Riders And Runners
single
Riders And Runners
The contrast does the heavy lifting here: clean arpeggiated guitars open each verse with a kind of coiled restraint, and then the chorus hits like a door coming off its hinges, distorted and wide, the rhythm section locking in hard at that 112 BPM clip. Lyrically, PCBender is in his element, ‘stained glass reflections distorting the image’ landing as the kind of line that earns its keep. The hook itself is sharp and repeatable, the riders-and-runners inversion giving it a folk-parable quality not far from Tom Petty at his most allegorical. A highlight.
Lyrics
Playing card characters speaking in echoes They justify motives by placing the blame But me, in my silence, desperate for meaning Hold on to nothing and resign from the game
Shadows stretch, but they never break Truth is hollow when intent is fake
The riders turn and run When the runners turn and fight Lines are drawn, then come undone When the riders turn and run
Outraged pretenders keep missing their marks Questioning little with smiling contempt Stained glass reflections distorting the image The merciless mannequins stumble and fall
Shadows stretch, but they never break Truth is hollow when intent is fake
The riders turn and run When the runners turn and fight Lines are drawn, then come undone When the riders turn and run
Is there meaning in the turning Or just lessons still to learn Cycles spin in endless waves Fear's the drug the runners crave
The riders turn and run When the runners turn and fight Lines are drawn, then come undone When the riders turn and run
The riders turn and run When the runners turn and fight Lines are drawn, then come undone When the riders turn and run
Credits
Songwriter: Michael Anthony Rose