Lyric discussion by Flyingdovee 

Cover art for Run lyrics by Foo Fighters

Unite; that's the main impression I get form this song.

First, this song is telling people that something bad, vicious, and I think more importantly, disguised, has won or is winning; "The rats are on parade, The hounds are on the chase". With this the hounds, represent whatever is bad out there, are both attacking something while discussing their actions. The use of "Parade" enforces this idea on both accounts, Parades being a symbol of celebration and generally a place where performers disguise themselves as something else. Finally, by using a Parade and the face that "Hound's" is plural, alludes to this idea of a collective; that this isn't one person's actions but the actuations of many which are the predators to somethings prey.

There also seems to be this hint of an idea that the people are either: are unwilling to admit, are repressed and unable too, are possess a simple blindness, to these actions which are occurring, "Another mad charade, I need some room to breathe, You can stay asleep". The use of three sections, three states of mind if you will seem like (in a very vague, general sense) how people from different classes in in society behave to problems. Middle class represents the first quote, they see a problem, they name it and admit it but do nothing about it as the actions of the "Hounds" don't directly affect them (or potentially indirectly aid them). The second quote, this is the lower class, the victims of the "Hounds" with the idea of their breath, of their life and intern opinions and value being smothered. Finally, the third quote, the upper class. This is referring to those who are untouched by the "hounds" or potentially are themselves hounds but whom don't realise that they are and what their actions are doing.

Additionally, I believe that the Point of View character whom might be Dave himself, see himself as if he's from the middle to upper class though still feels for his lower class rooted. "I need some room to breathe - You can stay asleep, I need some room to breathe - You can run with me". Though "I" could be referring to himself, it also can be taken to emphasise the line and almost itself sounds like a quote itself. Another reason I think Dave sees himself as if he's in the middle of what’s happening is because the way it tells the classes things within the song; there is a lack of exclusivity within these sections, a lack of the initial use of the word "we" within the course. He tells the upper class "you Can stay asleep" yet he tells the lower class "you Can run with me" with the middle being left out, a middle which he is a part of and yet different from.

Next, addressing the uprising idea, though out the song there are two repeats of “Wake up, Run for your life with me, You can run with me If you wanted to” were instead of referring to the upper class exclusively, the lines refer to both upper and lower classes and could figuratively refer to “Run for your life” as an offering to make life meaningful again though the literal sense of people generally do care about if they live for dye. The second repeat section for this chorus is the repetition of “We run” three times, referring to the three classes to join together and potentially behind the PoV character whom could himself be Dave to say no to the actions of the “Hounds”. This won’t be easy though as in the PoV’s words “They say that's nothings free”.

Finally, we address the remaining stray lines linking to the uprising theme which are “Before the time runs out, There's somewhere to run” and “We are the nation's stakes, If everything's erased, What you gonna' do?”. The first line is about the fact that in our lack of action, the “Hounds” are doing more and more damage, time isn’t unlimited and there is another option or in the songs words “There's somewhere to run”. Lastly, we have the finial paragraph. Within the entire song, these are the only lines which referring to something united and hole; “We are the nation's stakes”, stakes meaning a person or in this case in my option, a country, that clams ownership over something and the only single use of “We” in the song refereeing to everyone, every class, race, religion, everyone of said countries peoples being united. The alternative to this being “If everything's erased, What you gonna' do”, asking what is the cost of doing nothing? yes things might be hard to change and in the words of the song again “nothings free”, but I think this quote is explained perfectly with another one “What’s easy, isn’t always right; and what right, isn’t always easy”.

My finial closing thoughts on this song, I must admit, are that this could be about any country on the planet, there is always friction within every country’s people and between neighbouring countries peoples. The PoV character, whom Dave could have very well written to be himself but could also very well be anyone whom thinks themselves within this situation, thinks that they are old fashioned, with old ideas and opinions, and feel as if they are separate from everything as if there from another time (Referring to the old Dave rebelling against a widely accepted establishment whom then draws like minded {old} people in to help him).

Anways that’s my opinion and interpretation which I hope you liked reading, and agree on it or not, there is one thing we can agree on. That drop in the beginning is killer!!

Song Meaning