Jordan Peele’s cinematic masterpiece, Get Out, is lauded not only for its gripping narrative and social commentary but also for its meticulously crafted soundtrack. Right from the opening scene, music plays a pivotal role in setting the tone and foreshadowing the film’s sinister themes. While Childish Gambino’s “Redbone” is immediately recognizable and thematically resonant, another song, “Run Rabbit Run,” heard in the unsettling opening sequence, deserves closer examination for its chilling contribution to the movie’s atmosphere and deeper meaning.
“Run Rabbit Run” Sets a Chilling Tone in Get Out’s Opening Scene
The film’s opening moments are deliberately unsettling. We witness Logan, played by Keith Stanfield, walking through a quiet suburban street at night when he is suddenly abducted. Adding to the scene’s eerie tension is the song playing from the abductor’s car: “Run Rabbit Run.” This seemingly innocuous children’s tune immediately creates a sense of unease and foreshadows the lurking danger beneath the surface of Rose’s seemingly welcoming family. The choice of “Run Rabbit Run” is far from arbitrary; it’s a deliberate sonic cue that prepares the audience for the film’s exploration of predation and vulnerability.
Decoding “Run Rabbit Run”: Lyrics and Metaphor in Peele’s Film
The lyrics of “Run Rabbit Run” are deceptively simple, originating from a vaudeville song, and are traditionally associated with children’s entertainment. However, within the context of Get Out, these playful verses take on a much darker and more sinister connotation. The repetitive lines, “Run rabbit – run rabbit – Run! Run! Run! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Goes the farmer’s gun,” directly evoke the imagery of a hunt. In Get Out, this hunting metaphor becomes chillingly literal. Black individuals are, unknowingly, the prey, lured into the Armitage family’s estate. The “run” in the song acts as a desperate plea, a warning cry echoing the film’s overarching theme of escape and survival. Just as the rabbit is hunted for sport, the victims in Get Out are targeted and exploited for the Armitage family’s twisted agenda.
The Soundtracks Synergy: “Run Rabbit Run,” “Redbone,” and “Stay Woke”
The genius of Get Out‘s soundtrack lies in the way different songs work in harmony to amplify its themes. While “Run Rabbit Run” establishes an immediate sense of threat and the predator-prey dynamic, “Redbone,” which plays later in the film, reinforces the crucial message of “stay woke.” Both songs, in their distinct ways, contribute to the film’s atmosphere of suspense and social commentary. “Run Rabbit Run” is the initial alarm bell, the first hint of danger, while “Redbone” serves as a continuous, underlying reminder of the need for vigilance. The film cleverly uses these contrasting yet complementary songs to deepen the audience’s engagement with its narrative and its powerful message about awareness and survival in a world where danger can lurk beneath a veneer of normalcy.
In conclusion, the inclusion of the “Run Rabbit Run Song” in Get Out is a masterstroke of soundtrack curation. It’s not merely background music; it’s a thematic anchor that enhances the film’s suspense, foreshadows its horrors, and deepens its metaphorical exploration of the hunted and the hunters. Alongside “Redbone,” “Run Rabbit Run” solidifies Get Out‘s soundtrack as an integral part of its storytelling brilliance, leaving audiences both thrilled and deeply unsettled long after the credits roll.
