Goodman is also responsible for a significant step in racial integration in… Read Full Bio ↴Goodman is also responsible for a significant step in racial integration in America. In the early 1930s, black and white jazz musicians could not play together in most clubs or concerts. In the Southern states, racial segregation was enforced by the Jim Crow laws. Benny Goodman broke with tradition by hiring Teddy Wilson to play with him and drummer Gene Krupa in the Benny Goodman Trio. In 1936, he added Lionel Hampton on vibes to form the Benny Goodman Quartet.

Runnin' Wild
Benny Goodman Quartet Lyrics

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My gal and I, we had a fight
And I'm all by myself
I guess she thinks now that she's gone
I'll lay right on the shelf
I'm gonna show her she's all wrong
No lonesome stuff for mine
I won't sit home, all alone
She'll soon find that I'm

Runnin' wild, lost control
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Feelin' gay, reckless too
Care free mind all the time, never blue
Always goin' don't know where
Always showin', I don't care
Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild

When I first met that gal of mine
It seemed just like a dream
But when she tho't she had me right
She started actin' mean
Like mary led her little lamb
She led me all the time
Until the worm had to turn
That's the reason I'm

Runnin' wild, lost control
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Feelin' gay, reckless too
Care free mind all the time, never blue
Always goin' don't know where
Always showin', I don't care
Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild

No gal will ever make a fool of me
No gal! I mean just what I say
I ain't the simpleton I used to be
Wonder how I got that way

Once I was full of sentiment, it's true
But now I got a cruel heart
With all that other foolishness I'm through
Gonna play the Villain part

Runnin' wild, lost control
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Feelin' gay, reckless too
Care free mind all the time, never blue
Always goin' don't know where
Always showin', I don't care

Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Benny Goodman Quartet's song "Runnin' Wild" depict a man who has recently had a fight with his girlfriend and is now determined to prove to her that he can enjoy himself and be independent without her. He challenges the notion that his girlfriend thinks he will sit at home alone, sulking over their disagreement. Instead, he asserts that he is "runnin' wild, lost control," and feeling "gay, reckless too." He proclaims that he won't be fooled by any woman again and he's done with sentimental feelings. He plans to play the villain and be carefree, never showing emotional attachment to anyone again.

The song highlights the man's newfound liberation and freedom from his former sentimental attitudes. He relishes in his independence and decides to embrace his wild side by living recklessly without fear of being tied down by anyone. The upbeat tempo and playful melody add to the light, carefree character of the song, reflecting the man's newfound sense of joy and liberation.

Line by Line Meaning

My gal and I, we had a fight
My girlfriend and I got into an argument

And I'm all by myself
I am alone now

I guess she thinks now that she's gone
I assume she believes that now she has left

I'll lay right on the shelf
That I'll be sad and mope around

I'm gonna show her she's all wrong
I will prove her wrong

No lonesome stuff for mine
I refuse to be lonely

I won't sit home, all alone
I will not stay at home by myself

She'll soon find that I'm
She'll realize that I am

Runnin' wild, lost control
Acting impulsively and without restraint

Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Making bold decisions and taking risks

Feelin' gay, reckless too
Feeling carefree and taking unwise risks

Care free mind all the time, never blue
Having a happy and worry-free mentality, never feeling sad

Always goin' don't know where
I'm always on the move without a destination

Always showin', I don't care
I don't care about anything and am always showing it

Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
I don't love anyone because it's not worth it

All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild
I am alone and acting recklessly

When I first met that gal of mine
When I first met my girlfriend

It seemed just like a dream
It felt like a perfect dream come true

But when she tho't she had me right
When she thought she had a hold on me

She started actin' mean
She started to behave rudely and unkindly

Like mary led her little lamb
She was leading me around like I was helpless

She led me all the time
She was always in control

Until the worm had to turn
Until I reached my breaking point

That's the reason I'm
That's why I am

No gal will ever make a fool of me
No woman will ever make me look foolish

No gal! I mean just what I say
Absolutely no woman will be able to make a fool out of me

I ain't the simpleton I used to be
I am no longer the naive person I once was

Wonder how I got that way
I am curious as to how I became this way

Once I was full of sentiment, it's true
There was a time when I was overly sentimental

But now I got a cruel heart
Now I have become heartless

With all that other foolishness I'm through
I'm done with all that foolish behavior

Gonna play the Villain part
I will act like the bad guy now

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR GIBBS, ARTHUR HARRINGTON GIBBS, JOSEPH GREY, JOSEPH W GREY, LEO WOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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