"Band on the Run" is the title song from Paul McCartney and Wings' acclaimed Band on the Runalbum.

It is composed of a three-part structure that revolves around the themes of escape and liberation. The song tells a story about a band being confined to prison and then escaping and going on the run.

The first part (0:00-1:18) is soft and melodic. The singer complains about being stuck in one room forever alone, unable to see any nice people, like his mother.

The second part (1:19-2:05) is more of a soft rock melody with the guitar, drums, and bass becoming more prominent. The singer thinks about giving everything away if he does escape. George Harrison unwittingly contributed the first line of this part: "If we ever get out of here" when he said it during one of the many Beatles' business meetings.

The third and main part (2:05 to 5:09) is the initial rock part, which talks about the band escaping and going on the run. The people in the town are trying to find them forevermore, but they will never be found.

The version played on the radio in America in 1974 was a shorter version of the song, edited down from the original 5:09 to 3:50 in length. The difference was largely caused by the removal of the middle or the second part of the song, as well as the verse that starts with "Well, the undertaker drew a heavy sigh..."

A cover version of "Band on the Run" was recorded in 2007 by Foo Fighters as their contribution to the Radio 1. Established 1967album. This album, commemorating BBC Radio 1's 40th anniversary, features a cover version of a song released in each of the station's 40 years recorded by a modern-day band or solo artist, "Band on the Run" being the song selected to represent 1974.

On 1 June 2008 McCartney was joined onstage by Foo Fighters lead singer Dave Grohl for a special performance in Liverpool. Grohl played guitar and sang backing vocals on "Band on the Run" and then played drums on Beatles songs "Back in the U.S.S.R." and "I Saw Her Standing There".

The song was referenced by Will Ferrell during his act at The Concert For New York City. While impersonating George W. Bush, he told viewers of his attempt to come up with new names for the "talliband operation". He says Paul McCartney told him to name it "Talliband.. on the run."

Tori Amos performed a snippet of this song at a number of shows during the Plugged '98 Tour.

The jazz organ section from 1:33 - 1:48 is sampled on the track "Cutting Rhythms" by Tone Lōc on the album Lōc-ed After Dark.

The song features prominently on every McCartney/Wings best-of compilation and in McCartney's live shows. It was the second of six number-one singles for the band on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is featured on Guitar Hero World Touron the main setlist.