While some listeners found the track's initial mix to be intentionally "messy" or "loud" at the start, the consensus remains that it is a "masterpiece" that complements the album's spiritual and cinematic journey. It sits alongside other notable exclusions like "Society," serving as a final, experimental goodbye to "The Weeknd" persona.
. Some listeners have noted the use of vintage-style synth presets, potentially inspired by 80s hardware like the Roland JX-8P Yamaha DX7 Live Incidents:
My love, you're runnin' through the 6 with my woes You was runnin' through, through My love, you're runnin' through the 6 with my woes You was runnin' through, through
The lyrics of "Runaway" explore haunting themes of inescapable pasts and the search for refuge.