45 Best Run-themed Songs for a Runner Wedding Playlist
Last Updated: July 20, 2023 | Written by Matthew Campbell (Editor of My Wedding Songs and wedding DJ)
National Running Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday in June. It is a day when runners everywhere declare their passion for running.
Run songs are also great to play during marathons, or even charity walks as many will still run.
The word run is also used in the English language in scenarios such as running into something.
What a great way to celebrate National Running Day than a list of the Top 10 Run Songs.
Our run songs are special in that each song has the word run in the song title – except for one which is titled “Pumped Up Kicks” – which aptly describes running.
Spotify Run Playlist
Top 20 Trending Run Songs
- “Run” by Snow Patrol (Alternative – 2009)
- “Run” by George Strait (Country – 2001)
- “Run” by OneRepublic (Pop – 2021)
- “RUNAWAY” by OneRepublic (Pop – 2023)
- “Run (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” by Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran (Pop – 2021)
- “Runaway” by Bon Jovi (Rock – 1984)
- “Run” by Collective Soul (Rock – 1999)
- “Runaround Sue” by Dion (Pop – 1961)
- “Run” by Maisie Peters (Alternative – 2023)
- “Born To Run” by Bruce Springsteen (Rock – 1975)
- “Long Train Runnin'” by The Doobie Brothers (Rock – 1973)
- “Love Runs Out” by OneRepublic (Pop – 2014)
- “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” by The Temptations (R&B – 1971)
- “Ready To Run” by The Chicks (Country – 1999)
- “Take The Money And Run” by Steve Miller Band (Rock – 1976)
- “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush (Pop – 1985)
- “Run” by BTS (K-pop – 2022)
- “Take It On The Run” by REO Speedwagon (Rock – 1980)
- “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé (Pop – 2011)
- “Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)” by Billy Ocean (Pop – 1984)
Popular Run Songs List
Run – Lauren Alaina
Released in 2020 on the album Getting Over Him
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Run
Living life like it’s a highway, and we’re all stuck in drive
Like a preacher on a Sunday, always going overtime
Like the muddy water rushing in the river outside of town
Johnny Run Away – Tones And I
Released in 2019 on the album The Kids Are Coming
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Johnny run away, run away, now, Johnny now
You get picked on by another
Better go and run for cover yeah
Run To The Father – Matt Maher
Released in 2019 on the album Alive & Breathing Vol. I
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I run to the Father
Fall into grace
I’m done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
Run For Cover – The Killers
Released in 2017 on the album Wonderful Wonderful
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Run for cover
Run while you can, baby, don’t look back
You gotta run for cover
Don’t be afraid of the fear, that’s a played out trap, man
Next, read songs containing walk in the lyrics.
&Run – Sir Sly
Released in 2017 on the album Don’t You Worry, Honey
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Heavy as the setting sun
Oh, I’m counting all the numbers between zero and one
Happy, but a little lost
Well, I don’t know what I don’t know
So I’ll kick my shoes off and run
Run Devil Run – Crowder
Released in 2016 on the album American Prodigal
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I got somethin’ make the devil gonna run
I got somethin’ make the devil be gone
Run devil, run devil, run devil, run
Run – AWOLNATION
Released in 2015 on the album Run
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I am a human being capable of doing beautiful things
And I am a human being capable of doing these beautiful things
Run – BTS
Released in 2015 on the album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Let’s go, are you ready? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Okay, let’s go!
Run bulletproof, run, yeah, you gotta run (Run, run)
Run Away With Me – Carly Rae Jepsen
Released in 2015 on the album E·MO·TION
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Baby, take me to the feeling
I’ll be your sinner, in secret
When the lights go out
Run away with me
Love Runs Out – OneRepublic
Released in 2014 on the album Native
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I got my mind made up, man, I can’t let go
I’m killing every second ’til it sees my soul
(Woo) I’ll be running (woo), I’ll be running
‘Til the love runs out, ’til the love runs out
Run – Flo Rida
Released in 2012 on the album Wild Ones
Genre: Hip Hop
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
You see me all over her, you want me all over you (you, you, you, you)
Soon as I get rid of her, tell me what you wanna do (do, do, do, do, do)
I wanna run to you, I wanna, I wanna, I
Run For Your Life – The Fray
Released in 2012 on the album Scars & Stories
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Run for your life my love,
Run and don’t give up
With all that you are,
All that you want
I will be close behind
Run the World (Girls) – Beyoncé
Released in 2011 on the album 4
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
My persuasion
Can build a nation
Endless power
With our love we can devour
You’ll do anything for me
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Pumped Up Kicks – Foster The People
Released in 2010 on the album Pumped Up Kicks
Genre: Indie Pop
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
You better run, better run outrun my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You better run, better run faster than my bullet
Run This Town – Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West
Released in 2009 on the album The Blueprint 3
Genre: Hip Hop
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Only thing that’s on my mind (What’s up?)
Is who’s gon’ run this town tonight (Uh, yeah)
Hey, hey, hey, hey (What’s up?)
Who’s gon’ run this town tonight?
I Run To You – Lady A
Released in 2008 on the album Lady Antebellum
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
This world keeps spinnin’ faster
Into a new disaster, so I run to you
I run to you, baby
When it all starts comin’ undone
Baby, you’re the only one I run to
Check out songs containing walking in the lyrics.
Run – Leona Lewis
Released in 2007 on the album Spirit
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Louder, louder
And we’ll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can’t raise your voice to say
I Run For Life – Melissa Etheridge
Released in 2005 on the album Greatest Hits – The Road Less Traveled
Genre: Rock
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I run for the truth, for all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for life
Run It! – Chris Brown
Released in 2005 on the album Run It!
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Is ya man (man)
On the floor? (Floor)
If he ain’t (ain’t)
Lemme know (lemme know)
Let me see if you can run it, run it
Run Away – Live
Released in 2003 on the album Birds of Pray
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
So can we roll tonight, run through your desert can we start over?
And just run away, run away tonight
It ain’t no victory, but I don’t care, I don’t care if it’s wrong or right
Run – Snow Patrol
Released in 2003 on the album Final Straw
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Louder, louder
And we’ll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can’t raise your voice to say
Run – George Strait
Released in 2001 on the album The Road Less Traveled
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Lean on the gas and off the clutch
Leave Dallas in the dust
I need you in a rush
So, baby, run
Ready To Run – The Chicks
Released in 1999 on the album Fly
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Ready, ready, ready, ready, ready to run
All I’m ready to do is have some fun
What’s all this talk about love?
Run-Around – Blues Traveler
Released in 1994 on the album Four
Genre: Rock
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Why you wanna give me a run-around?
Is it a sure-fire way to speed things up?
When all it does is slow me down
Run To You – Roxette
Released in 1994 on the album Crash! Boom! Bang!
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I’m gonna run to you
I’m gonna come to you
I wanna find you in everything that I do
A Good Run of Bad Luck – Clint Black
Released in 1993 on the album No Time to Kill
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I’d bet it all on a good run of bad luck
Seven come eleven and she could be mine
Luck be a lady, and I’m gonna find love comin’ on the bottom line
Let the River Run – Carly Simon
Released in 1989 on the album Working Girl Soundtrack
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
It’s asking for the taking
Come run with me now
The sky is the colour of blue
You’ve never even seen
In the eyes of your lover
Run To You – Whitney Houston
Released in 1987 on the album The Bodyguard Soundtrack
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I want to run to you (oooh)
But if I come to you (oooh)
Tell me, will you stay or will you run away
Run To You – Bryan Adams
Released in 1984 on the album Reckless
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I’m gonna run to you
Yeah I’m gonna run to you
Oh when the feelin’s right I’m gonna run all night
Running With The Night – Lionel Richie
Released in 1983 on the album Can’t Slow Down
Genre: R&B
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
We were running with the night
Playing in the shadows
Just you and I
‘Til the morning light
Run Runaway – Slade
Released in 1983 on the album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
See chameleon
(Lying there in the sun)
All things to everyone
Run run away
Run to the Hills – Iron Maiden
Released in 1982 on the album The Number of the Beast
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Take It On The Run – REO Speedwagon
Released in 1980 on the album Hi Infidelity
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I don’t believe it
Not for a minute
You’re under the gun
So you take it on the run
The Long Run – Eagles
Released in 1979 on the album The Long Run
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
People talkin’ about us
They got nothin’ else to do
When it all comes down
We will still come through
In the long run
Run Like Hell – Pink Floyd
Released in 1979 on the album Celtic Pink Floyd
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
With your nerves in tatters
As the conch shell shatters
And the hammers batter
Down the door
You’d better run
Runnin’ With The Devil – Van Halen
Released in 1978 on the album Van Halen
Genre: Rock
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
When I jumped out, on that road
I got no love, no love you’d call real
Ain’t got nobody, waitin’ at home
Runnin’ with the Devil
Running On Empty – Jackson Browne
Released in 1977 on the album Running on Empty
Genre: Rock
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I don’t know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
Look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through
Looking into their eyes, I see them running too
Running on (running on empty)
Take The Money And Run – Steve Miller Band
Released in 1976 on the album Fly Like an Eagle
Genre: Rock
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
They got the money, hey, you know they got away
They headed down south and they’re still running today
Singin’, go on, take the money and run
Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen
Released in 1975 on the album Born to Run
Genre: Rock
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
It’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we’re young
‘Cause tramps like us, baby, we were born to run
Yes, girl, we were
Fox On The Run – The Sweet
Released in 1975 on the album Desolation Boulevard
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
I don’t wanna know your name
‘Cause you don’t look the same
The way you did before
Fox on the run
Band On The Run – Paul McCartney & Wings
Released in 1973 on the album Band on the Run
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Band on the run, band on the run
And the jailer man and sailor Sam
Were searching every one
For the band on the run
Run Through The Jungle – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Released in 1970 on the album Cosmo’s Factory
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Two hundred million guns are loaded
Satan cries, “Take aim”
Better run through the jungle
Run For Your Life – The Beatles
Released in 1965 on the album Rubber Soul
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand, little girl
Catch you with another man
That’s the end, little girl
Walk, Don’t Run – The Ventures
Released in 1960 on the album Walk, Don’t Run
(Instrumental)
Run Rudolph Run – Chuck Berry
Released in 1958 on the album Run Rudolph Run
Most Meaningful Lyrics:
Run, run Rudolph, Santa’s has to make it in town
Santa, make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
Run, run Rudolph, reelin’ like a merry-go-round
Have a favorite RUN song, not on our list? Share it below so that we can add it!
About
DJ, Editor, Music Lover
Matthew (Matt) Campbell is the founder/editor of My Wedding Songs from his experience as a wedding DJ. He is the author of two wedding planners: ‘Wedding Songs Planner’ and ‘The Wedding Music Toolkit’. Matt is the host of the ‘Wedding Songs Podcast’. He shares music inspiration in his weekly newsletter the ‘Wedding MusicLetter’. His articles have been published on Rolling Stone, DJ Life Magazine, and DJ Times. Matt resides in the wedding capital of the world – Las Vegas.