In September 1938, the Miller band began making recordings for the RCA Victor Bluebird Records subsidiary. In the spring of 1939, the band's fortunes improved with a date at the Meadowbrook Ballroom in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, and more dramatically at the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York. With the Glen Island date, the band began a huge rise in popularity. In 1939, Time magazine noted: "Of the twelve to 24 discs in each of today's 300,000 U.S. jukeboxes, from two to six are usually Glenn Miller's." There were record-breaking recordings such as "Tuxedo Junction", which sold 115,000 copies in the first week. 1939's huge success culminated with the Miller band in concert at Carnegie Hall on October 6, with Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, and Fred Waring also the main attractions.
From 1939 to 1942, Miller's band was featured three times a week during a broadcast for Chesterfield cigarettes, originally with the Andrews Sisters and then on its own. On February 10, 1942, RCA Victor presented Miller with the first gold record for "Chattanooga Choo-Choo". "Chattanooga Choo Choo" was performed by the Miller orchestra with his singers Gordon "Tex" Beneke, Paula Kelly and the vocal group, the Modernaires. Other singers with this orchestra included Marion Hutton, Skip Nelson, Ray Eberle and to a smaller extent, Kay Starr, Ernie Caceres, Dorothy Claire and Jack Lathrop. Pat Friday ghost sang with the Miller band in Sun Valley Serenade and Orchestra Wives with Lynn Bari lip synching.
Runnin
Glenn Miller & His Orchestra 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
In "Runnin' Wild," the singer has just had a fight with his girlfriend and is now alone, but he's not about to let her think that he's unhappy without her. He plans to show her that he's not sitting at home and moping, but is instead "runnin' wild." He proclaims that he is "lost control" and is "mighty bold" as he lives his life carefree and reckless. He doesn't love anybody, insisting that it's not worth it, and seems to revel in his newfound freedom.
The song is essentially an anthem for those who refuse to be held down by relationships and crave independence. The singer is determined to prove his ex-girlfriend wrong and show her that he's just fine on his own. He's not wallowing in self-pity and isn't going to allow her to make a "fool" out of him again. Instead, he's embracing his newfound freedom and reveling in it.
Line by Line Meaning
My gal and I, we had a fight
I had a disagreement with my girlfriend.
And I'm all by myself
Now I am alone.
I guess she thinks now that she's gone
I believe she thinks I can't do without her.
I'll lay right on the shelf
That I will be inactive and stay at home.
I'm gonna show her she's all wrong
I plan to prove her wrong.
No lonesome stuff for mine
I don't want to feel lonely.
I won't sit home, all alone
I won't stay home by myself.
She'll soon find that I'm
She will realize that I am
Runnin' wild, lost control
I am becoming wild and reckless.
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
I am very brave in my recklessness.
Feelin' gay, reckless too
I feel happy and carefree in my recklessness.
Care free mind all the time, never blue
I never feel sad or worried.
Always goin' don't know where
I am constantly moving without direction.
Always showin', I don't care
I am always displaying my lack of concern.
Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
I don't find loving anyone worthwhile.
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild
I am running wild and reckless all by myself.
When I first met that gal of mine
When I first met my girlfriend
It seemed just like a dream
It felt like a fairytale.
But when she tho't she had me right
When she believed she had control over me.
She started actin' mean
She started being cruel to me.
Like mary led her little lamb
Like I was her pet or subordinate.
She led me all the time
She was always in control.
Until the worm had to turn
Until I reached my limit.
That's the reason I'm
That's why I am
No gal will ever make a fool of me
I won't let any woman make me look foolish.
No gal! I mean just what I say
I am serious about my statement.
I ain't the simpleton I used to be
I am no longer naive and gullible.
Wonder how I got that way
I don't know how I became this way.
Once I was full of sentiment, it's true
I was once very romantic and emotional.
But now I got a cruel heart
But now I have a heart that is void of compassion.
With all that other foolishness I'm through
I am done with all the other foolishness.
Gonna play the Villain part
I am going to act like the bad guy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR GIBBS, ARTHUR HARRINGTON GIBBS, JOSEPH GREY, JOSEPH W GREY, LEO WOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind