When Scottish label Jeepster Records wanted Snow Patrol to change its name to ‘The’ Snow Patrol, after the success of bands such as The White Stripes and The Doors, the band cut ties with the record company. Soon Snow Patrol caught the attention of other British labels. Album demos Final Straw favored by Polydor UK. Snow Patrol then went into the studio and recorded an album there. Final Straw was released in 2003 and the first single from the album, Run, was a huge hit.
Run: looking for stability
“One night after 72 hours of partying, I fell down the concrete steps at a club in Glasgow,” singer Gary Lightbody said of the unfortunate inspiration for the song. Guard. “I woke up in the hospital, couldn’t see one eye and lots of teeth missing.” His parents weren’t happy about him coming back to the state, but his downfall caused the singer-songwriter to write song after song.
When Lightbody returned to Glasgow, he wrote Run, a song about protecting his family. “I think I’m looking to the future thinking about the family I’ll have and a healthier, more stable life.” As he writes the number, the power goes out mid-writing, because Lightbody and his housemates haven’t paid the meter. “This inspired ‘Turn it up, turn it on…’ It’s my first time writing a big chorus.”
“Falls down a lot. General tv buff. Incurable zombie fan. Subtly charming problem solver. Amateur explorer.”