We Run Things

Song Meaning

These lyrics immediately declare an alternative path, a forceful assertion that "We run things another way." It's a defiant stance, a refusal to conform, but one that carries an undercurrent of intense effort. The repeated call to "Don't stop 'coz it's getting tense now" suggests that this chosen way is anything but easy. Beneath the bold declaration of control, a profound internal struggle emerges. The narrator admits, "Get on top 'coz I'm falling," a stark contradiction that reveals a fight for stability amidst vulnerability. This tension culminates in the chorus's raw plea: "'Coz I'm trying to hold on to something, yeah," exposing the deep-seated need for an anchor despite the outward show of strength. The lyrical craft uses vivid, almost unsettling imagery to convey this struggle. Phrases like "I draw a face on a dartboard / I wear it out like a record" paint a picture of relentless, perhaps obsessive, focus. The stark pairing of "Tierd eyes an' razor blades" captures both exhaustion and a sharp, cutting determination. This visceral language grounds the abstract fight in a tangible, almost painful reality. Ultimately, these lyrics hit hard because they refuse to offer a simple narrative of power. Instead, they present a compelling portrait of persistence—a gritty, weary, yet unyielding resolve to carve out one's own way, even when that path is fraught with internal conflict and the constant threat of falling. The narrator's willingness to embrace the tension, even to "batter time and wasted days," makes their defiant spirit resonate.