The track released in 1983 was recorded in 1982 by Jon Bon Jovi and a group of studio musicians known as "The All Star Review," which included Hugh McDonald (bass), Tim Pierce (guitar) and Roy Bittan (keyboards). The keyboard intro was written by Mick Seeley, then of John Bongiovi and the Wild One's and later with Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes.
In 1983, local radio station WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple" had a contest, held in conjunction with St. John's University, to search for the best unsigned band. After the song won the contest, it became an instant hit in the summer of 1983.
Runaway was later released as the first single from the album Bon Jovi. It hit the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 at #39 in early-1984 and became the band's first Top 40 hit in US. It should also be noted that it is the only song from the bands' first two albums that is still performed live. In recent live performances, frontman and occasional rhythm guitarist Jon Bon Jovi has been known to do a short guitar solo near the end of the song, something which he has rarely (if ever) done before onstage.
A dance/club remake of "Runaway" was released in July 2008 by "DJ Freddy Retro featuring Jim Davis Jr." on Casa Records.
The song was recently featured on a MasterCard commercial. Runaway was recently featured in Paul Blart: Mall Cop.
Runaway
Bon Jovi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girls talk about their social lives
They're made of lipstick, plastic and paint
A touch of sable in their eyes
(All your life) all your life all you've asked
When's your daddy gonna talk to you?
But you were living in another world
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going around your head
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things she couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
Take a line line every night
Guaranteed to blow your mind
I see you out on the streets
Calling for a wild time
So you sit home alone
'Cause there's nothing left that you can do
There's only pictures hung in the shadows
Left there to look at you
You know she likes the lights
At night on the neon Broadway signs
She don't really mind
It's only love she hoped to find
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things she couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes (seen it in your eyes)
What was going around your head
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things she couldn't say
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
Now she works the night away
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things she couldn't say
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
Now she works the night away
Bon Jovi’s song Runaway reflects the struggles of a young woman who feels alone and misunderstood. The song opens with a vivid description of the girl’s surroundings, as the streets are lined with girls who are focused on their appearances, made up with lipstick, plastic, and paint. This contrasts starkly with the girl’s experience, as she seems to be searching for something deeper and more meaningful. She grew up longing for her father’s attention, but now, as the song suggests, he is absent, leaving her to navigate a confusing and often unkind world alone.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the girl’s sense of displacement, as she becomes a "little runaway" who has "learned fast" how to survive on her own. Her story is not unusual, as many young people feel unheard and disconnected from the world around them. The song suggests that there is a deep human need for love and belonging, which is often undermined by the superficiality of modern life. By telling this story, Bon Jovi invites listeners to consider the costs of societal pressures, and the importance of empathy and understanding in helping young people feel valued and supported.
Overall, Runaway is a poignant and evocative song that vividly captures the experiences of a young woman searching for meaning and connection. The simple but powerful lyrics and catchy melody make it a classic 80s tune that is sure to resonate with anyone who has felt different or alone.
Line by Line Meaning
On the street where you live girls talk about their social lives
Girls in your neighborhood discuss their social activities.
They're made of lipstick, plastic and paint
These girls wear heavy makeup and have a glamorized appearance.
A touch of sable in their eyes
Their eyes have a tinge of black, giving them a mysterious look.
All your life all you asked when is your Daddy gonna talk to you
Throughout your entire existence, you wondered when your father would communicate with you.
But we're living in another world tryin' to get your message through
Your father and you are living in different environments and are finding it challenging to communicate effectively.
No one heard a single word you said
Nobody listened to anything you uttered.
They should have seen it in your eyes
They should have read your thoughts and emotions from the expressions on your face.
What was going around your head
What thoughts were going through your mind at the time?
Oh, she's a little runaway
The girl referred to in the song is a runaway.
Daddy's girl learned fast
She is a young woman who learned to grow up quickly in life.
All those things he couldn't say
There were some things that her father never communicated to her.
A different line every night
She meets a different person each night.
Guaranteed to blow your mind
She is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on those she meets.
See you out on the streets
She will meet you on the street.
Call me for a wild time
Contact her if you want to have an exciting experience.
So you sit home alone
You end up feeling lonely at home.
Cause' there's nothing left that you can do
There is nothing left for you to do to alleviate your loneliness.
There's only pictures hung in the shadows
All that's left in your life are pictures hanging in the dark corners of your home.
Left there to look at you
These pictures remain to remind you of the past and watch over you.
You know she likes the lights
She enjoys the colorful lights on Broadway at night.
At night on the neon Broadway signs
She is particularly fond of the illuminated signs on Broadway at night.
And she don't really mind
The girl in question isn't too concerned about other people's opinions.
It's only love she hoped to find
All she seeks is to find love.
No one heard a single word you said
Again, nobody paid attention to what you said.
They should have seen it in your eyes
People around you should have interpreted your thoughts and emotions by reading your eyes.
What was going on your head
What thoughts were running through your mind at the time?
Oh, she's a little runaway
The girl being discussed is a runaway.
Daddy's girl learned fast
She is a girl who learned to be independent quickly due to her father's absence in her life.
All those things he couldn't say
Her father left much unsaid and not communicated with her.
Ooh, she's a little runaway
The girl in question is a runaway who seeks to escape her problems in life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Nick Karakoglou, Jon Bon Jovi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@klavicartorres
LYRICS:
On the street where you live
Girls talk about their social lives
They're made of lipstick, plastic and paint
A touch of sable in their eyes
all your life all you've asked
When's your Daddy gonna talk to you?
But you were living in another world
Trying to get your message through
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going around your head
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things she couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
Take a line line every night
Guaranteed to blow your mind
I see you out on the streets
Calling for a wild time
So you sit home alone
'Cause there's nothing left that you can do
There's only pictures hung in the shadows
Left there to look at you
You know she likes the lights
At night on the neon Broadway signs
She don't really mind
It's only love she hoped to find
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things she couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes (seen it in your eyes)
What was going around your head
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things she couldn't say
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
Now she works the night away
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things she couldn't say
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
Now she works the night away
@iwanas7861
Lyrics :
On the street where you live girls talk about their social lives
They're made of lipstick, plastic and paint
A touch of sable in their eyes
All your life all you asked
When is your Daddy gonna talk to you
But we're living in another world
Tryin' to get your message through
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going around your head
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
A different line every night
Guaranteed to blow your mind
See you out on the streets
Call me for a wild time
So you sit home alone
'Cause there's nothing left that you can do
There's only pictures hung in the shadows
Left there to look at you
You know she likes the lights
At night on the neon Broadway signs
And she don't really mind
Its only love she hoped to find
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going on your head
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
@MariaFlores-xv7fx
Letra:
On the street where you live girls talk about their social lives
They're made of lipstick, plastic and paint
A touch of sable in their eyes
All your life all you asked
When is your Daddy gonna talk to you
But we're living in another world
Tryin' to get your message through
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going around your head
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
A different line every night
Guaranteed to blow your mind
See you out on the streets
Call me for a wild time
So you sit home alone
'Cause there's nothing left that you can do
There's only pictures hung in the shadows
Left there to look at you
You know she likes the lights
At night on the neon Broadway signs
And she don't really mind
Its only love she hoped to find
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going on your head
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
@sholehmahfudin4408
"Runaway"
On the street where you live girls talk about their social lives
They're made of lipstick, plastic and paint, a touch of sable in their eyes
All your life, all your life all you've asked when's your daddy gonna talk to you
But you were living in another world tryin' to get your message through.
No one heard a single word you said.
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going around your head.
Ooh, she's a little runaway.
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say.
Ooh, she's a little runaway.
A different line every night guaranteed to blow your mind
I see you out on the streets, calling for a wild time
So you sit home alone 'cause there's nothing left that you can do
There's only pictures hung in the shadows left there to look at you
You know she likes the lights at night on the neon Broadway signs
She don't really mind, it's only love she hoped to find
Ooh, she's a little runaway.
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say.
Ooh, she's a little runaway.
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going around your head.
Ooh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
Now she works the night away
Ooh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
Now she works the night away
@vurkroix1751
On the street where you live girls talk about their social lives
They're made of lipstick, plastic and paint, a touch of sable in their eyes
All your life, all your life all you've asked when's your daddy gonna talk to you
But you were living in another world tryin' to get your message through.
No one heard a single word you said.
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going around your head.
Ooh, she's a little runaway.
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say.
Ooh, she's a little runaway.
A different line every night guaranteed to blow your mind
I see you out on the streets, calling for a wild time
So you sit home alone 'cause there's nothing left that you can do
There's only pictures hung in the shadows left there to look at you
You know she likes the lights at night on the neon Broadway signs
She don't really mind, it's only love she hoped to find
Ooh, she's a little runaway.
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say.
Ooh, she's a little runaway.
(Guitar duo and drums)
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going around your head.
Ooh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
Now she works the night away
Ooh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
Now she works the night away
@eduardvarzari1839
On the street where you live girls talk about their social lives
They're made of lipstick, plastic and paint
A touch of sable in their eyes
All your life all you asked
When is your Daddy gonna talk to you
But we're living in another world
Tryin' to get your message through
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going around your head
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
A different line every night
Guaranteed to blow your mind
See you out on the streets
Call me for a wild time
So you sit home alone
'Cause there's nothing left that you can do
There's only pictures hung in the shadows
Left there to look at you
You know she likes the lights
At night on the neon Broadway signs
And she don't really mind
Its only love she hoped to find
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
No one heard a single word you said
They should have seen it in your eyes
What was going on your head
Oh, she's a little runaway
Daddy's girl learned fast
All those things he couldn't say
Ooh, she's a little runaway
@martinkuliza
Jackson The Epic I'll take your 5days of silence as a "NO" lol
now, we can go back to being freinds ok
on a serious note though.
i'm not one to hate,
but..
the point was,
don't abuse people before you have the facts .. ok
be cool
@roberttaylor9869
How many people listening to this in 2024
@user-yz6lk2ov4g
저요 저요!!
@robparkinson9850
several
@sonjadencic2024
Me too😊
@user-du3gq9mt9u
Me! I’m listening to it because it turns 40 today!
@dgosset77
THE BEST MUSIC AND SOUND NEVER DIES EVEN AFTER 40 YEARS !!!!!!!
@maticoronel5042
lets see how many people are watching this in 2021🙌🏼
@ivanperezvilluendas4008
Me
@jasminalibegic230
Me
@ivanapacheco2299
Yo bostero 😁