Running on Empty (song)
Encyclopedia
"Running on Empty" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne
. It is the title track to his 1977 live Running on Empty
album, recorded at a concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion
in Columbia, Maryland
, on August 27, 1977. A number eleven hit on the Billboard Hot 100
when it was released as a single, Rolling Stone
ranked it at number 492 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
" and it is one of Browne's signature song
s.
The song starts off with an immediate, propulsive backbeat, with the melody carried by piano and throughout laced by David Lindley
's distinctive lap steel guitar
work. Browne's receives vocal back up from Rosemary Butler
and Doug Haywood.
The lyric's ages and years match up with Browne's:
Rolling Stone
writer Paul Nelson
saw "Running on Empty" as embodying a "tenacious, win/lose duality" and being "what daydreamers have nightmares about":
"Running on Empty" was Browne's third-biggest hit single in his career (trailing only "Doctor My Eyes
" and "Somebody's Baby
"), reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100
in spring 1978, and subsequently became his most-played song on classic rock
radio formats. It became a staple of Browne's concerts, and whenever Bruce Springsteen
has guested at such shows, they have shared vocals on "Running on Empty".
, famously featured in the scene where Forrest was running across the United States.
In August 2008, Browne sued presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain
, the Ohio Republican Party
, and the Republican National Committee
for unauthorized use of "Running on Empty" in a television commercial mocking presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama
's energy policy. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum in July 2009, with the McCain campaign, the Ohio Republican Party, and the Republican National Committee issuing a joint apology for using the song. Browne said, "I'm really happy that we got this statement from them. It's great to have it affirmed that these [copyright and usage] laws stand. I've had an idea of how my songs are protected and how money is collected and how making a living as a musician works for my whole career, and it's great to have it affirmed and to know that we're absolutely right in standing up to them."
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
. It is the title track to his 1977 live Running on Empty
Running on Empty (album)
Running on Empty is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. Released in 1977, the album reached #3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart in 1978 and stayed on the charts for 65 weeks...
album, recorded at a concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Merriweather Post Pavilion is an outdoor concert venue located within Symphony Woods, a 40-acre lot of preserved land in the heart of the planned community of Columbia, Maryland. It was named for the American Post Foods heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post...
in Columbia, Maryland
Columbia, Maryland
Columbia is a planned community that consists of ten self-contained villages, located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. Creator and developer James W. Rouse saw the new community in terms of human values, not...
, on August 27, 1977. A number eleven hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
when it was released as a single, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
ranked it at number 492 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone, issue number 963, published December 9, 2004, a year after the magazine published its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"....
" and it is one of Browne's signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
s.
History
The song may be meant to describe the rigors of a musician's day-to-day life on the road, and its effect on his life as a whole, in connection with the themes of much of the album. But the lyric is more general:- Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels —
- Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields.
- In '65 I was seventeen and running up 101
- I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on ...
The song starts off with an immediate, propulsive backbeat, with the melody carried by piano and throughout laced by David Lindley
David Lindley (musician)
David Perry Lindley is an American musician who is notable for his work with Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, and other rock musicians. He has worked extensively in other genres as well, performing with artists as varied as Curtis Mayfield and Dolly Parton...
's distinctive lap steel guitar
Lap steel guitar
The lap steel guitar is a type of steel guitar, an instrument derived from and similar to the guitar. The player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings instead of by pressing strings against the fingerboard....
work. Browne's receives vocal back up from Rosemary Butler
Rosemary Butler
Rosemary Butler began her career playing bass and singing in an all-girl band named the Ladybirds. The band appeared on several LA area television shows before opening for the Rolling Stones in 1964. She then joined all-female hard rock band Birtha who released two albums for Dunhill Records...
and Doug Haywood.
The lyric's ages and years match up with Browne's:
- In '69 I was twenty-one and I called the road my own
- I don't know when that road turned onto the road I'm on.
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
writer Paul Nelson
Paul Nelson (critic)
Paul Nelson was a folk and rock music critic who wrote for Sing Out! and Rolling Stone. He was instrumental in launching and supporting the careers of Bob Dylan, The New York Dolls, Elliott Murphy, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne and Warren Zevon...
saw "Running on Empty" as embodying a "tenacious, win/lose duality" and being "what daydreamers have nightmares about":
- You know I don't even know what I'm hoping to find ...
- Running into the sun, but I'm running behind.
"Running on Empty" was Browne's third-biggest hit single in his career (trailing only "Doctor My Eyes
Doctor My Eyes
"Doctor My Eyes" is a 1972 song written and performed by Jackson Browne and included on his debut album Jackson Browne. Featuring a combination of an upbeat piano riff coupled, somewhat ironically, with lyric about feeling world-weary, the song was a surprise hit, reaching number 8 on the...
" and "Somebody's Baby
Somebody's Baby
"Somebody's Baby" is a 1982 song written and recorded by Jackson Browne for the 1982 Fast Times at Ridgemont High movie soundtrack. Reaching #7 on 1982's Billboard Hot 100, the track would be Browne's last top ten song as well as the highest-charting single of his career...
"), reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in spring 1978, and subsequently became his most-played song on classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
radio formats. It became a staple of Browne's concerts, and whenever Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
has guested at such shows, they have shared vocals on "Running on Empty".
Later uses
This song appeared in the 1994 film Forrest GumpForrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
, famously featured in the scene where Forrest was running across the United States.
In August 2008, Browne sued presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
, the Ohio Republican Party
Ohio Republican Party
The Ohio Republican Party is the Ohio state affiliate of the United States Republican Party. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio on February 13, 1854. Kevin DeWine has been chairman of the Ohio GOP since 2009...
, and the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
for unauthorized use of "Running on Empty" in a television commercial mocking presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's energy policy. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum in July 2009, with the McCain campaign, the Ohio Republican Party, and the Republican National Committee issuing a joint apology for using the song. Browne said, "I'm really happy that we got this statement from them. It's great to have it affirmed that these [copyright and usage] laws stand. I've had an idea of how my songs are protected and how money is collected and how making a living as a musician works for my whole career, and it's great to have it affirmed and to know that we're absolutely right in standing up to them."