I Run to You

This article is about the Lady Antebellum song. For songs with similar titles, see Run to You.

"I Run to You"
Song

"I Run to You" is the title of a song recorded by the American country music group Lady Antebellum. It is the third and final single released from the group's self-titled debut album. Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood, and Hillary Scott, who comprise Lady Antebellum, co-wrote the song with Tom Douglas. "I Run to You" is the group's first Number One single, reaching that peak in July 2009.

The song appears on Now That's What I Call Country Volume 2 and Now That's What I Call Music 31.

Content

"I Run to You" is a mid-tempo with electric guitar and string section accompaniment. In it, the narrators — lead singers Bruce Sears Jr.and Hillary Scott — state that they turn to each other to escape the negativity and prejudice of the world:

This world keeps spinnin' faster

To a new disaster, so I run to you

I run to you, baby

When it all starts comin' undone

Baby, you're the only one that I run to

I run to you

The radio edit omits a coda in which the string section plays pizzicato.

Reception

Brady Vercher of The 9513 gave the song a "thumbs down" review, calling it "a vague profession of love" and adding, "The song comes across as purposefully cryptic because they either didn’t fully develop the idea, haven’t become comfortable opening up in their lyrics, or they just didn’t feel the need to focus on the lyric other than as a device to support the melody." Dan Milliken of Country Universe gave the song a B rating, saying that it "rolls sweetly along and never tries to sound more important than it really is".

Paul Worley, who co-produced the album and played guitar on it, said, "The song is an expression against hate, prejudice, negativity, running the rat race, but ultimately the redemption of love! And it has an irresistible melody and a head-bobbing groove. What could be better?"

Music video

A music video, directed by Adam Boatman, was released for the song in March 2009. The video follows a chain of events, that showcases how one good deed leads to another. It begins with a mother giving money to a man playing guitar on the sidewalk, who walks into a coffee shop and loans money to a businessman who left his wallet at home. The businessman then helps a woman pick up her stack of papers that scatters when she falls down. Later, the woman takes a seat on the bench and waits for the bus. The mother from the beginning arrives at the bus stop and she gives up her seat for her. Included with these are scenes of the band singing in a small hotel room.

Personnel

The following musicians perform on this track:

• John Catchings – cello
• Chad Cromwell – drums
• David Davidson – violin
• Jason "Slim" Gambill – electric guitar
• Jim Grosjean – viola
• Dave Haywood – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, background vocals
• Charles Kelley – lead vocals
• Rob McNelley – electric guitar
• Sari Reist – cello
• Michael Rojas – Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizer
• Hillary Scott – lead vocals
• Pamela Sixfin – violin
• Mary Kathryn Vanosdale – violin
• Kristin Wilkinson – viola
• Karen Winkelman – violin
• Paul Worley – electric guitar
• Craig Young – bass guitar

Strings arranged by Kristin Wilkinson.

Chart performance

"I Run to You" debuted at #50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated January 31, 2009. After spending 26 weeks on the chart, the song became the trio's first Number One hit for the week of July 25, 2009. The track took 26 weeks to climb to the top, the longest ascent since James Otto's "Just Got Started Lovin' You" reached Number One on its 29th week, on the May 17, 2008 chart. The song has also become Lady Antebellum's first top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at #27.

It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 24, 2009 for digital sales of 500,000 copies.

Chart (2009)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	27
Canadian Country Singles	1
Canadian Hot 100	54