Other arrangements of Runnin'
Pick a learning view.
Sum mer time in Vir gin ia was an ov en.
All the kids eat ing ice cream with their cous ins.
I was stud y ing while you was play ing the doz ens.
Don’t act like you was there when you was n’t.
From Run nin’ from the man (ex (man), run nin’ from the badge (badge).
Don’t act like you was there when you was n’t.
And the Run nin’ t’ward our plans (plans) where in a were judge ’s hands (hands).
Don’t act like you was there when you was n’t I know they say, “Crawl ’fore you walk,”
but in my mind I al read y jog.
If I stand still, I can not get far.
They want the moon; I’m on Mars.
Some times my mind (F#7)dives
(F)deep
when I’m (Em)run nin’.
I don’t want no free (F#7)ride,
I’m just sick and tired of (Em)run nin’.
Some nights I cry
’cause I can see the day (Em)com in’.
To geth er we’ll (F#7)fly,
oh, but no more (Em)run nin’.
You and I are no dif f’rent from each oth er.
Shut our eyes when we slum ber; I see num bers.
Black and white y were com put was ers; I am col ored.
Don’t act like you was there when you was n’t.
From run nin’ to ex ams (ex ams), to jobs for a man (man),
don’t act like you was there when you was n’t.
And the law nin’ of the land (land) where wom en were of ten banned (banned).
Don’t act like you was there when you was n’t I know they say, “Crawl ’fore you walk,”
but in my mind I al read y jog.
If I stand still, I can not get far.
They want the moon; I’m on Mars.
Some times my mind (F#7)dives
(F)deep
when I’m (Em)run nin’.
I don’t want no free (F#7)ride,
I’m just sick and tired of (Em)run nin’.
Some nights I cry
’cause I can see the day (Em)com in’.
To geth er we’ll (F#7)fly,
oh, but no more (Em)run nin’.
oh, but no more (Em)run nin’.
oh, but no more (Em)run nin’, no.
Runnin' — Classic Piano Sheet Music
5 people have learned this song
Read "Runnin'" by Pharrell Williams in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of E. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 110 BPM.
Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.
Try other practice modes:
About “Runnin'”
- Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Runnin'"?
- Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature E. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
- What key is "Runnin'" by Pharrell Williams played in?
- Runnin' is arranged in the key of E on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Runnin'"?
- The arrangement plays at 110 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Runnin'" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
- Can I download sheet music for "Runnin'"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Runnin'"?
- "Runnin'" was originally performed by Pharrell Williams. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What other songs by Pharrell Williams can I play here?
- Try "HAPPY", "Happy", "Freedom". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
- Yes — "Runnin'" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature E, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
- What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
- Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
- Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
- Yes — slow the tempo from 110 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
- Why can I click a note in the score?
- Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
- Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
- Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.