Run

Album: Non Fiction (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This track finds Ne-Yo crooning about the predatory nature of the opposite sex. "It's a song that's kinda talking about that chick who takes pride in breaking up relationships," Ne-Yo explained to The Boombox. "She's walking, talking, living, breathing temptation."
  • Frequent Kendrick Lamar collaborator Schoolboy Q spits some rhymes. "The reason that Schoolboy Q is on ['Run'] is 'cause I'm a huge fan of Schoolboy Q and I knew that I wanted to do something with him," Ne-Yo explained. "I just had to figure out what song was gonna make the most sense. The song is kinda dark and he has that kinda thing to his voice."
  • Several of the tracks on Non Fiction, including this one, were inspired by true tales told to Ne-Yo by fans. He told Digital Spy the story behind this song:

    "This guy wrote in via Twitter telling me about a very predatorial type of woman. He wrote and I quote: 'She just took absolute joy in destroying my relationship'. Basically talking about this woman that he met who seduced him into doing what it is that she wanted and using the fact that he did what she wanted to destroy his current relationship."

    "It's a tragic story but I just thought that that would make for a really cool song. So I wrote a song that basically turned into a public service announcement for the fellas out there, like: 'Should you run into this type of woman, run for your life!'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.