Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)
Encyclopedia
"Silent Running" is a pop rock
song performed by Mike + The Mechanics. Written by Mike Rutherford
and B. A. Robertson
, it was the first track from their 1985 self-titled debut album. It was also released as the band's single, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, and number 1 on Billboard' s Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart, where it stayed for five weeks.
Paul Carrack
provided lead vocals on the song. The song's original title was simply "Silent Running"; the name extension was given when the song was chosen to appear in the 1986 movie On Dangerous Ground, which was titled Choke Canyon
in the US. The longer title for the song has proved confusing, not only because of the film's different title in the US, but because the song's lyrics have nothing to do with the film. Possibly because of this, on many later releases the song is listed simply as "Silent Running".
heard it on a demo tape that Rutherford played for him, however, he recommended that it be used for the album.
According to Rutherford, the song "is about a guy who's traveled light-year
s away, out in space somewhere, and he's ahead in time. Therefore he knows what's going to happen to his wife and kids back home, on Earth. And he's trying to get the message to them to say what's going to happen, the kind of anarchy, the breakdown of society, to tell them to be prepared."
, but is primarily based on the completely unrelated story on which the song's lyrics are based. Billy Drago
makes a cameo appearance in the video.
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
song performed by Mike + The Mechanics. Written by Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
and B. A. Robertson
B. A. Robertson
B. A. Robertson is a Scottish musician, actor, composer and songwriter.-Career:...
, it was the first track from their 1985 self-titled debut album. It was also released as the band's single, reaching number 6 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...
chart, and number 1 on Billboard
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart, where it stayed for five weeks.
Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well...
provided lead vocals on the song. The song's original title was simply "Silent Running"; the name extension was given when the song was chosen to appear in the 1986 movie On Dangerous Ground, which was titled Choke Canyon
Choke Canyon
Choke Canyon is a 1986 movie starring Stephen Collins as a "cowboy scientist" trying to develop an alternative energy source. It was filmed mostly in the vicinity of Moab, Utah.-Plot:Dr...
in the US. The longer title for the song has proved confusing, not only because of the film's different title in the US, but because the song's lyrics have nothing to do with the film. Possibly because of this, on many later releases the song is listed simply as "Silent Running".
Composition and meaning
"Silent Running" was one of the first songs to come from the Rutherford/Robertson songwriting partnership. It was, in fact, one of a series of songs that the two wrote simply to test how effective collaboration between them would be. When producer Christopher NeilChristopher Neil
Christopher Neil is a British record producer, songwriter, singer and actor.He has worked with Celine Dion, a-ha, Dollar, Paul Nicholas, Kim Criswell, Morten Harket, Mike + The Mechanics, Johnny Logan, Marillion, The Moody Blues, The Other Ones, Paul Carrack, Rod Stewart, Gerry Rafferty, Cher,...
heard it on a demo tape that Rutherford played for him, however, he recommended that it be used for the album.
According to Rutherford, the song "is about a guy who's traveled light-year
Light-year
A light-year, also light year or lightyear is a unit of length, equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres...
s away, out in space somewhere, and he's ahead in time. Therefore he knows what's going to happen to his wife and kids back home, on Earth. And he's trying to get the message to them to say what's going to happen, the kind of anarchy, the breakdown of society, to tell them to be prepared."
Music video
The song's video features a few clips from the film Choke CanyonChoke Canyon
Choke Canyon is a 1986 movie starring Stephen Collins as a "cowboy scientist" trying to develop an alternative energy source. It was filmed mostly in the vicinity of Moab, Utah.-Plot:Dr...
, but is primarily based on the completely unrelated story on which the song's lyrics are based. Billy Drago
Billy Drago
Billy Drago is an American actor known for his roles as villains in television and motion pictures.-Personal life:Drago was born William Eugene Burrows in Hugoton, Kansas to William and Gladys Burrows. He took his grandmother's maiden name as his stage name to keep from being confused with another...
makes a cameo appearance in the video.
Chart performance
| Chart (1985–1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 8 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 39 |
| German Singles Chart | 8 |
| UK Singles Chart | 21 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Rock Tracks | 1 |