Running Wild
Coleman Hawkins 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 song "Running Wild" by Coleman Hawkins describes a man who has been left alone after a fight with his girlfriend. He is determined to show her that he is not going to sit at home and be lonely. He starts running wild, living his life carefree and without any commitment. He is enjoying his newfound freedom and is feeling gay and reckless. The song showcases the singer's confidence as he proudly proclaims that no girl will ever make a fool of him.


The lyrics suggest a sense of liberation and defiance. The singer is determined to take control of his life and not let anyone else dictate his actions. The line "Don't love nobody, it's not worth while" shows that he has become disillusioned with love and relationships. The song is also an ode to the Roaring Twenties, a time when people lived life to the fullest and broke free from traditional norms.


Line by Line Meaning

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


And I'm all by myself
I am alone now


I guess she thinks now that she's gone
She probably thinks I'll be lonely without her


I'll lay right on the shelf
But I won't be idle or distressed


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


No lonesome stuff for mine
I won't be lonely like she expects me to be


I won't sit home, all alone
I won't stay at home feeling sad and lost


She'll soon find that I'm
She will see that I am


Runnin' wild, lost control
I am living recklessly and impulsively


Runnin' wild, mighty bold
I am bold and daring


Feelin' gay, reckless too
I am carefree and enjoying myself


Care free mind all the time, never blue
I am never unhappy, my mind is free from worries


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


Always showin', I don't care
I am constantly showing that I don't care about anything or anyone


Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
I don't love anybody, it's not worth the effort


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


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


It seemed just like a dream
It felt perfect and ideal


But when she tho't she had me right
But when she thought she had me figured out


She started actin' mean
She began to act unkindly towards me


Like mary led her little lamb
She used to lead me blindly


She led me all the time
She used to control me all the time


Until the worm had to turn
Until I had to stand up to her


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


No gal will ever make a fool of me
No woman will ever take advantage of me again


No gal! I mean just what I say
I mean it when I say no woman will be able to control or manipulate me


I ain't the simpleton I used to be
I am no longer naive or gullible


Wonder how I got that way
I'm not sure how I changed


Once I was full of sentiment, it's true
I used to be sentimental and emotional


But now I got a cruel heart
But now I have grown cold and unfeeling


With all that other foolishness I'm through
I am done with all that other foolishness, like love and sentimentality


Gonna play the Villain part
I am going to play the role of the villain in this situation




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARTHUR GIBBS, ARTHUR HARRINGTON GIBBS, JOSEPH GREY, JOSEPH W GREY, LEO WOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Eduardo Souza

O maior de todos os Saxofonistas de todos os tempos

Sista Coopie

Earl Knight ?OMG! I'm in love!! lol

Kikko Zanaboni

this tune is not RUNNING WILD , that is a very fast tempo

Joe Carbery

This is "I'll String Along With You."

John Rothfield

Not Gibbs Runnin Wild.

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