Everyone has choice
When to or not to raise their voices
It's you that decides
Which way you will turn
While feeling that our love's not your concern
It's you that decides
No one around you
Will carry the blame for you
No one around you
Will love you today and throw it all away
Tomorrow when you rise
Another day for you to realize me
Or send me down again
As the days stand up on end

You've got me wondering how I lost your friendship
But I see it in your eyes
Though I'm beside you
I can't carry the lame for you
I may decide to
Get out with your blessing
Where I'll carry on guessing
How high will you leap
Will you make enough for you to reap it?
Only you'll arrive
At your own made end
With no one but yourself to be offended
It's you that decides


Lyrics submitted by ruben

Run of the Mill Lyrics as written by George Harrison

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Run of the Mill song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Great song from All Things Must Pass. When you listen to this album you can come to understand why he remained so bitter about the break up of the Beatles. Clearly it affected him tremendously and the hurt comes through in many of his songs on the album.

    Run of the Mill is a prime example. Here his subject appears to be Paul as he's mentioned, but it could just as well be John.

    "Another day for you to realize me or send me down again" sounds to me like George talking about his Second Class Beatle status. Many of his songs were passed over (and ended up on this album)and outright criticized by John during the Get Back sessions.

    "You've got me wondering how I've lost your friendship" is most likely to Paul, as at the time George was still friendly with John. "Though I'm beside you" could be in the studio, at the boardroom table (Apple) or whatever, but the subject is clearly someone who George felt very close to.

    This ranks right up there with McCartney's "Dear Friend" on the Wild Life album in terms of their true feelings towards each other during the early 70s. Both, actually have similar themes, though Paul's song is almost "shocked" whereas George has a more resigned sadness. It's a very dark album, really.

    AppleCorp3on April 28, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Brilliant song. Can't explain it - it's just pure brilliance.

    ThoughtCriminal11on September 03, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I do recall reading that he he wrote this about Paul -- circa the breakup. From Harrison's book, I Me, Mine, it's pretty clear that it is about him, if anyone. It is pretty cutting, but reflective of that time in their relationship.

    rhk59on December 15, 2007   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I happened to hear this song immediately after hearing selections from Derek and the Dominoes' album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs," also released in 1970, the title track of which was of course written about George's wife Patti. It got me to wondering if these lyrics might have also been written with Patti in mind. In the absence of information about exactly when George wrote these lyrics, we can only speculate.

    BoogieStikon October 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It is a shame and a travesty that no one has posted any thing on this songs page.

    newbie562on February 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    These words are the voice of God which speak to our hearts. We have our free will - "Everyone has choice" "It's you that decides." But what of the love of God? What about God's love for us? Do we hide from God? "Which way you will turn" Does God wait for us? "Tomorrow when you rise..." Is God's faith and love there for us even when we turn away. "You've got me wondering how I lost your friendship, but I see it in your eyes." How far will we lead our lives apart from God? "How high will you leap?" What will we get for our trouble? To be left alone at last?

    "Tomorrow when you rise another day for you to realize me." God's love for us is real and true, and yet, everyone has choice.

    Nawhson February 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I've listened to this track over 30 times and the album a lot as well. its clearly a very personal song , heartfelt and could be about anything but for me its about each persons individual agency into things and some loss of belonging , clearly beatles influenced in its structure and music,loss of love,friendship perhaps...

    wildcathillon August 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song has several levels of meaning, but mostly, it's an expression of spiritual responsibility - an acknowledgment of the fact that only you can reach enlightenment. This song and this album connect us in ways that are truly awesome, in the archaic sense of the word. The Muse, through the artist, a gift for us.

    Watcher2on August 26, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about the relationship each individual man has with his creator God. Do you put your selfish self first, or do you make him that made you your compass in life? It's you that decides. Simple, but profound.

    mike111111on February 26, 2017   Link

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