Runaway

Song Meaning of Runaway by Kanye

Although West had always drawn controversy and criticism, his public image had never been worse since interrupting Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs.

So, he left for a self-imposed exile in Hawaii and cut his nine-minute masterpiece, which included a toast to "douchebags" and an open examination of his intimacy and image problems.

The song appears to be about a female, but West explained that it could also be about his connection with society, his relationship with his fans, his relationship with anyone he let down, or his relationship with those who had to stand up for him because he truly loved them.

Pusha T's guest verse left him so speechless that he hired him for his GOOD Music label and ultimately appointed him label president.

West invited Pusha T down to Hawaii to record "Runaway". While recording the song, West made Pusha-T record his verse several times.

‘We recorded quite a few songs. He had the record already and was like, 'Yo, I want you on this record.' A lot of stuff from him comes from conversation. He'll talk to you and get a feel for your perspective and your outlook on shit. And later, he'll be like, 'Yo, I want you on this. I got a record that that perspective would fit on.' That's how he operates. [...] You will find yourself explaining yourself, and if you can't explain the reasoning behind the things you're saying in a verse or whatever the case may be, it might not fly. He won't let you get away with it.’

Runaway lyrics by Kanye

"Runaway"

(feat. Pusha T)

[Rick James and James Brown:]

Look at you, look at you, look at you, look at you

Look at you, look at you, look at you, look at you

Look at you, look at you, look at you, look at you

Look at you, look at you, look at you, look at you

(Ladies and gentlemen, ladies, ladies and gentlemen)

[Kanye West:]

And I always find, yeah, I always find something wrong

You been puttin' up with my shit just way too long

I'm so gifted at finding what I don't like the most

So I think it's time for us to have a toast

[Kanye West:]

Let's have a toast for the douchebags

Let's have a toast for the assholes

Let's have a toast for the scumbags

Every one of them that I know

Let's have a toast for the jerk-offs

That'll never take work off

Baby, I got a plan

Run away fast as you can

[Kanye West:]

She find pictures in my e-mail

I sent this bitch a picture of my dick

I don't know what it is with females

But I'm not too good at that shit

See, I could have me a good girl

And still be addicted to them hood rats

And I just blame everything on you

At least you know that's what I'm good at

[Kanye West:]

And I always find, yeah, I always find

Yeah, I always find something wrong

You been puttin' up with my shit just way too long

I'm so gifted at finding what I don't like the most

So I think it's time for us to have a toast

[Kanye West:]

Let's have a toast for the douchebags

Let's have a toast for the assholes

Let's have a toast for the scumbags

Every one of them that I know

Let's have a toast for the jerk-offs

That'll never take work off

Baby, I got a plan

Run away fast as you can

[Kanye West and Rick James:]

Run away from me, baby

Ah, run away

Run away from me, baby (Look at you, look at you, look at you)

Run away

When it starts to get crazy (Look at you, look at you, look at you)

Then run away

Babe, I got a plan, run away as fast as you can

Run away from me, baby

Run away

Run away from me, baby (Look at, look at, look at, look at, look at, look at, look at you)

Run away

When it starts to get crazy (Look at you, look at you, look at you, look at you)

Why can't she just run away?

Baby, I got a plan

Run away as fast as you can (Look at you, look at you, look at you)

[Pusha T:]

Twenty-four seven, three sixty-five, pussy stays on my mind

I-I-I-I did it, alright, alright, I admit it

Now pick your next move, you could leave or live with it

Ichabod Crane with that motherfuckin' top off

Split and go where? Back to wearing knock-offs?

Haha, knock it off, Neimans, shop it off

Let's talk over mai tais, waitress, top it off

Hoes like vultures, wanna fly in your Freddy loafers

You can't blame 'em, they ain't never seen Versace sofas

Every bag, every blouse, every bracelet

Comes with a price tag, baby, face it

You should leave if you can't accept the basics

Plenty hoes in the baller-nigga matrix

Invisibly set, the Rolex is faceless

I'm just young, rich, and tasteless, P

[Kanye West:]

Never was much of a romantic

I could never take the intimacy

And I know I did damage

'Cause the look in your eyes is killing me

I guess you knew of that advantage

'Cause you could blame me for everything

And I don't know how I'ma manage

If one day, you just up and leave

[Kanye West:]

And I always find, yeah, I always find something wrong

You been puttin' up with my shit just way too long

I'm so gifted at finding what I don't like the most

So I think it's time for us to have a toast

[Kanye West:]

Let's have a toast for the douchebags

Let's have a toast for the assholes

Let's have a toast for the scumbags

Every one of them that I know

Let's have a toast for the jerk-offs

That'll never take work off

Baby, I got a plan

Run away fast as you can