The Place We Ran From

Lightbody had a "long-term ambition" of making a country album^[3] and revealed the project's existence in May 2009. In the interview, he expressed his love for country music, which he said he had loved for a long time: "I always thought I had a country album in me and it turns out I did."^[4] The rest of Snow Patrol expressed excitement for their band-mate, "delighted that [Lightbody was] getting to exercise all his crazy ideas."^[5] In October 2009, Lightbody in his blog on Snow Patrol's website revealed the members of the group to be Richard Colburn (of Belle & Sebastian), Iain Archer, singer Miriam Kaufmann (Archer's wife), and Jacknife Lee. He talked about two more members whom he was very excited about, but didn't name them.^[6][7] He also stated that the album won't be country as was being reported,^{[4][8][9][10]} but would be "country-tinged".^[6] In January 2010, Hot Press reported Peter Buck (of R.E.M.) to be a member of the group. Lightbody described Buck as one of his "all-time heroes" and admired his talent for playing a variety of instruments.^[7]

The lead single from The Place We Ran From was "Dead American Writers",^[11] released one week prior on Compact Disc and 7". A music video was directed by Paul Fraser featuring Joseph Gilgun lip syncing the lyrics.^[12] "Dead American Writers" includes "I Finally Love This Town" as a B-side; the song was later made available through the band's site as a free download. "Get on the Road" was released as a promotional single with an instrumental version of the track as its B-side.

The band also toured through summer and autumn of 2010.

All songs written by Tired Pony

1. "Northwestern Skies" – 3:49
2. "Get on the Road" – 4:45
3. "Point Me at Lost Islands" – 3:11
4. "Dead American Writers" – 2:34
5. "Held in the Arms of Your Words" – 6:40
6. "That Silver Necklace" – 3:49
7. "I Am a Landslide" – 5:43
8. "The Deepest Ocean There Is" – 4:58
9. "The Good Book" – 3:04
10. "Pieces" – 6:56

American iTunes Store pre-order bonus track

11. "In the Stockade"

Japanese edition bonus track

11. "I Finally Love This Town" – 4:58

Compact Disc + MP3 download bonus tracks

11. "In the Stockade"
12. "Your Bible"

Tired Pony

• Iain Archer – banjo, dobro, acoustic and electric guitar, harpsichord, percussion, vibraphone, vocals on "I Am A Landslide", vocal harmony, backing vocals, composition
• Peter Buck – banjo; feedback; glockenspiel; 12-string, acoustic, baritone, electric, and Nashville guitars; mandolin, noise, percussion, composition
• Richard Colburn – drums, electric guitar, percussion, typewriter, composition
• Jacknife Lee – 12-string acoustic and electric guitars, harpsichord, melodica, organ, pump organ, percussion, piano, vibraphone, composition, engineering, mixing, production
• Gary Lightbody – acoustic and electric guitars, pump organ, percussion, vibraphone, vocals, composition
• Scott McCaughey – banjo, bass guitar, harmonica, fuzz bass, baritone and electric guitars, percussion, piano, vibraphone, vocal harmony, backing vocals, Wurlitzer, composition
• Troy Stewart – bass guitar, dobro, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion, piano, harmony vocal, composition

Additional musicians

• Paul Brainard – pedal steel
• Fred Chalenor – upright bass
• Zooey Deschanel – vocals on "Get on the Road" and "Point Me to Lost Islands"
• Betsy Lee – vocals
• Esme Lee – vocals
• Chris McCormack – electric guitar
• Ellen Osborn – vocals
• Anna Shelton – bowed saw
• Tom Smith – vocals on "The Good Book"
• Annalisa Tornfelt – fiddle, violin
• Alex Valdivieso – backing vocals
• M. Ward – electric guitar and harmony vocal

Technical personnel

• Sam Bell – engineering, mixing
• Vivian Johnson – photography
• Dan Kaufmann – design
• Jason Powers – assistant
• Adam Selzer – assistant
• Nigel Walton – mastering at the Edit Suite, London, England, United Kingdom