Middle Distance Runner

Well I'm so sad tonight And the words won't come out right It's been a long day on the track And it's stamina that I lack

• I think it's about a man who is in love with a free-spirited woman. Being with her is exhilarating, but exhausting; it feels like he's constantly chasing after her. He's trying to match her pace, but it's just not in him.

So won't you run to me tonight? Tonight we could pretend that we're just lovers But I'll only ever be a middle distance runner

• Here he's asking her to meet him half-way. Instead of him always following her, would she be willing to stop and come to him for once? He's laying it out plainly for her: "I'll only ever be a middle distance runner", which is to say, I'm a 'take things slowly as they come' kind of guy, and I may not be as quick to sprint ahead as you are, but if you're okay with that, I want to be with you.

Well my heart is beating hard And I'm off with a shot at the start And my legs tremble from strain But by the finish line I am drained

• Another stanza describing the constant game of catch up that characterizes their relationship.

So won't you run to me tonight? Tonight let's not talk about next summer Cause I'll only ever be a middle distance runner

• Perhaps the girl is always talking about the future, thinking about the consequences of her actions, and the things that are yet to come, but not inevitable. The man is saying, let's take care of the things that are now, and not worry about things we can't control or that may not happen. Let's get our relationship sorted out before we consider the future.

Well I'm so proud tonight Of the woman you've become And I'm just too tired to fight So my darling, I'll succumb

• He's completely in love with her and he's entrusting himself to her. Perhaps falling into her pace?

But you'll have to run to me tonight Tonight I will love you forever But I'll only ever be a middle distance runner

• If you want us to be together, you're going to have to keep in mind my limitations and personality, and we're each going to have to adjust our paces.

Essentially it's a sweet love song about learning to adapt yourself to another person.