My Gen X Playlist: Running on Empty – Jackson Brown

Daily writing prompt

Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?

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We planned our Europe backpacking trip around the running of the bulls in Pamplona. We arrived in the city without reservations and couldn’t find a place to stay. We found a place a few cities over and then took the train into the city. It was almost midnight when we arrived and we were immediately introduced to glasses of sangria. What a perfect welcome wagon.

Essentially, the city is a gigantic all night celebration before they unleash the bulls through the streets. We enjoyed the celebration, meeting new people from all over the world. As dawn approached, some new found friends recommended not to run. They were afraid for our safety after drinking all night. They were right and we agreed with the safe responsible route. Instead of runners, we became spectators watching the bulls run. Although we weren’t chased by the bulls that early morning, little did we know the thought of not running would chase us long after we left Spain.

The running of the bulls was still an incredible experience. We enjoyed the people and tradition. Every once in awhile, I’ll see my buddy and he will randomly say, “We should have run,” and I immediately understand what he’s talking about. There is no context needed for that statement, nor additional words before or after. Just, “We should have run.” That captured the feeling and I silently nod because he’s right. We should have.

We were in our twenties then. Both athletic, we could risk running for our lives. Now it’s a choice that really isn’t a choice anymore. And that’s OK. Most times I’m fine for sitting that one out. I don’t dwell on it. It’s just when I hear the words, “We should have run,” that’s when it kind of hurts a little bit because we know the chance was at our fingerprints. On the flip side, I could be sitting here right now with bull horned wounds marking a fateful run. But there are times when I’m uncertain which scars would hurt more. Being physically maimed by a stampede of bulls, or the occasional tinge of regret. Honestly, it’s a toss up. We should have run.

Jackson Brown released Running On Empty in 1977. It was the title track of the album and the first song to kick things off.

This is the opening track on the Running On Empty album. The album version opens with 30 seconds of hooting and hollering from the crowd as they eagerly anticipate the performance. When the song ends, we hear about 20 seconds of cheering before it fades to silence and the next song, “The Road,” recorded at a different venue, comes in, continuing the travelogue.

– songfacts

There are some similarities of our backpacking trip to the album. Both had a lot of hooting and hollering at the beginning. We could taste the anticipation. The fading to silence on the first tract feels like our train ride out of Pamplona. What did we just do? Or rather, what did we not do? But just like the album moving to the next track, we found ourselves in another city, another country, a different adventure. And we realized that this trip was about making an album, not just one song. So we didn’t run, and yeah, that kind of stings. But we had another nine tracks to go to make a great album. That was just the beginning.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

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 17 and running up 101
I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on

Running on, running on empty
Running on, running blind
Running on, running into the sun
But I'm running behind

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive
Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive
In '69, I was 21 and I called the road my own
I don't know when that road turned on to the road I'm on

Running on, running on empty
Running on, running blind
Running on, running into the sun
But I'm running behind

Everyone I know, everywhere I go
People need some reason to believe
I don't know about anyone but me
If it takes all night, that'll be all right
If I can get you to smile before I leave

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
Look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through
Looking into their eyes I see them running, too

Running on, running on empty
Running on, running blind
Running on, running into the sun
But I'm running behind

Honey, you really tempt me
You know the way you look so kind
I'd love to stick around but I'm running behind
(Running on)
You know I don't even know what I'm hoping to find
(Running blind)
Running into the sun but I'm running behind