Home · Songs · Pink Floyd · Run Like Hell
From album
The Wall
Pink Floyd · 1979
Details
TonalidadD
Compás4/4
Tempo117 BPM
Duración7:05
CompositorDavid Gilmour / Roger Waters
ÁlbumThe Wall
Año1979
ISRCGBDJQ0000026
Credits
Music David Gilmour, Roger Waters
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The story behind
When you dive into *Run Like Hell*, you encounter a raw energy that pulls you in. The song is built on a relentless pulse, almost like a military march, which makes you feel the urgency of the lyrics. The story it tells is about a character, Pink, who, in the midst of a hallucination, transforms into an authoritarian leader. From that position, he incites a crowd to unleash chaos, attacking minorities and those he considers "scum." The music accompanies this vision with sounds that evoke paranoia: cruel laughter, hurried footsteps, the screech of tires, and a sharp scream. It's interesting to note that, despite the lyrics mentioning "running like hell," the phrase itself is not heard in the studio version.
The composition of this piece is a collaboration between David Gilmour and Roger Waters. Gilmour contributed the music, while Waters was responsible for the lyrics. The recording of *The Wall*, the album to which it belongs, took place between April and November 1979. On this song, Waters is the lead vocalist, although Gilmour provides harmonies on the "Run, run, run, run" choruses. What's distinctive about *Run Like Hell* within the album is that it features Richard Wright's only keyboard solo. After the last sung line, a synthesizer takes over, followed by a passage where the lead guitar repeats a rhythmic figure with echoes, creating a more stripped-down and tense atmosphere, intensified by sound effects. The version you hear on the album includes live crowd effects, but single editions and some promotional EPs feature a cleaner guitar intro, without those elements.
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