Time To Run

**"Time to Run"** is a song on the album *Lonesome Dreams* and the second book in the timeline of George Ranger Johnson's adventure novel series.

In "Time to Run," Huron explains that it is time to run, saying "they'll string me up for all that I've done, I'm going soon, gonna leave tonight by the light of the moon, I did it all for you, well, I hope you know the lengths I've gone to" to a female character and again asks her to run away with him to find a life way out west. It is not clear what he did, but he tells her "I wanted everyone to know that you're the girl for me" and to not tell anyone where he went because they will come looking for him.

## Background and influences

Ben Schneider describes "Time to Run" as "A tragic tale of the foolish things a man might find himself doing for a woman, and the consequences that foolishness may bring upon him and those around him. It's a tale as old as time — one which has and will be repeated endlessly."

The song and video are based on George Ranger Johnson's adventure novel of the same name.

## Music video

In the "Time to Run" music video, Huron is running away across the desert, with Sri Tumbleweed's cronies in hot pursuit. Tumbleweed lies in wait and knocks Huron out with the butt of his rifle. While Huron is unconscious, he has visions of dancing with Helena then stepping away from her, blood on his hands and Blaquefut's face overlaid with a skull. In his vision, Helena puts a noose around his neck. He regains conciousness, and the Tumbleweeds have the noose around his neck, and Sri steps forward with a knife. Before he can slit his throat, Huron's allies come to his rescue. Blaquefut signals with a mirror from the top of a hill, and his friends attack the Tumbleweeds, shooting Sri. Huron's bonds are cut. The Tumbleweeds try to flee but Huron shoots one. Blaquefut passes Huron's holster back to him, and while Huron dips his head in gratitude, Sri shoots Blaquefut through the head from behind. Huron's friends gather around and cover Blaquefut's face with his hat. They walk away into the desert.

The video begins with "this week's adventure..." implying it is a television series, and is brought to you in Chubcolor. It ends with "to be continued..." In the music video, there are subtitles in Indonesian, but no spoken dialogue:

## Annotated lyrics

It's time to run, they'll string me up for all that I've done

I'm going soon, gonna leave tonight by the light of the moon

I did it all for you, well, I hope you know the lengths I've gone to

What's a man to say, they'll be looking for me, I should be on my way

I wanted everybody else in the world to know it

I wanted everyone to know that you're the girl for me

I wanted everybody else in the world to know it

But I ain't ever gonna let 'em take my life from me

I've no regrets, I will not ask for your forgiveness

Lower your defense, run away with me and it'll all make sense

I did it all for you, don't spurn me after all I've gone through

No time to rest, I'm gonna find me a life, baby, way out west

I wanted everybody else in the world to know it

I wanted everyone to know that you're the girl for me

I wanted everybody else in the world to know it

But I ain't ever-

I will run but I know that I'm beat

I decided my fate with my deeds

I will run but I know that I'm beat

I decided my fate with my deeds

It's time to run, well, I hope you understand what I've done

Run away for you, I'm gonna count the days 'til you make it through

I did it all for you, well, I hope you live the life you want to

My time is spent, baby, please don't tell 'em just where I went

I wanted everybody else in the world to know it

I wanted everyone to know you're the girl for me

I wanted everybody else in the world to know it

But I ain't ever gonna let 'em take the life from me

I wanted everybody else in the world to know it

I wanted everyone to know you're the girl for me

I wanted everybody else in the world to know it

But I ain't ever-

## Potential lyrical references

1. ↑ This may be a reference to a line in "Lullaby" - "You were out finding trouble again, there's a fire in your eyes and there's blood on your hands"
2. ↑ Huron seems to be continuing his plea in "Ends of the Earth" - "To the ends of the earth, would you follow me?"

## Sources

1. ↑ A 2013 version of Johnson's website indicates the track order of the album *Lonesome Dreams* is the story chronology.
2. ↑ NPR interview on "Time to Run"

"Ends of the Earth"
"****Time To Run****"
"**Lonesome Dreams**"
"The Ghost on the Shore"

"**She Lit a Fire**"
"I Will Be Back One Day"
"The Man Who Lives Forever"
"Lullaby"

"Brother (Last Ride)"
"In the Wind"
**Bonus track:**
"Setting Sun"