'Runaway' by Half-Alive Almost Made Me Cry | Lyrics Explained

The video is actually only 8 minutes long. I exported it weird, but enough people have watched it that I don't want to spam the world with notifications now that I've noticed. There's some blank space at the end to give you time to think quietly for three minutes. :P

Let's get to know each other!

THE TEAM

DISCLAIMER FOR RECORD LABELS:
The content of this educational video is covered by fair use. My work is transformative and adds interpretation and analysis to the original work much as happens when I teach poetry in a university classroom. When I explain songs, I rarely use more the lyrics or short clips of the original song or music video and do not hurt the song’s salability or provide a market substitute. All copyright claims will be disputed and appealed. Please see me as your ally as I use a literary perspective to enable fans to understand and enjoy your wonderful and interesting piece of music.

[ThePopSongProfessor]

The video is actually only 8 minutes long. I exported it weird, but enough people have watched it that I don't want to spam the world with notifications now that I've noticed. There's some blank space at the end to give you time to think quietly for three minutes. :P

[ThePopSongProfessor]

My favorite lines from this song: That what I am, what I am, what I am, what I am / Is something more than I can plan

[clayway]

Oh yeah, in a genius interview Josh said that Still Feel is about him and God

[heidijacksonmusic]

Favorite lines
“When there isn’t any progress
Lean on truth inside the promise
It is well”
I needed to hear that ❤️

[emelia]

“Lean on truth inside the promise, it is well” one of my favorite lines. “It is well” just calms me as a phrase, being a Christian etc. it is well with my soul.

[reeebvc]

“Shirt’s on backwards not on purpose”

I think it’s musically very well done and also a fun little detail which I think can be good in deep songs. I’m not gonna lie, I ain’t got the mental energy after exams and personal thoughts to think too deeply on this, but maybe I’ll go have another listen.

[geekscene]

I hold my life out in front of me, dreams of who I want to be
I'm seeing every empty page...
That what I am, what I am, what I am, what I am
Is something more than I can plan
Go, tell me now!
I don't need to run away
...
Gosh, these lines hit me so hard :(

[mayamaliceart]

This song is so powerful to me as well, my favorite lyrics are "Staring into my reflection, redirecting my perfection somewhere else
When there isn't any progress, lean on truth inside the promise, it is well"

[kayleehawkins]

My favorite lyrics are "I find that everything I am is everything I should be and I don't need to runaway."

[hannahroeder]

When I first listened to the song I was disappointed bc it sounded so similar to still feel but then I payed attention to the lyrics and it grew on me

[katl.]

"Searching for a new escape, I scan the exits that embrace an easy out" I think that might be my favorite line.

[janklaas]

Just the line "I dont need to run away". it gives me some sort of comfort. knowing that i dont need to run away from who i am.

[noellerebekah]

“Staring into my reflection redirecting my perfection”

I don’t know what it is about this line but I love it sooo much.

[midnightthoughts]

My favorite lyrics that I find to be very personal is:

_Something's working, heart is turning_
_Vision’s clear, and still I’m learning_
_That what I am, what I am, what I am, what I am_
_Is something more than I can plan_

It can be broken down into two. I'm still learning, even though I think I am self-aware and clear to what I want to do. I always thought I wanted to be a writer. To write books and share my stories to the world, but ever since I started my fanfiction and taken it more seriously and turn it into something that is more than a fanfiction, I realized I can't do it alone and that it's not a very fun challenge. Three years later and I'm already completely finished with Chapter 5, and I'm only introducing the characters.

So I began doubting what I want to really be in the future. A novelist? Someone who sits behind a computer with words and letters flying around me, and I don't even know how to tell a story right? I can see a miserable life.

And I'm struggling with it. I want to write in my future. That's what I see myself doing. Writing. But that isn't enough.

And then just this morning, I had a dream. It was about a horror game. Something nobody's ever thought of before. And it reminded me of another dream I had two years ago that was a neat little horror game similar to that cute little horror game where you play as a baby with his talking teddy bear, going through an adventure inside his imagination.

I love symbolism. I love people playing horror games. I love writing. It started to actually become clear what I could be in the future. What my major in college is. (Still a high school student, unfortunately).

But I hate planning for some reason. I like going with the flow to things. I may start my future off with a simple plan, but I know I can't control the rest so I just let it be. And planning this future ahead of me far back into this present of me being a simple high school student, unaware of what lies ahead that could hinder any potential plans and send me back into his identity crisis, then I can't plan everything. I just need to say, "I'm going to become a game designer and turn it into something that will grab the attention to thousands of people." that's it. I never know if I'm going have an independent small crew or work in a large company. If I'm going to find a significant other or something terrible will happen. But that, my friends, is why I'd rather go with the flow and not expect everything I want. Just plan a goal, and leave it at that.

And that, my friends, is why this song lyric is most personal to me. (I also didn't know this would be long as fuck. I'm sorry 😅 but I worked too hard on it to delete it all so I'm leaving it in)

[JosiahVaughan]

This is one of my favorite videos you’ve made cliff! I have nothing against daily pop song explainations but videos about deep concepts like this is what keeps me subscribed. Great explanation and discussion man! You completely changed my mind about run away. I at first didn’t even like the song but now I see the deepness of it. Thank you!

[giuliacampos]

coming back to this video way after it’s release just to say that my favorite line of this song is “what I am is something more than I can plan”, I even got a tattoo with this line recently

(sorry for any grammar mistakes, English is not my first language)

[aly]

I like the lyrics "I find that everything I am is everything I should be, I don't need to runaway." These words kind of help me because i am still having a hard time accepting who I am.
It's crazy because before I looked up the meaning of the lyrics I knew there was something more deep and comforting about them. Love this band ♥

(Also)
How amazing would it be if twenty one pilots and half alive had a collab? I really think these two bands have the best messages in their music.

[kaileehougardy]

I really like the unscripted, raw discussion in this video. Love this song, love Half Alive!

[kaylawerkman]

The realization that josh is having during the song that he isn’t who he’s been thinking he is all along is a realization I strive to have. Weirdly enough, my connection with God and my mental illnesses have caused me to feel like I am nothing and I need to be better. I long for the day I realize God made me who I am for a reason and I’m worth all the love I receive.

[aliatbest]

Wow, the last time I saw you get this emotional was in the explanation video for Trees.


Half alive must be doing something right ;)