Kip Moore, ‘Running for You’ [Listen]

Kip Moore’s “Running for You” is an urgent ballad that asks raw emotion to fill holes left in the lyrics. Moore relies on the song’s mood to tell the story as much as he does his and songwriters Troy Verges and Blair Daly’s verses and chorus.

The moody tune opens with drums and smokey synthesizers before a guitar steers the melody. “We had a good run / But I knew, I knew, I knew / I knew this day would come / As bad as I want to / Ain’t no way, not me girl / I ain’t gonna stop you,” he sings, building toward a chorus that’s as intense as any he’s released to radio.

“But if the rain stops falling, falling on me / And your heart stops breaking, breaking in two / If the light starts fading / Baby don’t move / Just say my name, stay right there / I’ll come running for you.”

Layer by layer the song builds into a midtemo rocker. At its core, however, this is Moore calling out for love. “I’m gonna miss you / Baby there’s no way / That I can go with you / So go on and chase it / I know, I know, I know / You can almost taste it / Yeah, time is a-wastin’,” he sings.

All the marks of a good Kip Moore song are there, and this song is a fine representative of his most recent album, Wild Ones. The song structure is more traditional than many of his singles. “Traditional” has never been a great way to describe Moore’s style, so in that way, it’s a risk.

Why Fans Will Love It: The intensity of Moore's vocals on "Running for You" make it difficult to ignore.

Key Lyrics: "If the light starts fading / Baby don’t move / Just say my name, stay right there / I’ll come running for you." 

Did You Know?: Moore says his Motown influences helped build this album. Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen also shaped who he is as a singer and songwriter.

Listen to Kip Moore, “Running for You”

Kip Moore Tells the Story Behind "Running for You"

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