Easier To Run

Album: Meteora (2003)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is about someone who has a secret - something he wishes he could change. That person would rather run away then deal with his problems because it is just too hard. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Benjamin - Brooklyn, NY
  • This appears on Linkin Park's second studio album, Meteora, the follow-up to their smash debut, Hybrid Theory.
  • Linkin Park rapper Mike Shinoda explained the song's meaning to Shoutweb: "Lyrically, it's kind of about escapism in a way. I think that's a really familiar topic for myself and for a lot of people in the world. If that weren't the case, then movie ticket sales wouldn't be so high. People go out and do things to get away from their life. That's what the song is about, it's easier to run away from your problems then to face them. We elaborate on that theme in the song. I think that one came together pretty quickly as far as lyrics go, which is nice. For us, it feels like magic when the lyrics to a song just come together in a couple of days. It's really a special kind of feeling.

    It's just tough because for a lot of these songs, Chester [Bennington, vocalist] and I in general, because we don't have the same life, we are talking about different things a little bit but when they come together in the song, it becomes one story. Sometimes I worry if I'm telling too much of my side of it because it is open to interpretation, even from the two of us a little bit, not much, but a little bit."
  • Despite the band's praise for Rob Bourdon's complex drum work on the tune, this is Linkin Park's least favorite song in their repertoire.

Comments: 38

  • Kellie from MassachusettsIt is so strange that they didn't love this song. The minute I heard this song it just broke me but in such a good way. To this day it is one of my favorite's and I even have the chorus tattooed on my upper arm.
  • Kia from Cabo Rolo, Puerto RicoThis song expresses feelings that every person goes through. I LOVE Linkin Park they're awesome.
  • Zero from Nowhere, NjYou mean this song was NEVER played live?!! Oh, man that SUCKS!!!
  • Charlie from Las Vegas, Nvif the people at VIZ Media in Japan put 'Bleach' fans in charge of compiling the soundtrack to the next 'Bleach' movie, i'd be very surprised if this song doesn't make the list.
  • Bitsis from La Vernia, TxSometimes I remember the darkness of my past.
    Bringing back these memories I wish I didn't have.
    Sometimes I think of letting go and never looking back,
    and never moving forward so there'd never be a past.
    favorite lyrics
  • Jakqe from Stoughton, WiThe music is NOT Easier To Run in the music video.
  • Joey from Louisville, Kyi cant listen it only says "the upcoming tours are really exciting for us. cant wait to get on the road. we're playing with great bands and the new material sounds great live. so, shows are gonna be awesome" it says that over and over and over and over again. it wont get to the song. what is up with that?
  • Emerald from Places, Ilgod no matter how old (only being 14) i get this song will always be my favortie.
    So many things i had to runaway from...
    And just wow this seriuosly gets to me everytime
  • Bryan from Raleigh, Ncthis song is also about me.....there is something that happened to me in the past that i would rather forget or runaway from....it is in fact easier to run
  • Mike Fuentes from Melvindale, MiThis song is about me. I have a dark past and I can never look back. Im also afraid to move forward so that there wouldnt be a past.
  • Naanoo from Kuwait, Kuwaitthis song is so frustrated, it's about giving up and running away from our problems and not facing it, every time i listen to it i get sad,even if we replace our pain with some thing numb i think that the pain will remain, we cannot replace our pain that easy.
  • Its Not Important from You Dont Need To Know, IcelandI love this song! this band is amazing. everyones's explanations below make so much sense. If you read Sara's story, its so sad. I love how lp writes songs that a lot of people relate to.
  • Esther from Sauwerd, NetherlandsI love it. For me, it means that the easy way out remains there... allways with you. But that this isn't the road to take, try to put an example, don't leave the ones you love with a broken life. I've made attemps for suicide, the choice to kill myself will stay right next to me. I think for the rest of my life. And though it is such an easy way to get rid of your problems, it hurts others so much... And there are so many roads to walk, why hike the easy one? As an edition, there are finally drums in this song of LP.
  • Danielle from Killeen, TxI can really relate to this song. I love how Chester sings, it really pulls me in.
  • Dave from Denver, CoThis song, more than any other, speaks to how I feel almost every day. I have been battling a sexual addiction for near 15 years - the "movies in my head" make me want to puke. I can only say that it's nice to know that someone else understands the level of pain that one person can feel.
  • Francesca from Preston, EnglandMy fave LP song!!! the album was brilliant!!
  • Trina Snyder from Glendale, Cai totally agree rin... theres much much more behind this song, it, like many other LP songs, helped me to realize...im not the only one.
  • Mikey from Galesburg, Ilthis song really explains what im goin through! all the linkin park songs have a different meaning that just touches you when you listen to it and imagine yourself in their shoes!
  • Fatal from Aurora, Coone word. regret. the person has something in their life they want to run from. it's like they can't really seem to talk about it. if they face it, they go it alone. No one wants that.
  • Ashley from Chester, VaI love this song. i have the CD. Yup. I dont really like ALOT of their songs like i like metaliica and S.O.A.D. but they're alright.
  • Kirsten from Tyrone, Irelandi love this song everytime i listen to it soothes me takes away all the stress and anger totally relaxing. easier to run is that kinda song that makes you feel you can do anything it's encouraging and inspiring
  • Sara from Quinton, OkA guy from near where I live was a Huge LP fan and when he killed himself two years ago, his suicide note was the lyrics of this song and the words, "Mom, this is what I wanted to say to you and I never did." It caused this huge uproar but when we - the ones who knew the guy - explained the song to his mom, she just collapsed and wasn't mad, just so so sad because he had all this pain and he never told her. Ever since, this song has meant suicide to me, even if that's not what it was written for. A beautifully moving song by a great band.
  • Kayla from Rancho Cucamonga, Caeverytime i hear this song i close my eyes and let it engulf me and throughout the whole song i jsut cant move. this song, to some extent, expresses a part of my life and i think the same goes for all lp songs. this song is so emotional and i think everyone goes thru a time at some point in their lives where they dont want to confront their emotions and they want to pretend like nothing is - or ever was - wrong with them.
  • Alyssia from Melbourne, AustraliaHey! But Rob did a great job in Faint! That's a real fast song.
  • Pao from Sacramento, CaI think this song relates to not just one area of life, but all areas that all people go through in everyday life. Whether its abuse, broken heart, or past life, it has deeper meanings that we may think.
  • Ryan from Los Angeles, Cai agree with nick. LP's songs NEVER have enough drums. on this song, however, the drummer does a great job playing the complicated pattern. he makes it sound so simple and smooth. i always wondered if he used an electric kit or an acoustic one though.
  • Marcia from Lima, Peruthis song is about something really hard that someone did n he is like desperate n da only he is thinking to do is 2 avoid his problems running away ....n he also wishes 2 change things he did before ....he only needs 2 disappear 4 a while 2 think about the mistakes he did ....he needs 2b isolated 4 a while 2 think how can he probably can fix all of this mess ." IT EASIER 2 RUN REPLACING THIS PAIN WITH SOMETHING NUMb"
  • Bob Dole from Seattle, WaThis song is a song generally for those who either: have a "dark past" or can't turn around and face what they need to do.
  • Dude from Tx, TxOveranalysis. Many artists intend multiple points of view. Many others write their lyrics abstractly on purpose. I write stuff like this all the time that can pertain to many sorts of problems. This as well as most of Linkin Park's songs can be about whatever you see it to be. That's why the lyrics are so general, and not specific like "Rhinestone", the original demo of "Forgotten".
  • Kelly from Hybridgirl_kelly, Lai agree with Phillip, about Chester being sexually abused. i very much think that's what this song is about. for me when i listen to it, i think about beleiveing people when they lied to me and stupid things i did and stuff like that.
  • Rebecca from Peoria, Azi just love this song i just keep thinkin of my past it i guess talks about living in the past and never moving forward tht my thought though.
  • Phillip from Eureka, Ncchester bennington was sexually abused as a child, i'm thinking that's where the lyrics "something has been taken from deep inside of me, something i've kept locked away, no one could ever see, wounds so deep they never show, they never go away" "sometimes i remember the darkness of my past, bringing back these memories i wish i didn't have"
  • Gabe from Utica, NyAbout time. These guys actually used real drums. I also think the guitar in this song is great and one of the 2 LP songs in which u can hear the bass guitar. Great song.
  • Rin from Brick, NjI listed this one as my favorite song.. and the what's listed as the expliantion is BS... there's more to this song... I see something like trauma, abuse... "the darkness of my past"? "Memories I wish I never had"? That sounds pretty dark to me... geh... maybe I'm just seeing it from an overly feminine point of view.
  • Sara from Grand Falls - Windsor, CanadaWell I know the song means more then this, but I am going to give one situation to explain better...
    I beleive its about how somone had a problem; for example they are inlove with someone, and they desided to express there love to that someone only to get heart broken, and was hurt for sometime.
    Now they feel the same way toward someone else, but only this time they run, not to have a relationship at all, but to run away and replace the pain with numbness...or in this case nothing at all.
  • Will from Eliington, CtI consider this song to very dark and very emotional because it talks about someone running from their problems and even though they feel like someone took something that was very important from them, they still feel really bad to where they wish they could take back everything, but they can't. so that's when they decide to pretend to be okay when they're really not.
  • Nick from Paramus, NjFinally an LP song with actual drums.
  • Michelle from Pueblo, CoI love this song it is a very expressive song by linkin park
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Isaak

Chris IsaakSongwriter Interviews

Chris tells the story of "Wicked Game," talks milkshakes and moonpies at Sun Records, and explains why women always get their way.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Country Song Titles

Country Song TitlesFact or Fiction

Country songs with titles so bizarre they can't possibly be real... or can they?

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.