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Length
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“Run On was one of the first songs written and it was really hard to put together, because it has so many samples in it. I didn’t use computers at this point, it was all done with stand-alone samplers. When it was finished, I collapsed in exhaustion. I didn’t know this when I recorded it, but it’s a standard. Everybody’s done it. Elvis Presley did a version of it, Johnny Cash did it. If you were a gospel or country star, everyone covered that song. And I had no idea”. © Moby, RollingStone.com
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"Run On" was released as a single by the electronic artist Moby. It was the second single released from his album Play. This was also the second single charting at #33 on the UK Singles Chart. Two versions of the CD were released. The first, with a red cover featuring a vertically-aligned mousetrap, featured two remixes of "Run On" and two other tracks. The second, with a yellow cover featuring a horizontally-aligned mousetrap, contained four different "Run On" remixes.
"Run On" is a traditional folk song which also known as "God's Gonna Cut You Down". Mobys remix version features vocals from Bill Landford & the Landfordaires song Run for a Long Time. The lyrics are a warning to sinners that no matter how hard they try, they will not avoid God's judgement; in the chorus, God Himself tells the narrator of the song to:
"Go tell that long tongue liar,with some versions inserting slight variations in lyrics.
go and tell that midnight rider,
tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter,
tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down"
The song has, in the past, been modified to fit the boundaries of genres like country, folk, gospel and techno. As "God's Gonna Cut You Down", it was performed by Odetta God's Gonna Cut You Down on Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues (1956) and Johnny Cash on the posthumously released American V: A Hundred Highways (2006). As "Run On", it was recorded, among others, by Elvis Presley. The Blind Boys of Alabama also included Run On For A Long Time on their Grammy-winning album "Spirit of the Century" in 2001.
The vocal content of the song comes from a 1943 recording of "Run On" by Bill Landford and the Landfordaires, and features music, a mix of house music and instrumental music.
Lyrics:
Lord God Almighty let me tell the news,
my head got wet in midnight dew.
Great God i been down on my bended knees,
talking to a man from galilee.
Michael spoke and he sound so sweet,
I thought i heard the shuffle of angels' feet.
He put one hand upon my head,
great God Almighty let me tell you what He said.
Go tell that lonesome liar,
go tell that midnight rider,
tell the gamblin', ramblin' backslider,
tell them God Almighty gonna cut 'em down.
You might run on for a long time,
run on, dunkin' and dodgin',
run on, children, for a long time,
let me tell you God Almighty gonna cut you down.
You might throw your rock, hide your hand,
work in the dark with your fellow men,
sure as God made you rich and poor,
you're gonna reap just what you sow.
x3
You might run on for a long time,
run on, dunkin' and dodgin',
run on, children, for a long time,
let me tell you God Almighty gonna cut you down.
Some people go to church just to signify,
trying to make a date with a neighbor's wife.
Brother let me tell you just as sure as you're born,
you better leave that woman alone.
x8
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