly when George wrote these lyrics, we can only speculate.
It is a shame and a travesty that no one has posted any thing on this songs page.
These words are the voice of God which speak to our hearts. We have our free will - "Everyone has choice" "It's you that decides." But what of the love of God? What about God's love for us? Do we hide from God? "Which way you will turn" Does God wait for us? "Tomorrow when you rise..." Is God's faith and love there for us even when we turn away. "You've got me wondering how I lost your friendship, but I see it in your eyes." How far will we lead our lives apart from God? "How high will you leap?" What will we get for our trouble? To be left alone at last?
"Tomorrow when you rise another day for you to realize me." God's love for us is real and true, and yet, everyone has choice.
It has nothing to do with God. Please don't ruin this song with your preaching bull. (Not to be hating or anything, but that's just ignorant).
It has nothing to do with God. Please don't ruin this song with your preaching bull. (Not to be hating or anything, but that's just ignorant).
Redbopped, It may be you that is ignorant. If you knew anything thing about Harrison, you'd know he was pretty deeply religious. Indeed many of his songs were written in an ambiguous way as to perhaps allude to a lover, or to his lord. Shoot, this comes off a record that has songs like my sweet lord, and hear my lord, among others that are CLEARLY about religion. That said, I don't think the song is about religious, but to say that someone who does is ignorant is pretty absurd considering the breadth of Harrison's writings involving...
Redbopped, It may be you that is ignorant. If you knew anything thing about Harrison, you'd know he was pretty deeply religious. Indeed many of his songs were written in an ambiguous way as to perhaps allude to a lover, or to his lord. Shoot, this comes off a record that has songs like my sweet lord, and hear my lord, among others that are CLEARLY about religion. That said, I don't think the song is about religious, but to say that someone who does is ignorant is pretty absurd considering the breadth of Harrison's writings involving religion as a theme.
Clearly this song has a moral component, and just as clearly the entire album--just as George's life, starting with his visits to India--has a spiritual component. But to say that George was so arrogant as to write a song from the point of view of God or put words into the mouth of God ... well, you just aren't paying all that close attention to George or to what's been said about him. To do that requires the hubris of the kind of person who would write scripture. George was much too humble for that.
Clearly this song has a moral component, and just as clearly the entire album--just as George's life, starting with his visits to India--has a spiritual component. But to say that George was so arrogant as to write a song from the point of view of God or put words into the mouth of God ... well, you just aren't paying all that close attention to George or to what's been said about him. To do that requires the hubris of the kind of person who would write scripture. George was much too humble for that.
When George said things like "everyone...
When George said things like "everyone has choice when to or not to raise their voices," it was an expression of opinion or conviction (and not too much of a stretch at that). Even when he said things like "by chanting the names of the LORD then you'll be free," all he was saying was, "works for me." He'd never play God and write "chant my name and you'll be free."
@Nawhs Right on the money, we were given free will after all. All of us do have a choice to reap what we sow. We will find out in the end. Gives us something to think about at least.
@Nawhs Right on the money, we were given free will after all. All of us do have a choice to reap what we sow. We will find out in the end. Gives us something to think about at least.
I've listened to this track over 30 times and the album a lot as well. its clearly a very personal song , heartfelt and could be about anything but for me its about each persons individual agency into things and some loss of belonging , clearly beatles influenced in its structure and music,loss of love,friendship perhaps...
I think this song has several levels of meaning, but mostly, it's an expression of spiritual responsibility - an acknowledgment of the fact that only you can reach enlightenment. This song and this album connect us in ways that are truly awesome, in the archaic sense of the word. The Muse, through the artist, a gift for us.
@Watcher2 You are probably on the right track in a way, though this song may be directed at a few people in his life besides just Patti, like Eric for example who he was friends way before he met Patti. Of course it may not be personal at all, it's hard to tell with George whether or not he's trying to send a message to one person or many people. I think, just my opinion, that it's about having to account for our decisions in life when our life ends, we reap what we sow.
@Watcher2 You are probably on the right track in a way, though this song may be directed at a few people in his life besides just Patti, like Eric for example who he was friends way before he met Patti. Of course it may not be personal at all, it's hard to tell with George whether or not he's trying to send a message to one person or many people. I think, just my opinion, that it's about having to account for our decisions in life when our life ends, we reap what we sow.
This song is about the relationship each individual man has with his creator God. Do you put your selfish self first, or do you make him that made you your compass in life? It's you that decides. Simple, but profound.