Pink Floyd’s autobiographical leanings are at the heart of 1979’s The Wall. The album explored themes of loneliness, desertion, and resentment related to fame alongside trauma—all housed within bassist/vocalist Roger Waters’ surrogate character, Pink. A conceptual opus, The Wall saw the group embracing elements of disco, funk, and critical theory. Built upon reverberating staccato guitar riffs, militaristic rhythms, and tyrannical decrees, side two showpiece “Run Like Hell” offers a harrowing experience. Learn how to capture the song’s sound with the BOSS Katana.
About the Song
The album’s second single, “Run Like Hell,” was co-written by Waters and guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour and sung mainly by Waters. It’s debatably the last composition they penned together and one of the final pieces the core quartet—Waters, Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason, and keyboardist Richard Wright—ever produced.
Although it wasn’t a massive success charts-wise, “Run Like Hell” is one of The Wall’s most beloved and emblematic tunes. Specifically, it became a theatrical staple of their concerts (complete with giant inflatable pigs) and Alan Parker’s 1982 film adaptation.
"Although it wasn’t a massive success charts-wise, 'Run Like Hell' is one of the most beloved and emblematic tunes on The Wall."
Breaking It Down
The raucous crowd from “In the Flesh” bleeds into “Run Like Hell,” providing the cinematic and thematic backdrop for Pink Floyd’s anxiety-inducing stilted guitar notes, glitzy licks, driving bass lines, and combative yet patient drumming. Written in D Major, it’s essentially the stylistic successor to Gilmour’s “Short and Sweet.”
The blend of funk, disco, and hard rock makes the song feel simultaneously intimidating and dreamy, with the shimmering guitar effects juxtaposing the back-and-forth bluntness of the rhythm section. Gilmour’s defeated chants provide a soothing but ominous counterpoint to Waters’ belligerent orders.
“Run Like Hell” is mesmerizingly sleek yet sinister. The closing addition of environmental noise, Waters’ bestial clamors, and Wright’s otherworldly synth solo take the sustained dread to a new level.
"The blend of funk, disco, and hard rock makes the song feel simultaneously intimidating and dreamy."
Learn the Licks
In a video on the Marty Music channel, Marty Schwartz cordially guides players through the central guitar ostinato and corresponding six-string riffs. Using a BOSS Katana patch, he expertly captures the delay effects, palm-muted tone, and leisurely pacing of the original. After touching upon the Drop D tuning and primary slide technique, the instructor explains Gilmour’s signature up-and-down strumming patterns, pull-offs, and sequenced triads.
From there, Schwartz moves onto a new part that eventually glides into the A minor pentatonic scale. After running through another chord progression (that must be found “within the delay”), he concludes his friendly step-by-step lesson. Once you’ve checked out the clip, visit BOSS Tone Exchange to download the “Run Like Floyd” Katana patch and feel like you’re a part of Pink Floyd greatness.
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"Run Like Floyd" Patch for BOSS Katana
- In the style of “Run Like Hell” by Pink Floyd
