Rebels and Poets
Discover Rebels and Poets—where literary rock meets running, featuring brooding electric tracks exploring freedom, rebellion, and raw emotion through poetic lyricism. This collection celebrates artists who write like poets and perform like rebels, creating perfect soundtracks for introspective runs, nocturnal city training, artistic runners who value lyrics as highly as rhythm, and solo efforts requiring both emotional depth and physical drive.
The poetic focus elevates running from mere exercise to moving meditation, where every stride synchronizes with verses exploring human experience. Perfect for late-night urban runs, contemplative solo long runs, runners who are also writers or artists, training through emotionally complex periods, and anyone who believes running and poetry both reveal truth through rhythm
About This Playlist
60
Run Boost
126
Avg. BPM
92
Minutes
23
Tracks
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If you want to customize a playlist according to your taste and for your training plan, have a look at the free Song2Run application that allows you to find runnable songs among your music and create a playlist for a slow run, an interval training, or a growing speed session.
Track List
The Future
Leonard Cohen
Dark and prophetic, this Leonard Cohen track sets the tone with a dramatic beat and haunting lyrics.
Canadian poet and singer-songwriter known for his deep voice, literary lyrics, and spiritual themes.
Provides a reflective and rhythmic pace, perfect for contemplative strides.
A gritty look at the future, filled with dread and strange beauty.
"I've seen the future, brother: it is murder."
BPM:
141
Energy:
6
Danceability:
7
Run Boost:
63
Rockin' in the Free World
Neil Young
A defiant anthem with an urgent tempo and biting social commentary.
Iconic Canadian rocker known for his uncompromising style and political songwriting.
Energizes rebellious spirit, great for pushing through resistance.
A harsh critique of modern society wrapped in a rousing rock riff.
"Keep on rockin' in the free world!"
BPM:
131
Energy:
9
Danceability:
5
Run Boost:
40
Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison
A joyful and nostalgic tune with an infectious melody and upbeat rhythm.
Northern Irish singer-songwriter known for his soulful voice and poetic lyrics.
Lifts mood and lightens steps with its carefree energy.
Reminisces on youthful love and carefree days.
"Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-de-da"
BPM:
150
Energy:
6
Danceability:
5
Run Boost:
40
Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen's timeless call to escape and chase freedom at full throttle.
American heartland rocker known for his vivid storytelling and anthemic sound.
Classic runner's anthem for surging forward with heart and hope.
A vision of love and rebellion on the open road.
"Tramps like us, baby we were born to run!"
BPM:
146
Energy:
9
Danceability:
3
Run Boost:
40
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
Paul Simon
A clever and rhythmically playful tune with crisp percussion and sharp wit.
American songwriter celebrated for his articulate lyrics and inventive compositions.
Provides a steady bounce, good for maintaining a relaxed pace.
Explores breakup strategies with sardonic humor.
"Just slip out the back, Jack."
BPM:
101
Energy:
4
Danceability:
8
Run Boost:
40
Octopus
Syd Barrett
A surreal, whimsical track with unpredictable shifts and psychedelic charm.
Founding member of Pink Floyd known for his eccentric creativity and influential solo work.
Adds dreamlike energy to a meandering or exploratory run.
A lyrical dive into a strange, imaginative seascape.
"Please leave us here, close our eyes to the Octopus ride!"
BPM:
88
Energy:
4
Danceability:
6
Run Boost:
40
Pony
Annette Peacock
A minimalist, eerie groove from an avant-garde jazz and electronic pioneer.
Genre-defying artist known for experimental jazz and synth-based innovation.
Creates an introspective vibe, ideal for night runs or solitary moments.
Emotionally abstract and strangely intimate.
"I'm just a pony..."
BPM:
134
Energy:
4
Danceability:
7
Run Boost:
40
First We Take Manhattan
Leonard Cohen
Dark, hypnotic track with themes of revenge and revolution.
Canadian poet-singer blending mysticism with sardonic wit.
Provides rhythm for strategic pacing and inner fire.
A declaration of inevitable uprising—city by city.
"First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin."
BPM:
122
Energy:
5
Danceability:
7
Run Boost:
60
Gloria: In Excelsis Deo
Patti Smith
Raw, ecstatic punk-poetry meets garage rock in this Patti Smith classic.
Pioneering punk poet known for blending rock, literature, and spiritual themes.
Fuel for spontaneous bursts of speed and inspiration.
A rebellious, spiritual invocation in rock form.
"Gloria! In Excelsis Deo!"
BPM:
147
Energy:
8
Danceability:
4
Run Boost:
40
Gigolo Aunt
Syd Barrett
Loose, jangly psychedelia with layers of whimsy and melancholy.
Unpredictable and brilliant, a symbol of psychedelic artistry.
Great for whimsical, scenic runs with shifting tempo.
A cryptic and vivid portrait of a fading world.
"Grooving, on a gigolo aunt."
BPM:
130
Energy:
5
Danceability:
6
Run Boost:
55
Chuck E's in Love
Rickie Lee Jones
Playful and jazzy, this track offers a unique rhythm and storytelling charm.
American singer-songwriter blending jazz, pop, and beat poetry into her eclectic sound.
Adds groove and swing to a relaxed, rhythmic run.
A clever take on street romance and local legends.
"Chuck E's in love!"
BPM:
113
Energy:
4
Danceability:
8
Run Boost:
40
Goin' Out West - 2023 Remaster
Tom Waits
A gritty, swaggering march filled with bravado and darkness.
Gravel-voiced American legend known for his dark humor and carnival-esque songs.
Stomping rhythm fuels aggressive pacing and mood.
A twisted western dream of power and exile.
"I'm gonna do what I want and I'm gonna get paid."
BPM:
129
Energy:
6
Danceability:
7
Run Boost:
65
Red Right Hand
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Ominous and cinematic, this track paints a brooding urban landscape.
Australian band known for their gothic lyricism and dramatic compositions.
Builds atmosphere and slow-burning tension, perfect for late-night runs.
A mythical warning of a looming, omnipresent figure.
"You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan..."
BPM:
115
Energy:
4
Danceability:
7
Run Boost:
40
Dancing In the Dark
Bruce Springsteen
An energetic and emotional anthem about restlessness and the desire for change.
The Boss at his pop-rock peak, combining earnestness with mass appeal.
Upbeat and powerful, great for high-energy bursts.
A cry for transformation amid personal stagnation.
"You can't start a fire without a spark."
BPM:
148
Energy:
9
Danceability:
5
Run Boost:
73
Maggie's Farm
Bob Dylan
A sarcastic protest song that fuses folk and blues with righteous defiance.
Visionary American songwriter and Nobel laureate, redefining folk and rock.
Energizes with rebellious grit and biting delivery.
An allegory of breaking free from oppressive systems.
"I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more."
BPM:
176
Energy:
7
Danceability:
4
Run Boost:
40
Puppet - 2025 Remaster
Lisa Germano
Dark, intimate, and ethereal, this remaster enhances its haunting quality.
American multi-instrumentalist with a unique blend of melancholy and dream pop.
Low-energy but emotionally powerful—great for reflective cooldowns.
A chilling portrayal of control and emotional manipulation.
"I'm your puppet..."
BPM:
102
Energy:
8
Danceability:
5
Run Boost:
40
Raised on Robbery
Joni Mitchell
A rocking jazz-tinged tale of bold flirtation and nightlife escapades.
Canadian singer-songwriter celebrated for her poetic lyricism and musical evolution.
Fast-paced and lively, great for spontaneous tempo surges.
A brash character sketch set in a smoky bar.
"You know I called my place the Ace of Spades..."
BPM:
142
Energy:
8
Danceability:
6
Run Boost:
66
Big Yellow Taxi
Joni Mitchell
Iconic environmental protest song with a bouncy melody and serious message.
Folk legend and lyrical innovator revered for her vision and artistry.
Catchy and light-footed, keeps a steady pace with its rhythmic pulse.
A lament for environmental loss wrapped in pop charm.
"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?"
BPM:
85
Energy:
5
Danceability:
6
Run Boost:
40
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Paul Simon
Playful and rhythm-driven, this song adds a breezy Latin flair to your run.
Masterful storyteller and songwriter known for his worldly sounds and subtle wit.
Great for casual-paced runs with a playful twist.
A vague but vibrant tale of trouble and mischief.
"Me and Julio down by the schoolyard."
BPM:
105
Energy:
8
Danceability:
6
Run Boost:
72
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Bob Dylan
A frenzied lyrical sprint that defined a generation’s sense of urgency.
Literary pioneer of rock, melding beat poetry with electric protest.
Perfect for high-cadence runs; dense lyrics push mental focus.
A collage of paranoia, rebellion, and speed in 1960s America.
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."
BPM:
173
Energy:
7
Danceability:
6
Run Boost:
65
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
A dark, sarcastic track dripping with swagger and apocalyptic visions.
Art-rock masters who blend the sacred and profane into post-punk elegance.
Fast and gritty, ideal for angry sprints or dramatic strides.
A retelling of resurrection, fame, and failure in Cave’s twisted gospel.
"Dig yourself, Lazarus, dig yourself!"
BPM:
112
Energy:
8
Danceability:
6
Run Boost:
74
Because the Night
Patti Smith
A passionate rock love song co-written with Springsteen, full of urgency.
Punk’s poet laureate who brought raw intellect and sensuality to rock.
Ideal for late-night runs or emotional pushes; intense and heartfelt.
A raw, poetic embrace of love and night desire.
"Because the night belongs to lovers!"
BPM:
123
Energy:
8
Danceability:
5
Run Boost:
40
Jockey Full Of Bourbon - 2023 Remaster
Tom Waits
Dark, jazzy noir storytelling over a syncopated, smoky rhythm.
Master of macabre narratives and barroom soundscapes.
Lurches with cool menace—best for moody, unhurried jogs.
Sinister imagery wrapped in offbeat rhythm and growl.
"Hey little bird, fly away home."
BPM:
83
Energy:
4
Danceability:
7
Run Boost:
40