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Going To The Run
Golden Earring Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I could bet on new-years eve
He'd call me up at night
From the other side of the world
Ed was always there alright
Ed's got the looks of a movie star
Ed's got the smile of a prince
He ride a bike instead of a car
I want to be his friend

Dancing in the living room
With the ladies so nice
Like a child with a wisdom tooth
He's just a friend of mine
Ed's got the rings and the colors
Ed's got the wind in his hair
He goes a riding with the brothers
He's got a fist in the air

Going to the run, run Angel
Going to the run, run Angel
Well, heaven and hell came together that night
Only for you this time
Going to the run, forever Angel

One summer at the festival
Holding on real tight
On the back of a Harley
He took me for a ride in the sky
Ed's got the looks of a movie star
Ed's got the smile of a prince
He'd ride a bike instead of a car
I'll always be his friend

Going to the run, run Angel
Going to the run, run Angel
And his wings started to shine so bright
Like a fire in the night
Going to the run, forever Angel

Going to the run, run Angel
Forever going to the run, run Angel
Well, heaven and hell came together that night
Only for you this time
Going to the run, forever Angel

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Golden Earring’s song “Going to the Run” describe the deep admiration and love that the singer has for their friend Ed. From the opening lines, it is clear that Ed is a constant presence in the singer’s life, even when he is on the other side of the world. The lyrics paint a picture of a charismatic and attractive man, who rides a motorbike and is loved by many. Ed is described as having the looks of a movie star and the smile of a prince, but it is clear that the singer’s feelings for him go beyond just physical attraction. The singer wants to be Ed’s friend and spend time with him, dancing in the living room with other women who admire him, but ultimately acknowledging that he is just a friend. The lyrics take a more emotional turn when the singer describes one summer at a festival where Ed took them on a ride on his Harley, and they saw a brighter side of him that shone like fire in the night. The song ends with the singer reassuring Ed that they will always be his friend and they will continue to go to the run together as angels.


One interesting fact about “Going to the Run” is that it was the first single released from Golden Earring’s 1991 album “Bloody Buccaneers”. The song was a massive hit, reaching the top 10 in the Netherlands and several other European countries. The music video, which was directed by Dick Maas, features images of the band riding motorcycles and performing in a desolate, post-apocalyptic setting. It was released in 1991 and became an instant classic. The song was also featured on the soundtrack of several movies, including “Rad” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”.


Another interesting fact is that the song was not originally intended to be about Ed or anyone in particular. According to Golden Earring guitarist George Kooymans, the song was inspired by the 1990 Rotterdam Marathon, which ended in the stadium of the local soccer team Feyenoord. The band decided to write a song about running, and the lyrics eventually evolved into a tribute to friendship and loyalty. Once the band came up with the line “Going to the run”, they decided to make that the title of the song. The song was then rewritten to be more explicit about the singer’s feelings for Ed.


Line by Line Meaning

I could bet on new-years eve
I was confident that Ed would call me


He'd call me up at night
Ed used to call me during the night


From the other side of the world
Ed was far away in another continent


Ed was always there alright
Ed was dependable and always available


Ed's got the looks of a movie star
Ed is very good-looking, like an actor


Ed's got the smile of a prince
Ed has a charming and friendly smile


He ride a bike instead of a car
Ed prefers to ride a motorcycle as his means of transportation


I want to be his friend
I desire to have a close friendship with Ed


Dancing in the living room
We were dancing in the comfort of his home


With the ladies so nice
There were women present who were pleasant and enjoyable to be with


Like a child with a wisdom tooth
He was like a kid who's still waiting for his tooth to grow out


He's just a friend of mine
Ed is someone close to me, but we don't have a romantic relationship


Ed's got the rings and the colors
Ed has jewelry and accessories that are extravagant and colorful


Ed's got the wind in his hair
The air is blowing through Ed's long hair while he rides his motorcycle


He goes a riding with the brothers
Ed rides with fellow motorcycle enthusiasts


He's got a fist in the air
He's showing support with a fist pump


Going to the run, run Angel
We're on our way to somewhere, my dear Ed


Well, heaven and hell came together that night
Something miraculous happened that evening


Only for you this time
This experience happened just for you, Ed


Going to the run, forever Angel
We will keep going to where we want to be together, Ed


One summer at the festival
During a festival in the summer


Holding on real tight
I was holding onto Ed tightly for safety


On the back of a Harley
We're riding on the back of Ed's Harley-Davidson motorcycle


He took me for a ride in the sky
Ed made me feel like we were soaring through the air


And his wings started to shine so bright
Ed's energy and aura became more pronounced and noticeable


Like a fire in the night
His passion was like a flame that lit up the darkness


Forever going to the run, run Angel
We will always keep running to where we want to be together, Ed




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY HAY, GEORGE KOOYMANS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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