Baby Huey was a large and locally beloved figure on the Chicago soul scene in the late 1960's. Born James Ramey in Richmond, IN, in 1944, Baby Huey never achieved great renown outside of his hometown, for despite an exciting live act, his debut album on Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label wasn't released until after his death from an overdose in 1970.
He was literally an enormous stage presence: a glandular problem kept his weight around 350-400 pounds and beyond. He began performing in Chicago clubs in 1963 with his backing band the Babysitters and soon became a popular concert draw. As the '60s wore on, Baby Huey's sound moved from energetic R&B into a more psychedelic brand of soul, with a vocal style that drew comparisons to Otis Redding. He signed with Curtom and recorded a debut album, The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend, that featured several Curtis Mayfield songs (most notably the oft-sampled "Hard Times" and "Mighty Mighty Children"), plus a cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come."
Sadly, Baby Huey didn't live to see it released; his weight and substance-abuse problems were exacting a steep toll on his body, and on October 28, 1970, he suffered a drug-related heart attack in a hotel room in Chicago. The album was released early the next year, and the Babysitters attempted to carry on for a while with a new lead singer, the still-teenaged Chaka Khan (she would, of course, go on to fame as the frontwoman of funk band Rufus shortly thereafter). In the years since, Baby Huey's lone LP has become a sought-after collectible among soul fanatics and has been reissued numerous times on CD.
Running
Baby Huey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
like a diesel on tracks behind her
though I know from me she wants to escape
fool I am, I won't accept my fate
So I'm running and I'm so tired
cant stop now cause she's got such a headstart
anyday I know I am stepping to find
another man holding what was mine
They say love can be so blind
and it can almost drive you out of your mind
look at me an educated fool
loving this woman made me bloat my cool
So I'm running, trying to find her
like a diesel on tracks behind her
anyday I know I am stepping to find
another man holding what once was mine
Still running, trying to get somewhere
aaaaaaaah!
Still running momma, Still runing baby
Still trying to get it together, somehow I know
Let me tell you one more time
They say love can be so blind
and it can almost drive you out of your mind
look at me an educated fool
loving this woman made me bloat my cool
So I'm running, running, running, running, running, running...
The lyrics to Baby Huey's "Running" depict a man who is desperately chasing after a woman who wants nothing to do with him. He compares himself to a diesel train, relentlessly pursuing her but unable to catch up. The singer seems to be aware of the futility of his pursuit - he knows that the woman wants to escape him and that he is foolish for not accepting his fate. However, he persists in his quest to win her back, even as he grows more and more exhausted.
The lyrics suggest that love can make people do irrational things and push them to the brink of insanity. The singer acknowledges that he is an "educated fool," someone who should know better than to waste his time and energy chasing after someone who doesn't want him. But he can't help himself - love has driven him to act in ways that are not in his best interest.
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the pain and frustration that can come with unrequited love. The singer's unrelenting pursuit of the woman he loves is both sad and poignant, and the lyrics capture the intensity of his emotions perfectly.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got me running, trying to find her like a diesel on tracks behind her
I'm desperately chasing after this woman even though I know she doesn't want to be with me. I feel like I'm going after a moving train that I can't catch.
Though I know from me she wants to escape, fool I am, I won't accept my fate
I realize that she's not interested in me and wants to leave, but I'm still holding onto the hope that things will change and she'll want me back.
So I'm running and I'm so tired, can't stop now cause she's got such a headstart
I'm exhausted from trying to win her back, but I can't give up now because she's already moved on without me.
Any day I know I am stepping to find another man holding what was mine
I'm afraid that I'll see her with someone else who's taken my place in her life, which makes me feel even more desperate to win her back.
They say love can be so blind and it can almost drive you out of your mind, look at me an educated fool loving this woman made me bloat my cool
I understand how irrational my behavior is, but I can't help it because I'm deeply in love with her. I feel like I've lost my sense of self and am acting like a complete fool.
Still running, trying to get somewhere, aaaaaaaah! Still running momma, still running baby, still trying to get it together, somehow I know
My desperation to win her back continues, but I'm not sure where I'm going or what I'm trying to accomplish. Even so, I can't stop running after her and trying to make things right.
Let me tell you one more time, They say love can be so blind and it can almost drive you out of your mind, look at me an educated fool loving this woman made me bloat my cool
I want to emphasize how much I've lost control of myself because of my love for her, even though I know it's not healthy or rational.
So I'm running, running, running, running, running, running...
I'm still frantically chasing after her, hoping to win her back even though I know it's unlikely. My love for her is driving me to keep running, even if it's leading me nowhere.
Contributed by Juliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@anunknownperson5163
Sheโฒs got me running, trying to find her
Like a diesel on tracks behind her
Though I know from me she wants to escape
Fool I am, I won't accept my fate
So Iโฒm running and I'm so tired
Cant stop now cause she's got such a headstart
Anyday I know I am stepping to find
Another man holding what was mine
They say love can be so blind
And it can almost drive you out of your mind
Look at me an educated fool
Loving this woman made me bloat my cool
So Iโฒm running, trying to find her
Like a diesel on tracks behind her
Anyday I know I am stepping to find
Another man holding what once was mine
Still running, trying to get somewhere
Aaaaaaaah!
Still running momma, Still runing baby
Still trying to get it together, somehow I know
Let me tell you one more time
They say love can be so blind
And it can almost drive you out of your mind
Look at me an educated fool
Loving this woman made me bloat my cool
So Iโฒm running, running, running, running, running, running...
@adrianoteixeiraramos6186
She's got me running, trying to find her
like a diesel on tracks behind her
though I know from me she wants to escape
fool I am, I won't accept my fate
So im running and i'm so tired
cant stop now cause she's got such a headstart
anyday I know I am stepping to find
another man holding what once was mine
They say love can be so blind
and it can almost drive you out of your mind
look at me an educated fool
loving this woman made me bloat my cool
So I'm running, trying to find her
like a diesel on tracks behind her
anyday I know I am stepping to find
another man holding what once was mine
Still running, tryng to get somewhere
Still running momma, Still runing babyย
Still trying to get it together, somehow I know
Let me tell you one more time
They say love can be so blind
and it can almost drive you out of your mind
look at me an educated fool
loving this woman made me bloat my cool
So I'm running, ย running, ย running, ย running, ย running, ย running,ย
@BigSi-xw6wv
40+ years still got me nodding!!!Gottt damn!Shit is real and funky as hell.
@andyj34
Never heard of this Guy and his group but it just goes to show, that real soul real funk is out there to be found.
@indyrod321
Amazing! Glad he left us a such a gorgeous record before he moved on RIP
@anunknownperson5163
Sheโฒs got me running, trying to find her
Like a diesel on tracks behind her
Though I know from me she wants to escape
Fool I am, I won't accept my fate
So Iโฒm running and I'm so tired
Cant stop now cause she's got such a headstart
Anyday I know I am stepping to find
Another man holding what was mine
They say love can be so blind
And it can almost drive you out of your mind
Look at me an educated fool
Loving this woman made me bloat my cool
So Iโฒm running, trying to find her
Like a diesel on tracks behind her
Anyday I know I am stepping to find
Another man holding what once was mine
Still running, trying to get somewhere
Aaaaaaaah!
Still running momma, Still runing baby
Still trying to get it together, somehow I know
Let me tell you one more time
They say love can be so blind
And it can almost drive you out of your mind
Look at me an educated fool
Loving this woman made me bloat my cool
So Iโฒm running, running, running, running, running, running...
@the1stDJLowkey
Baby Huey is some super shweet music, such wonderfully heartfelt simple vocals and backed by some amazing musicians, they bring forth the sound and vibe of the inner cities and hoods of the 1970s with unsurpassed style.
@123qwe321ify
What a voice, what a man
@tuckerbingo2491
Such great musicians...
@michaelh1889
He missed the 'club' (27) by one year - GREAT TALENT !!! RIP, KID !!
@jennmagrey2834
Literally one of my favorite songs ever.
@justbroadway
Almost forgot about Baby Huey him and Buddy Miles were both off the charts. Thanks for the memories.