How to Survive at Runway Lyrics – The Devil Wears Prada

"Full Performance Version"

Woah, my parents back in, sorry
Used to worry for my health
They said:
“Emily, you need to breathe, my dear.”
I’m slightly tightly wound
It’s tough — in life and love, I’ve found
But Runway — it’s the reason I’m still here

[Verse 2]
And finally, number one:
I’m rather proud of what I’ve done
But now I have to train this tiny, tweety slob
That’s eight assistants gone,
And if the latest can’t hold on —
I bloody love my job!
I love my job! I love my job!

[Chorus]
Runway!
How to keep your head?
Anticipate the chaos —
And never let it spread
How to survive it?
Runway!
You circle around disasters
Don’t let ego ruin you
Not when you’ve come this far


[Refrain]
Runway!
Run away...
Run away...
Runaway!

[Verse 3 – Spoken & Sung]
I doubt you understand
Just how demanding Runway is —
And how utterly unqualified you are
But if you screw the pooch,
That means my future’s on the line
So it falls on me to bring you up to—
Now write this down:

Don’t ever speak to anyone
Unless they speak to you
And under no circumstances
Should you ever speak —
Just smile. Island eyes.

[Chorus 2]
How to survive at Runway?
How to find your feet?
Eat, sleep, and breathe it —
Except don’t sleep. Or eat.
Survive Runway!
The game you’ve never played in your life
If you don’t survive...
Then we’ll both be dead

[Refrain]
Runway!
Run away...
Run away...

[Bridge – Dialogue/Solo]
See, two very different jobs
You get latte...
I maintain her finances, her calendar — and plus?
Well, I’m rewarded
With the best of all this mess:

[Verse 4]
Fall Paris!
Paris!
I get to go with her
To Paris!
See my destiny — Paris Fashion Week!

[Instrumental / Dance Break]

[Verse 5]
I’ll be the perfect me
In Paris!
As I flutter from head to feet
The nothing tastes as good
As flaunting feels — going full elite!

[Chorus 3 – Full Company]
Alive at Runway!
Lord knows why you applied
But the last girl sacked up a TV Guide
You’ve got to survive it — Runway!
You must make it through
‘Cause if you screw this up for me...
I will murder you!

[Outro – Full Ensemble, Layered Vocals]
Run —
Way!
Run —
Way!
Run!
Way!
Run!
WAY!


========================


EMILY:
Never turn your phone off
Never laugh out loud
Never take your butt out of that chair

ANDY (But what if—):
No!

EMILY:
Never take a bathroom break
Never take the train
Don’t just leave your jacket anywhere—

ANDY:
Wait, where should I look?

EMILY:
Never speak to anyone
Unless they speak to you
Never look Miranda in the eye

Never ask a question
Never call her, only she calls you
Never sneeze or blink, or curse or cry

How to survive at Runway
Lesson number one:
Everything is life or death
Your day is never done

(Backup singers):
How to survive at Runway
You're hanging by a thread
Never get distracted
If you want a gig — ahead!

Run—a—way
Run—a—way
Run—a—way

ANDY:
Got it.

EMILY:
Wednesday, she means Tuesday
By Friday she means right now
Next summer means no later than this fall

ANDY:
Okay. Got it.

EMILY:
"Fine" means she hates it
"Sure" means she’s not sure
And when she says "That’s all" — that means you're screwed

(Backup singers):
How to survive at Runway
Better find your feet
Eat, sleep and breathe the job —
Except don’t sleep or eat

(Backup singers):
Where to survive at Runway
Beat this in your head
If you fail Miranda —
Then you’re certifiably dead

(Chorus):
Run—a—way
Run—a—way
Run—a—way

ANDY:
Okay, so as long as we—

EMILY:
Eh! There is no “we.”
There’s you — a mobile barista and telephone operator,
And then there’s me:
bookkeeper, daily planner —
basically her life manager.

(EMILY):
And then, well, there’s the biggest difference between us...

Paris
I get to go with her to Paris...

(Parisian backup singers throughout this section)
Seated by Miranda’s side for Paris Fashion Week
The shows!
The clothes!
C’est so magnifique…

EMILY:
Paris
I’ll be the perfect me in Paris...

EMILY:
As I float in haute couture
From head to heel
The shoes
The views
Nothing tastes as good
As Paris is gonna feel...

(Her reverie gets interrupted by the phone ringing)
Last Update: May, 12th 2025