Introduction:
In 1961, a young musician named Del Shannon released a song that would capture the hearts of teenagers across America. “Runaway” became an instant hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four consecutive weeks and launching Shannon’s career.
The song, a rock and roll ballad, tells a story that was both familiar and dramatic for its young audience. “Runaway” narrates the tale of a teenage boy pleading with his girlfriend to return home after she has run away. Shannon’s powerful vocals and the song’s catchy melody, driven by a distinctive echoing guitar riff, resonated with a generation of young people facing the challenges and anxieties of growing up in the early 1960s.
“Runaway” was co-written by Shannon himself along with keyboardist Max Crook. Dick Jacobs served as the song’s producer. The success of “Runaway” helped to define the sound of early 1960s rock and roll. It incorporated elements of doo-wop and rockabilly, but also introduced a more sophisticated and dramatic sound with its use of reverb and layering, foreshadowing some of the musical trends that would emerge later in the decade.
“Runaway”‘s influence can be felt not only in the music of the early 1960s, but throughout rock history. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Its themes of teenage angst and rebellion continue to resonate with audiences today, and “Runaway” remains a beloved classic of rock and roll.
Video:
Lyrics:
As I walk along, I wonderWhat went wrong with our loveA love that was so strong
And as I still walk on, I think ofThe things we’ve done togetherWhile our hearts were young
I’ma walkin’ in the rainTears are fallin’ and I feel the painWishin’ you were here by meTo end this misery
I wonderI wo-wo-wo wonderWhy… why-why-why-why-whyShe ran awayAnd I wonder where she will stayMy little runawayI run-run-run-run runaway
I’ma walkin’ in the rainTears are fallin’ and I feel the painWishin’ you were here by meTo end this misery
I wonderI wo-wo-wo wonderWhy… why-why-why-why-whyShe ran awayAnd I wonder where she will stayMy little runawayI run-run-run-run runaway
I run-run-run-run runawayI run-run-run-run runaway