| Run for Cover | |
| Cover: | TheKillersRunforCover.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | the Killers |
| Album: | Wonderful Wonderful |
| Studio: |
|
| Length: | 3:42 |
| Label: | Island |
| Producer: | Jacknife Lee |
| Prev Title: | The Man |
| Prev Year: | 2017 |
| Next Title: | Rut |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
"Run for Cover" is a song by American rock band the Killers from their fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful (2017). Originally released as a promotional single on July 28, 2017,[1] the song was sent to alternative radio in the United States on November 14, 2017, serving as the album's second single.
The Killers' vocalist Brandon Flowers revealed that "Run for Cover" was originally written for their 2008 album Day & Age with producer Stuart Price, but it was not completed due to Flowers not being able to finish the second verse of the song at the time. According to drummer Ronnie Vannucci, The song was originally "slower, sweeter and busier".[2] After meeting with Australian musician Alex Cameron in Las Vegas, Flowers finally had a breakthrough as they kept on working together until the second verse was finished.[3] In the beginning of 2017, Flowers revealed the song had a good shot of being featured on the band's album.[4]
The song contains the first overtly political references in a Killers song. Flowers told NME that the song was partly a response to the presidency of Donald Trump, although the lyrics were not a direct reference to Trump, having mostly been written nine years prior to the song's release.[5] [6]
The Killers debuted "Run for Cover" during a concert at Borgata in Atlantic City on June 10, 2017.[7] On July 28, the song was released as a promotional single from Wonderful Wonderful.[8]
"Run for Cover" has been characterized under the genres new wave, post-punk revival, pop rock, heartland rock, and synth-pop,[9] [10] [11] [12] and was written by Flowers, Mark Stoermer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr., Alex Cameron, Jacknife Lee, and Stuart Price. Although it was initially produced by the latter, the track's production was finished by Lee.[7]
The song contains an interpolation of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song".
Lyrically, the song talks about domestic violence as Flowers tells a woman to "run for cover" from her abusive husband while she still can.
The song received critical acclaim from music critics. Andrew Trendell from NME described it as a "synth-pop banger driven by post-punk propulsion" and noted the similarity in sound to that of Sam's Town.[7] [13] Rolling Stones Daniel Kreps called it a "glossy, buoyant track that proves the band hasn't strayed from their textbook sound."[14] The Musical Hype! gave the song four out of five stars and said: "All in all, 'Run for Cover' is a well-rounded, energetic, and up-tempo record from The Killers. Does it trump 'The Man'? It depends upon who you ask, but true to the band's style, this is next-level. Elite? Yes."[9]
The music video for "Run for Cover" was directed by Tarik Mikou and released on August 22, 2017. The video tells the story of a woman who tries to run away from her ex-lover, backing up the recurring abusive relationship theme of the song's lyrics. After getting hit by him with a car, she gets up and sets the vehicle on fire with him inside. The cassette tape she is holding onto in the video reads "07/28/17", referring to the release date of the single.[15]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Wonderful Wonderful.[16]
The Killers
Additional personnel
| Position | ||
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[17] | 22 | |
|---|---|---|
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] | 59 | |
| US Rock Airplay Songs (Billboard)[19] | 29 |
| Date | Format | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | July 28, 2017 | Island | [20] [21] | |
| United States | November 14, 2017 | Alternative radio | [22] | |
| Various | January 19, 2018 | Digital download (Naderi remix) | [23] [24] |