Shoot the Runner

would you all like to know what this song realy means, well incase you ar'nt aware tom is an ex heroin addict and "the runner" means heroin. when you smoke heroin you run it but it is much better to inject it or shoot it hence shoot the runner. also when he says im the king its because of the way gear makes you feel and if anyone know the song lsf he refers to a polyfonic prostitute, this is the queen coz if ur on heroin it feels better than sex and u realy dont need a girlfriend so he says im the king she's my queen biatch and any users no this mean the drugs are his bitch. and it is chang not chain if you watch the official video you will see tom doing a gesture at the same time as he sings this line of sniffing somthing off a card. do not dispute these are facts that have been kept secret for good reasons. every kasabian song has some reference of context to heroin or drug abuse or the consequences- if you listen you will notice. luckily not many of you know anything about gear so you wont understand but that dont mean that it im not spot on. and if you dont belive me about tom being a junkie or ex junkie check out youtube interviews and you will see one where he is drinking methadone blatantly on camera. Kasabian also means the butcher or slaughterer which is what doing heroin does, its a killer please listen to toms ranting with open eyes that he is rich and can aford to be the way he is, and in the words of liam gallager dont put your life in the hands of a rock and roll band and throw it alll away. Having said that I love Kasabian and think Tom is very talented and definatley part of the best modern brit band ever. peace and stay safe and never share injecting equipment goodnight

the runner= a girl who lives the fast life.

shooting her? tying her down, probably in a relationship. hence the 'you're my queen, bitch'. it's not about respect, it's about wanting her so bad he's willing to strap her in, basically.

you never talk dirty, eh?

Idk It kinda seems like they are talking about a girl trying to leave. The runner could actually being refering to the queen. That was my first impression.

i saw them yesterday on trl and the singer said this song was about falling in love. shoot the runner stands for cupid's arrow or something like that

I have absolutely NO idea what this song is about lyric-wise, though when it comes to the music, I think it is one of the best songs these days. Pure rock. And the way Tom Meighan screams "Bitch" just before the rocking spiced up Queen-inspired (?) guitar solo as the finale makes this song just brilliant (for me). We need more songs like this one!

The first time I heard this song it was playing in the background of a vid of a Lindsay Lohan shoot.. to me it kind of embodies a girl like that, just someone who is completely being young, rebellious, living maybe a bit too dangerously, and who is very sexy. The song is about a relationship with this girl, maybe even just a one night stand or a heated short term fling.. When he sings "Always knew you would lose yourself to the scene, am I only a dream" he's talking about the party scene, drinking drugs, etc.. and it kind of seems like she's in control of things, he's kind of under her spell, and he knows he wont be there long, as when he sings "kings may come and then go"

anyone else have input?

"Chang" is a term used in Liverpool for Cocaine, not sure whether it extends to Leicester, Kasabian's hometown.

I reckon "bitch" is just added to the song because it's colloquial, and for no significant meaning. for example, Dave Chappelle's "I'm Rik James, Bitch!" Why bitch there? No reason.

Is he actually king? is it a metaphor that he is powerful? more powerful than the "runner"?

Not entirely sure on the overall meaning, but sex, power and philosophy (live you days like the last) all come into it.

i think hes saying hes the man and girls are whores most likely wrong but fuck it ill song

I have another theory, could be a metaphor for shooting deserters. He wants to shoot her before she gets away. She's my queen, bitch.