Runaway – English Lyrics

• By: Linkin Park
• Album: Hybrid Theory

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw energy of early 2000s alternative rock with 'Runaway'. This song is a fantastic way to learn English expressions related to frustration and escapism, while experiencing the unique vocal dynamics that defined a generation of music.

[English]

Graffiti decorations

Under the sky of dust

A constant wave of tension

On top of broken trust

The lessons that you taught me

I learned were never true

Now I find myself in question

(They point the finger at me again)

Guilty by association

(You point the finger at me again)

I wanna run away

Never say "goodbye"

I wanna know the truth

Instead of wondering why

I wanna know the answers

No more lies

I wanna shut the door

And open up my mind

Paper bags and angry voices

Under a sky of dust

Another wave of tension

Has more than filled me up

All my talk of taking action

These words were never true

Now I find myself in question

(They point the finger at me again)

Guilty by association

(You point the finger at me again)

I wanna run away

Never say "goodbye"

I wanna know the truth

Instead of wondering why

I wanna know the answers

No more lies

I wanna shut the door

And open up my mind

...

I'm gonna run away and never say "goodbye"

Gonna run away, gonna run away

Gonna run away, gonna run away

I'm gonna run away and never wonder why

Gonna run away, gonna run away

Gonna run away, gonna run away

I'm gonna run away and open up my mind

Gonna run away, gonna run away (mind)

Gonna run away, gonna run away (mind)

Gonna run away, gonna run away (mind)

Gonna run away, gonna run away (mind)

I wanna run away

Never say "goodbye"

I wanna know the truth

Instead of wondering why

I wanna know the answers

No more lies

I wanna shut the door

And open up my mind

I wanna run away and open up my mind

I wanna run away and open up my mind

I wanna run away and open up my mind

I wanna run away and open up my mind

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Graffiti /ɡrəˈfiːti/ B2	noun - Writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place.
Decorations /ˌdekəˈreɪʃənz/ B1	noun - The process or art of decorating something.
Tension /ˈtenʃən/ B2	noun - Mental or emotional strain.
Broken /ˈbroʊkən/ A2	adjective - Having been fractured or damaged.
Trust /trʌst/ A2	noun - Firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.
Lessons /ˈlesənz/ A1	noun - An experience that serves to inform or instruct.
Guilty /ˈɡɪlti/ B1	adjective - Culpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing.
Association /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/ B2	noun - A connection or cooperative link between people or organizations.
Run /rʌn/ A1	verb - Move at a speed faster than a walk.
Truth /truːθ/ A2	noun - The quality or state of being true.
Wondering /ˈwʌndərɪŋ/ B1	verb - Desiring to know something; feel curious.
Answers /ˈænsərz/ A1	noun - A thing said, written, or done to deal with a question or situation.
Lies /laɪz/ A2	noun - Intentionally false statements.
Action /ˈækʃən/ A2	noun - The fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim.
Angry /ˈæŋɡri/ A2	adjective - Having strong feelings of or showing annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.

Key Grammar Structures

• The lessons that you taught me I learned were never true

  ➔ Relative clause with omitted relative pronoun

  ➔ The relative pronoun 'that' (or 'which') is omitted after 'lessons'. It acts as the object of the verb 'taught'.

• Guilty by association

  ➔ Adjective phrase functioning as a subject complement

  ➔ The adjective 'guilty' describes the subject (implied 'I') following a linking verb structure.

• I wanna run away

  ➔ Informal contraction of 'want to'

  ➔ 'Wanna' is a colloquial contraction used in speech and lyrics, meaning 'want to'.

• Instead of wondering why

  ➔ Prepositional phrase followed by a gerund

  ➔ The preposition 'of' must be followed by a gerund (verb + -ing) when functioning as the object.

• No more lies

  ➔ Determiner 'no' with a comparative quantifier

  ➔ 'No more' indicates the total absence or cessation of something previously present.

• Has more than filled me up

  ➔ Present perfect tense with an adverbial modifier

  ➔ 'Has... filled' is the present perfect, describing an action with present consequences. 'More than' acts as a modifier for the degree.

• I'm gonna run away

  ➔ Future intention using 'be going to'

  ➔ 'Gonna' is the contraction of 'going to', used to express a future plan or intention.

• These words were never true

  ➔ Simple past with a frequency adverb

  ➔ 'Never' is placed before the adjective 'true' to indicate total negation in the past.