'Runner' by Gavin Adcock – Lyrics & Meaning

Gavin Adcock's new studio album, Own Worst Enemy, brims with some very revealing songs, the 24-track collection acting as fans' first true glimpse into the heart of the irreverent hitmaker.

The song, 'Runner', especially, exposes a lot about the 'A Cigarette' star as he traverses fame and the demands of the spotlight.

As a whole, Own Worst Enemy is quite a multidimensional release for the country genre's latest party anthem purveyor, making the album one of the most surprising of the year so far.

Of the project, which arrived on Aug. 15, the artist has shared, "Over the last 4 years I’ve spent my life writing, traveling, and trying to find time to breathe. It doesn’t always add up on paper like it would seem, but through the happiness, hard times and self destruction I’ve found the best part of my job is letting out music for my fans. I can’t thank y’all enough for sticking with me for this long. I’m the furthest thing from perfect and I don’t ever plan to be."

Here, we are diving into one of the artist's more personal tunes.

'Runner' is more rock than country. From the beginning, the song is made up of whiny guitars and anthemic drums, a revved-up and stadium-ready composition full of sneering riffs and a rhythm so meaty you can sink your teeth into it. That's how the number goes for much of its 3-minute lifespan, the tune on a tear through Adcock's many emotions.

"Another town, another drink
Another night, no sleep, not a wink
The cape on my neck is coming loose"

'Runner' seems to chronicle Adcock's life as it is right now, tackling fame and coming to terms with the ever-present demands that come with being in the spotlight.

In the song, he sings of his life's current pattern, crooning "Another ounce, I shouldn't smoke / Play some towns, turn it up, hit the road." He's always in a different city every other night, losing sleep and turning to substances in order to cope with such a lifestyle, one that is surely losing its luster.

Recently, he's been finding himself in the trenches of an all-time low, numbing himself with his many vices and barreling toward surrender at the same time.

"But I'm too drunk to be this stoned
And I'm too high to feel this low
And I'm too bad off on uppers
To have another Shiner six-pack for supper
And I'm too young to hurt this bad
So I keep soaking my white flag in Jack D
Till it changes colors
Cuz brother, my father is a fighter
And I'm a runner"

He's becoming increasingly fed up with the ways he's feeling – "I'm too high to feel this low ... I'm too young to hurt this bad" – and begins imagining running away.

He fantasizes about having a normal life again, singing, "Wish I was home, wish I was sober / Wish I was holding a sweet girl closer." However, he begrudgingly adds, "But all your wishes can't come true / Next stop Baton Rouge."

He promises his family he'll be home for the holidays, but at the moment, it's only June, and he's still got a lot of hurting ahead of him. Is it all worth it? That's up for him to decide.

"My father is a fighter
And I'm a runner"

Another town, another drink
Another night, no sleep, not a wink
The cape on my neck is coming loose

Another ounce, I shouldn't smoke
Play some towns, turn it up, hit the road
At least he knows what I'm going through

But I'm too drunk to be this stoned
And I'm too high to feel this low
And I'm too bad off on uppers
To have another Shiner six-pack for supper
And I'm too young to hurt this bad
So I keep soaking my white flag in Jack D
Till it changes colors
Cuz brother, my father is a fighter
And I'm a runner

Wish I was home, wish I was sober
Wish I was holding a sweet girl closer
But all your wishes can't come true
Next stop Baton Rouge

But I'm too drunk to be this stoned
And I'm too high to feel this low
And I'm too bad off on uppers
To have another Shiner six-pack for supper
And I'm too young to hurt this bad
So I keep soaking my white flag in Jack D
Till it changes colors
Cuz brother, my father is a fighter
And I'm a runner

So mama, I'll be home by December
But it's only June, so I guess
Better late than never

But I'm too drunk to be this stoned
And I'm too high to feel this low
And I'm too bad off on uppers
To have another Shiner six-pack for supper
And I'm too young to hurt this bad
So I keep soaking my white flag in Jack D
Till it changes colors
Cuz brother, my father is a fighter
And I'm a runner

My father is a fighter
And I'm a runner

--

For more on Gavin Adcock, see below: