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
Runnin' 'Round This World
Jefferson Airplane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying not to see but now we're free of them
I understand what I understood before
But loving you has made me understand much more
Is it the music in your heart I love so much
Is it the rainbows of your smile I love to touch
There are red flowers in each kiss upon your lips
Well, I've seen you in a thousand dreams
Many, many days
Without your love around
I'm gonna lose my way and you'll lose yours
You know what's happening you can't sleep or think now
Shadows they are lifted off of you
We can walk and love where we want to
Well, I've seen you in a thousand dreams
Many, many days
Without your love around
I'm gonna lose my way and you'll lose yours
You know what's happening you can't sleep or think now
Shadows they are lifted off of you
We can walk and love where we want to
In Jefferson Airplane's song "Runnin' Round This World," the singer acknowledges that they have been living life in a way that has been too chaotic and frantic. They have been running around the world so much that they have been unable to see clearly, but now they are free from those constraints. The singer then talks about how they have come to understand the world more since they have been in love with the person they are addressing. The singer is trying to understand the reasons why they love this individual so much. The music in the person's heart is something they adore, and they love the way their smile is like a rainbow they can touch. The singer describes their companion's kisses with similes that compare them to red flowers. The moments they have spent together have been fantastic trips.
The singer has experienced multiple dreams in which they have seen their companion over a period of many days. Without their love, they feel as if they are going to lose their way, and their companion will be lost as well. The singer knows that they are both aware of what is happening between them and that they can't sleep or think properly. However, they are finally free from the shadows that had been hanging over them, and they can now walk and love wherever they choose. The song seems to celebrate the freedom to love and to live life unencumbered.
Line by Line Meaning
We've been runnin' round this world too much, girl
We have been traveling this world excessively and aimlessly, my dear.
Trying not to see but now we're free of them
We were attempting to avoid something, but we are now liberated from it.
I understand what I understood before
I comprehend what I previously comprehended.
But loving you has made me understand much more
However, my affection for you has enabled me to comprehend even more.
Is it the music in your heart I love so much
Do I cherish the melody within your heart?
Is it the rainbows of your smile I love to touch
Or do I adore the radiant colors of your grin that I want to feel?
There are red flowers in each kiss upon your lips
Every single kiss on your lips contains red flowers.
The times I've spent with you have been fantastic trips
The moments spent with you have been incredible adventures.
Well, I've seen you in a thousand dreams
I have envisioned you in numerous dreams.
Many, many days
For many days.
Without your love around
When I lacked your affection.
I'm gonna lose my way and you'll lose yours
I will lose my path, and you will lose yours, with your love gone.
You know what's happening you can't sleep or think now
You are aware of the current circumstances, and it impairs your ability to sleep or think.
Shadows they are lifted off of you
The shadows have been eliminated from around you.
We can walk and love where we want to
We have the freedom to wander and love wherever we choose.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, MARYANN SARAH SHELLEY MUSIC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER LEE SPENCE, MARTYN J. BUCHWALD, PAUL L KANTNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SharonAnne N
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Oh, c'mon. Can't people post 'trips' nowadays. Or are our tender minds still to innocent?
(15 Jul 2020):
I came back here to listen again and to read the Comments.
My album were the complete, un-edited versions.
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Mike Goslar
Marty's singing gives me goosebumps.
56dinosaur
This is the re-make that was released for the first time on a 1996 U.S.A. CD of "Takes Off". Because the sessions were recorded on 3-track and the vocals weren't isolated to one track, the group couldn't simply re-do the vocals to create censored versions. The "censored" takes of "Run Around", "Let Me In" & "Runnin' 'Round This World" are total re-makes. Yes, this means that RCA Records rejected both the uncensored & censored takes of "Running' 'Round This World" for the nationwide L.P.
67psych3
still cant get over Marty passing away this year 2019.
Gregory Albert
Required Listening...along with the other outtakes and additional songs. Excellent writing, composition, singing, and simple recording. Amazing Album mono stereo.
Gregory Albert
Listen the live performance recordings from this time period with Signe and Grace. Skip Spence is on drums and writes some songs as well.
Jeff Thompson
Oh wow I forgot how good this album was....thanks!
P. S.
Jefferson airplane is my Life. This song is beautyful
Rebecca' Dale
these people were blessed with gift of talent to sing rockin roll it's very nice so was born In August of 1964
56dinosaur
Yes "Early Flight" does have the original version, but in fake stereo. A true stereo mix of that take DOES exist, but only on vinyl, and there are only three copies of the original stereo "Takes Off" L.P. known to exist. Most copies of the first pressing stereo & mono "Takes off" L.P. were destroyed at the pressing plant. A second edition(without "Runnin' Round This World", but still with the uncensored "Run Around" & "Let Me In") was sold locally in San Francisco.
eoj2495
Used to have a mono copy of this and surrealistic pillow. (back then the mono was a buck or so cheaper). My two favorite albums of all time, so thanks for keeping these wonderful songs out there.