Wellstood played with Bob Wilber's Wildcats in 1946, and became a mainstay on the trad jazz scene, playing with Sidney Bechet in 1947 and in the 1950s with Jimmy Archey, Conrad Janis, Roy Eldridge, Rex Stewart, Charlie Shavers, and Eddie Condon. He was the house pianist at New York City clubs Metropole and Nick's in the late 1950s and 1960s. He played with Gene Krupa in South America in 1965 and later joined the World's Greatest Jazz Band. He played locally in the 1970s and studied law, briefly going into practice in the 1980s. In the 1980s he also played often with Kenny Davern.
Runnin
Dick Wellstood Lyrics
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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
The song "Runnin' Wild" by Dick Wellstood tells the story of a man who is left alone by his girlfriend after they have had a fight. He decides he will show her that he's a strong, independent man who doesn't need her by acting reckless, carefree, and wild. He insists that he's not upset about her leaving and that he enjoys living without rules or commitment. The lyrics are full of the bravado and exaggerated confidence of someone who is trying to prove something to someone else. The song ends with the man declaring that he will never let another woman make a fool of him.
The lyrics of "Runnin' Wild" have a clear message of independence and self-reliance, but they also reveal a vulnerability and a complex set of emotions underlying the bravado. The man is trying to prove to his girlfriend that he's not upset about their fight and that he doesn't need her, but his words suggest that he is hurting and trying to cope with his feelings of rejection. By acting wild and reckless, he is trying to distract himself from his pain and convince himself that he's better off without her. However, the last line of the song ("All alone, runnin' wild") suggests that he may not be as sure of himself as he wants to appear.
Line by Line Meaning
My gal and I, we had a fight
I had an argument with my girlfriend
And I'm all by myself
I am alone after the fight
I guess she thinks now that she's gone
She probably assumes that I will be upset and inactive after she left
I'll lay right on the shelf
She assumes I'd remain inactive and spend my time indoors
I'm gonna show her she's all wrong
I will prove her assessment of me is incorrect
No lonesome stuff for mine
I won't be sad and alone
I won't sit home, all alone
I won't only stay inside
She'll soon find that I'm
She will soon discover that I am
Runnin' wild, lost control
I will behave recklessly and without reservation
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
I am fearless and daring
Feelin' gay, reckless too
I feel joyful and impulsive
Care free mind all the time, never blue
I have no worries and never feel sad
Always goin' don't know where
I am always on the move with no destination in mind
Always showin', I don't care
I will always present myself to others knowing that their opinions of me do not matter
Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
I will not fall in love with anyone again as it is not worth it to me
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild
Ultimately, I am by myself and living recklessly
When I first met that gal of mine
When I first met my girlfriend
It seemed just like a dream
It seemed to me that it was too good to be true
But when she tho't she had me right
But when she thought she had control over me
She started actin' mean
She began to treat me poorly
Like mary led her little lamb
She led me around like a follower
She led me all the time
She had complete control over me
Until the worm had to turn
Until I finally stood up for myself
That's the reason I'm
That is why I am
No gal will ever make a fool of me
I will never let another woman make a fool of me again
No gal! I mean just what I say
I am serious about it
I ain't the simpleton I used to be
I am no longer naive and easily manipulated
Wonder how I got that way
I am not sure how I became different now
Once I was full of sentiment, it's true
I used to be very sentimental
But now I got a cruel heart
Now I am ruthless
With all that other foolishness I'm through
I am done with all the other foolish things
Gonna play the Villain part
I am going to be the antagonist
Lyrics © 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