Jones在《Running》里所表述的是一趟心碎与期盼的心路历程,歌词凄美,描写内心矛盾与争扎,牢牢抓住不知是对是错的(《Could be wrong or it could be right》)值得吗?选择不断的逃避(《Keep Running Away》),愈抗拒愈持续,甚至带来痛苦,歌的字里行间流露出作者对承诺的恐惧。
Jones包办钢琴、吉他与低音吉他弹奏,低音色士风与鼓的部份就由Michels负责,他们两人合作的这首歌曲,在缓慢的旋律带着让人深思的律动,有净化心灵的效果,继而推出的第二首主打歌《Staring at the Wall》,歌词传达出内心的斗争(“Devil watches every step I take, messin' with the moves I'm tryin' to shake, every day we do God's little dance, never knowing when to take a chance”)、疑虑不安 (“Just gotta thank my lucky stars tonight, just gonna fake it till I make it right”)、孤寂(“Someone tell me what the hell is wrong, nights always feel quiet and too long”)、以及在混乱与痛苦中寻找意义(“Walking in the room, staring at the wall, and I wonder what I came in for at all”)。
《Staring at the Wall》音乐旋律循环的乐句与节奏令人有躁动不安的感觉,Michels回荡的鼓击首先出场,Jones非常有效的利用吉他破音去制造音色的颗粒质感,她在访问中说这次录音的感觉,整体而言很有在车库录音的氛围(Garagely),很Raw很Organic,但绝不简陋。Jones开宗明义地在专辑的第一首歌《All This Time》说明,“Stay with me I’ll make it easy”,意味着继续要来的歌,会听到不一样的Norah Jones,她与音乐风格及背景不同的Leon Michels以结他随性的即兴创作,合作缔造一个不受拘束的音乐历险,精彩的回味无穷。
Jones没有必要重复自己,在《Paradise》中写道:“What else is there left to learn”,在《Queen Of The Sea》中再说:“Would everyone stay in the game / That they saved or complain? / Or escape on a train? ”,应该是向过去说再见的了:“It’s time to say goodbye to your world / It’s time to say goodbye”,然而在黑胶的A面最后一首《Running》中,她对出走是有忧虑的:“Keep running away…Could be wrong or it could be right”。其实她只不过是想跳跳舞《I Just Want To Dance》而已,Jones说她可能迷失过,但最后她是清醒的《I’m Awake 》,曾经在夜里意乱情迷《Swept Up In The Night》,被幻觉纷扰的,在漆黑中不要害怕,在黑夜里要学会欢笑玩乐,继续出发《On My Way》,与思绪独处《Alone With My Thoughts》之时 ,得看透悲伤、欢乐与恐惧,不再让他们靠近,因为活着的一切跌宕起伏,就是人生《That’s Life 》。