The song "Running Man" by John Maus conveys a futuristic and dystopian theme, drawing inspiration from the 1987 science fiction action film "The Running Man." The lyrics depict a character named Ben who is urged to run for his life. The repeated phrase "Run, Ben, run!" emphasizes the urgency to escape and survive. The line "You'll live if you run!" suggests that running is the only way to stay alive in this dangerous world. It signifies the struggle for survival in a society controlled by powerful forces. The chorus, "I am I am the running man," highlights the protagonist's identity as someone who participates in a televised show called "The Running Man." This show, described as "Number 1, the show where anything goes," presents a brutal game where contestants are chased by deadly adversaries. The names Whitman, Price, and Haddad mentioned in the song are possibly references to the characters in "The Running Man." These individuals might have been previous participants who either won or lost in the show's deadly game. The line "He's sub-zero, Now, plain zero!" could refer to one of the adversaries, Sub-Zero, becoming eliminated or defeated. This further illustrates the dangerous and life-threatening nature of the show. Overall, "Running Man" paints a dark picture of a futuristic society where individuals are forced to become running men, participating in a deadly game for their lives. It reflects themes of control, survival, and the dehumanization of individuals for the sake of entertainment.
