Crystal Lewis - Runnin' Lyrics
Lyrics
Runnin' in and out of time
Spendin' every single dime
Feeling all alone at night
Wonderin' if it's all so right
And every day you work so hard
Playin' every single card
But deep inside you search for more
Can you find an open door?
Who is it for?
Runnin'
When there's not a finish line
Mm-hmm, stop your runnin'
Your just runnin' out of time
Settle down and catch your breath
Before you run yourself to death
There is nothing you can hide
He's always been there by your side
It's something only you can choose
You haven't got a thing to lose
If you let go, He'll give you more
You're standing at an open door
(Who is it for?)
You know who it's for, ooh-ooh-ooh...
Runnin'
When there's not a finish line
Stop your runnin'
Your just runnin' out of time, oh...
Runnin'
When there's not a reason why
Runnin'
You're just runnin' for a lie, yeah
(Who is it for?)
You know who it's for, mm-hmm-hmm...
Runnin'
When there's not a finish line
Stop your runnin'
Your just runnin' out of time
Yes, you are
Runnin'
When there's not a reason why
Oh-oh-oh-oh, runnin'
You're just runnin' for a lie, yeah
Runnin', yes, you are
Runnin', there's no finish line
Oh, you're runnin'
You're just runnin' out of time
Runnin', yes, you are
Runnin', somewhere out alone
Oh, you're runnin'
You're just runnin' out of time
Runnin', runnin', runnin'
Oh, you're runnin'
Ooh, run...
Video
Crystal Lewis - Runnin'
Meaning & Inspiration
Crystal Lewis’s "Runnin'", released on December 23, 2021, arrives as a poignant musical commentary on the relentless pace of modern life, offering a profound spiritual invitation to pause and reconsider. The song immediately captures the universal plight of endless striving: "Runnin' in and out of time, spendin' every single dime, feeling all alone at night, wonderin' if it's all so right." This vivid imagery depicts a person caught in a cycle of ceaseless activity, expending every resource—time, money, energy—yet finding themselves isolated and questioning the true value of their pursuits. It resonates with the inner exhaustion of constantly "work[ing] so hard, playin' every single card," only to uncover a deeper, unfulfilled yearning. The question "But deep inside you search for more, can you find an open door?" establishes the core spiritual dilemma, setting the stage for the revelation that follows.
The heart of "Runnin'" lies in its direct challenge to this frantic existence. The chorus serves as a powerful intervention, proclaiming, "Runnin' when there's not a finish line, stop your runnin', you're just runnin' out of time." This is not a warning of physical mortality but a spiritual alarm, suggesting that a life lived in constant pursuit of ephemeral goals is a life wasted, or "runnin' out of time" in terms of spiritual opportunity and peace. The lyrics implore one to "Settle down and catch your breath, before you run yourself to death," highlighting the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and the spiritual depletion it causes. The song then shifts to introduce the divine presence, offering solace and an alternative path: "There is nothing you can hide, He's always been there by your side." This reassurance underscores God’s unwavering faithfulness, even when we are lost in our own self-imposed races. The pivotal choice is presented as "something only you can choose," an act of surrender where "you haven't got a thing to lose." Instead, the promise is clear: "If you let go, He'll give you more. You're standing at an open door." The repeated question "Who is it for? You know who it's for" powerfully clarifies the song's intended recipient and the ultimate source of true rest and fulfillment.
The spiritual depth of "Runnin'" is illuminated by Scripture, emphasizing the futility of worldly pursuits without divine purpose. The incessant striving described at the outset mirrors the sentiment found in Ecclesiastes, where the Preacher laments that "all is vanity and a striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14). The relentless pursuit of material gain and earthly success, "spendin' every single dime," often leaves individuals feeling "all alone at night," much like the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21 who amassed great wealth but lost his soul. Crystal Lewis’s invitation to "stop your runnin'" echoes the divine call to spiritual rest. Psalm 46:10 urges, "Be still, and know that I am God," a profound counterpoint to the world's demand for constant motion. The realization that one is "just runnin' for a lie" speaks directly to the deceptive nature of worldly promises, which often fail to deliver true satisfaction, creating "broken cisterns that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13).
The song's core message of finding solace and abundance by letting go and turning to God is deeply rooted in biblical truth. The assurance that "He's always been there by your side" reflects passages like Deuteronomy 31:6, where God promises, "He will never leave you nor forsake you." The concept of "an open door" is a powerful biblical metaphor for access to God's presence and His kingdom. Revelation 3:20 portrays Jesus standing at the door, knocking, inviting a personal relationship: "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Similarly, John 10:9 states, "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved." The promise that "If you let go, He'll give you more" encapsulates the paradox of the Gospel, where surrendering control leads to true gain. Jesus Himself taught, "Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it" (Matthew 16:25). This speaks to a life liberated from anxiety and filled with the peace that "surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:6-7), a stark contrast to the hollow "runnin' when there's not a finish line." "Runnin'" ultimately encourages a deliberate choice to step away from the world's exhaustive race and embrace the spiritual fulfillment offered by a relationship with the divine, affirming that this eternal pursuit is indeed "who it's for."