The "classic" lineup of Jefferson Airplane, from October 1966 to February 1970, was Marty Balin (vocals), Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals), Grace Slick (vocals), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Casady (bass), and Spencer Dryden (drums). Marty Balin left the band in 1971. After 1972, Jefferson Airplane effectively split into two groups. Kaukonen and Casady moved on full time to their own band, Hot Tuna. Slick, Kantner, and the remaining members of Jefferson Airplane recruited new members and regrouped as Jefferson Starship in 1974, with Marty Balin eventually joining them. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and was presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Spencer Dryden died on January 11, 2005.
Both Signe Anderson and Paul Kantner died on January 28, 2016.
Marty Balin died on September 27, 2018
Run Around
Jefferson Airplane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't look and for me to go your way
You left me here with out anything to love
I'll tell you
I've had enough of your hands running round my brain,
And I've had have enough of the way that you cause me pain
So slow down, run around your other side,
Walk with me instead tonight
Ahh girl, I need more of the times that you turned me round
And there's no time to turn away love I've found
So couldn't we forget about today, start again from where we were
We use to dance out to space without a care
And our laughter come ringing and singing we rolled round the music,
Blinded by colors come crashing from flowers that sway as you stay here by me
Slow down, run around
Your love is soft
Walk with me instead tonight
We could be near like we use to be before
Ahh girl, I need more of the times that you turned me round
And there's no time to turn away love I've found
Run around
Lifetime run around
Don't look back and for me to go your way
You left me here with out anything to love
I'll tell you
I've had enough of your hands running round my brain,
And I've had have enough of the way that you cause me pain
Well run around.
The lyrics to Jefferson Airplane's "Run Around" express a desire for a past relationship to be rekindled. The singer is frustrated with their partner's indecision and wants them to slow down and walk with them instead of running around with other people. They reminisce about the times when they were happy together and long for those feelings to return. The song seems to be about the struggle to hold on to a relationship in the face of temptation and the desire to go back to a simpler, happier time.
One interesting interpretation of this song is that it may be a response to the Rolling Stones' hit "Satisfaction," in which Mick Jagger sings about his frustration with the world around him. In contrast, Jefferson Airplane's song is more introspective and focuses on the singer's own personal struggles. The song also features a catchy chorus and strong vocal harmonies, which are characteristic of Jefferson Airplane's psychedelic rock sound.
Line by Line Meaning
One time, run around,
Let's take a chance and go on an adventure.
Don't look and for me to go your way
Let's not plan, let's just go with the flow.
You left me here with out anything to love
You abandoned me and I feel alone.
I'll tell you
I need to share my feelings with you.
I've had enough of your hands running round my brain,
I'm tired of being controlled by your actions.
And I've had have enough of the way that you cause me pain
You hurt me and I can't take it anymore.
So slow down, run around your other side,
Let's take a different approach to our relationship.
Walk with me instead tonight
Let's spend time together and connect.
We could be near like we use to be before
Let's bring back the closeness we once had.
Ahh girl, I need more of the times that you turned me round
I miss the moments when you made me feel alive.
And there's no time to turn away love I've found
We can't give up on love, we need to work on our relationship.
So couldn't we forget about today, start again from where we were
Let's move on from our past mistakes and start fresh.
We use to dance out to space without a care
We used to be carefree and happy together.
And our laughter come ringing and singing we rolled round the music,
We used to have fun together, enjoying music and each other's company.
Blinded by colors come crashing from flowers that sway as you stay here by me
We were so in love that the world around us seemed more vibrant and beautiful.
Run around
Let's keep moving forward and not dwell on the past.
Lifetime run around
Our relationship is a journey and we need to keep moving forward.
Well run around.
Let's continue to explore our relationship and take risks together.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARTYN J BUCHWALD, PAUL L KANTNER, ALEXANDER LEE SPENCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PaulandNature
Sigh. I love this stuff. Absolutely unique sound. Paul and Signe, you are missed. Thank you so much.
Bill Poulos
This is my FAVORITE Airplane tune of all time!! Guitars, bass, vocals, drums, sound, Everything! Why wasn't, and why isn't this song ever played on the radio??!!?!?!?? Yes, Marty Rocks! Jorma Rocks! Paul Rocks! etc.
Gringo Star
Takes Off is possibly one of the most perfect albums ever. Alongside the Grateful Dead's "Live/Dead" and the Ramones' "Ramones," I have not skipped a single track on this album in the entirety I've owned it.
Pseudo Smith
This one is intense. Oh the bass.
Ronald Bittner
Casady was the star of this album and really of "Crown of Creation" in 1968 too. Why Jerry Garcia mixed him down in "Surrealistic Pillow" is something I'll never understand.
Robert Pattison
nailed it!! Jack's killin it
TheDman216
that rubber band bass sound
Antarblue
I've been wanting to cover this song since I heard JA do it live at the old Fillmore in SF and on this album in '66! I checked on it recently; the meter of this song is very challenging! It has measures of 3 grouped with ones of 4 creating an impression of 7/4 at times and 11/4! That accounts for the shift into offbeat vocals at the chorus. Yikes! A nightmare for drum machine. But I'll find a way.
lilic1
What a great song...Marty is great! My fav song from the album "JA Takes Off". Thanks for the add.
woodledog
One of their best