Run to the Water explained

Run to the Water
Cover:	LiveRunToTheWater.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Live
Album:	The Distance to Here
Studio:	The Site (San Rafael, California) Village Recorder (West Los Angeles) A&M (Hollywood, California) The Plant (Sausalito, California)
Length:	4:27
Label:	Radioactive
Composer:	Ed Kowalczyk Patrick Dahlheimer
Lyricist:	Ed Kowalczyk
Producer:	Jerry Harrison Live
Prev Title:	The Dolphin's Cry
Prev Year:	1999
Next Title:	They Stood Up for Love
Next Year:	2000

"Run to the Water" is a song by alternative rock group Live, released on January 11, 2000, as the second single from their fifth studio album, The Distance to Here (1999). It became a moderate hit in early 2000, reaching the top 40 in Australia, Finland, and the Netherlands as well as on the American and Canadian rock charts. In Iceland, the song topped the chart for three weeks, becoming Live's second consecutive number-one single.

Chart performance

The song was not released as a single in the United States but reached at number 14 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 17 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. In Canada, "Run to the Water" reached number 10 on the RPM Top 30 Rock Report. The single also charted at number 15 in Finland, number 25 in the Netherlands, number 34 in Australia, and number 44 in New Zealand. It peaked at number one in Iceland for three weeks, from April 28 to May 12, 2000, and became the band's second consecutive number-one single.^[1]

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Martin Weisz.^[2] In the video, Ed Kowalczyk sings the song in a dilapidated bathroom, while the people in the street below, including the other band members, are harassed by the police. Kowalczk descends to the street where he and the other band members stand facing the riot police. Conflict seems inevitable until it begins to rain and the tension is released. Soon after, a bomb, thrown by the police, explodes and the water turns to fire, into which the band members jump. Kowalczyk wakes with a start to discover that he has been dreaming and smiles ecstatically as he washes his face in the sink.

There's also a second version of that video where, at the end, Kowalczyk comes out a pond on another plane of dimension, giving the story her full meaning.

Track listings

European CD single^[3]

1. "Run to the Water" – 4:27
2. "The Dolphin's Cry" (acoustic) – 5:09

European maxi-CD single^[4]

1. "Run to the Water" (album version) – 4:27
2. "The Dolphin's Cry" (acoustic version) – 5:09
3. "I Alone" (recorded live for Y100) – 5:06
4. "The Dolphin's Cry" (radio mix) – 4:01

Australian CD single^[5]

1. "Run to the Water" (album version)
2. "The Dolphin's Cry" (acoustic version)
3. "I Alone" (recorded live for Y100)
4. "The Dolphin's Cry" (radio mix)
5. "Turn My Head" (recorded live in Melbourne, Australia, May 1997)

• This single was included as a bonus disc on the Australian release of The Distance to Here.^[6]

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the US promo CD liner notes and The Distance to Here album booklet.^{[7] [8]}

Studios

• Recorded at The Site (San Rafael, California), Village Recorder (West Los Angeles), A&M Studios (Hollywood, California), and The Plant (Sausalito, California)
• Mixed at South Beach Studios (Miami Beach, Florida) and Encore Studios (Burbank, California)
• Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Live

• Ed Kowalczyk – lyrics, vocals, guitar
• Patrick Dahlheimer – lyrics, music, bass
• Chad Taylor – lead guitars
• Chad Gracey – drums
• Live – production

Other personnel

• Jerry Harrison – production
• Gary Kurfirst – executive production
• Tom Lord-Alge – mixing
• Karl Derfler – engineering
• Doug McKean – additional engineering
• Ted Jensen – mastering

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2000)	Position
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[10]	10
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[11]	68
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[12]	76

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	January 11, 2000		Radioactive	^[13]
	January 25, 2000	Contemporary hit radio		^[14]
	April 3, 2000	Hot adult contemporary radio		^[15]

Notes and References

1. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (10.2 – 16.2 2000). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 12. February 11, 2000. January 24, 2021.
2. http://mvdbase.com/video.php?id=16732 "Run to the Water"
3. Run to the Water. Live. 2000. European CD single liner notes. Radioactive Records. 155 715-2.
4. Run to the Water. Live. 2000. European maxi-CD single liner notes. Radioactive Records. 155 716-2.
5. Run to the Water. Live. 2000. Australian CD single liner notes. Universal Music Australia. 155 712-2.
6. The Distance to Here. The Distance to Here. Live. 1999. Australian Tour Bonus Disc edition. Radioactive Records. 112 240-2.
7. Run to the Water. Live. 1999. US promo CD liner notes. Radioactive Records. RAR5P 4366.
8. The Distance to Here. Live. 1999. US CD album booklet. Radioactive Records. 088 111 966-2.
9. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (27.3– 4.5 2000). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 14. April 28, 2000. October 6, 2019.
10. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 100. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 10. January 5, 2001. February 8, 2020.
11. Most Played Mainstream Rock Songs of 2000. Airplay Monitor. 8. 51. 33. December 22, 2000.
12. Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 2000. Airplay Monitor. 8. 51. 38. December 22, 2000.
13. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1332. 96, 100. January 7, 2000. May 25, 2021.
14. CHR/Pop: Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1334. 44. January 21, 2000. May 25, 2021.
15. Hot AC: Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1344. 78. March 31, 2000. May 25, 2021.