Shortly after that, with Kenny's assistance, Joan formed the backing group "The Blackhearts" with three obscure New York area musicians: Gary Ryan on bass, Eric Ambel (replaced shortly thereafter by Rick Byrd) on guitar and Lee Crystal on drums. After almost a year of touring, Joan's first album with The Blackhearts, entitled I Love Rock'N'Roll came out in December of 1981. The album included a version of "Little Drummer Boy" on the pre-Christmas editions. The album's impact on the music scene was immediate with the LP reaching the Top Five, while the single "I Love Rock'n'Roll" hit the very top of the Billboard's Charts on March 20, 1982 and stayed #1 for 7 weeks. Joan Jett had come back from nowhere.
A string of Top 40 hits followed, as well as sellout tours with The Police, Queen, and Aerosmith, among others. Jett was the second American act of any kind to perform behind the Iron Curtain, the first one being Blood, Sweat & Tears in Romania in 1969. She was among the first English-speaking rock acts to appear in Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Forced label changes in the 80's led to a decline in popularity. Despite the follow-up albums "Album" and "Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth" being praised by her devout fans, neither got the attention or radio play the first two albums received.
After receiving her own MTV New Year's Eve special, Jett beat out a number of contenders to appear in the movie Light of Day with Michael J. Fox. It was about this time that Ryan and Crystal left the Blackhearts. They were soon replaced by the powerful rhythm section of Thommy Price and Kasim Sulton. Later that year, Jett released "Good Music", which featured appearances by The Beach Boys, The Sugarhill Gang and singer Darlene Love. The album only spawned two minor singles which received little airplay. This label decided the band had to either take in outside help or they would lose their contract.
And so they did. Her next release, Up Your Alley, went multi-platinum and was followed by "The Hit List", which was an international hit. Popular songwriter/producer Desmond Child was brought in, resulting in the release of album "Up Your Alley". This album brought the band a resurgence in popularity, with top 10 singles "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and "Little Liar".
This return to the spotlight would be short-lived, however. Follow-up album "The Hit List", an all-cover songs release, spawned only a minor hit with Jett's version of AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds".
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts became the first rock band to perform a series of shows at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway, breaking the record at the time for the fastest ticket sell-out ever.
1991 and 1994 had two more releases, "Notorious" and "Pure & Simple". But radio had started looking to grunge by this time, and neither album got the attention they deserved.
In the 1990s, Jett and Laguna released "Flashback", a compilation of her career so far on their own Blackheart Records. Her next release, "Notorious" (which featured The Replacements' Paul Westerberg) was the last with Sony/CBS as Jett switched to Warner Brothers.
In 1994, the Blackhearts released the well received Pure and Simple, which featured tracks written with Kat Bjelland (Babes in Toyland), Donita Sparks (L7) and Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill).
While a slew of hits packages, some with an occasional new or previously unreleased track were released following this, it would be 10 years before a new studio album would appear.
This would be 2004's "Naked", and thus far has been a Japan-only release. The album sees Jett returning to a more raw and experimental sound, closer to that of her first 4 releases than the polished material that began with "Good Music".
Failing to get "Naked" released in other markets, Jett released on a more international level "Sinner" in June 2006, on Blackheart Records, her own label.. This album featured many remixed tracks from "Naked", and a complete rewrite of "Stuck in the Middle" to new version "Riddles". Lead-off single and video was a cover of "A.C.D.C." by Sweet.
To support the album, the band appeared on the 2006 Warped Tour, and embarked on a Fall 2006 tour with Eagles of Death Metal.
After a long break from recording, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released a 6-song EP of new material, "Mindsets," in June 2023.
Wynnewood
Run Away
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't take it
This is gettin' silly
Can't find me no tranquility
Anymore, I just can't get through to You
We're fakin' it, it's time to admit it
All the time, there's nothin' left for me to do
No, so
I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
We were friends but now you're the enemy
Don't need this when there's a remedy
It's the end
Play your trick on someone new
I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
Ain't life strange, how people change
You were all I wanted once
Now you're just a pain, pain
I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
The song "I'm Gonna Run Away" is a commentary on a relationship that has gone awry. Joan Jett is expressing frustration with her partner, who has become distant and fake. She is unable to find peace or resolution in the relationship, and feels like she is hitting a wall whenever she tries to communicate with her partner. Jett ultimately decides to run away from the relationship and never come back.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, with Jett repeating the phrase "I'm gonna run away, I'm never coming back to you" multiple times. This serves to emphasize her resolve and determination to leave the toxic relationship behind and move on with her life.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of change and how people can grow apart over time. Jett initially wanted her partner, but now the relationship has turned into a source of pain and frustration. Life is strange in this way and relationships can be unpredictable.
Overall, "I'm Gonna Run Away" is a raw and emotional song that speaks to the complexities of relationships and the struggle to find resolution when feelings change.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't take it
I am unable to tolerate this situation any longer
This is gettin' silly
This situation is becoming ridiculous
Can't find me no tranquility
I am unable to find peace or calmness
Anymore, I just can't get through to You
I am unable to communicate my feelings and thoughts to you anymore
We're fakin' it, it's time to admit it
We are pretending our relationship is okay, but we need to acknowledge it is not
You make me feel like an idiot
You are making me feel foolish or stupid
All the time, there's nothin' left for me to do
I am left with no options or solutions to improve our relationship
No, so
Therefore,
We were friends but now you're the enemy
We used to be close, but now we are adversaries
Don't need this when there's a remedy
I do not need this situation when there is a solution available
It's the end
Our relationship has come to a conclusion
Play your trick on someone new
You can play your games with someone else
Ain't life strange, how people change
It is peculiar how people transform over time
You were all I wanted once
At one time, you were everything I desired
Now you're just a pain, pain
Now, you are just a source of discomfort and annoyance
I'm gonna run away
I am going to leave this situation behind
I'm never comin' back to you
I have no intention of returning to this relationship
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna run away
Yes, I am going to remove myself from this situation
I'm never comin' back to you
I have permanently ended this relationship
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Joan Jett, Kenneth Laguna
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@primeracalledelasoledad8439
I can't take it
This is gettin' silly
Can't find me no tranquility
Anymore, I just can't get through to you
We're fakin' it, it's time to admit it
You make me feel like an idiot
All the time, there's nothin' left for me to do
No, so
I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
We were friends but now you're the enemy
Don't need this when there's a remedy
It's the end
Play your trick on someone new
I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
Ain't life strange, how people change
You were all I wanted once
Now you're just a pain, pain
I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna run away
I'm never comin' back to you
@jamsee1
Joan Jett is the greatest female rocker ever by some way. Done so many great songs
@TheElla998
I love all Joan's songs, but this one is special. I looove it so much! =)
@michaelraffaele9813
my fav joan track of all time. love this song. i wish she still played this live. it rocks.
@TheGrazo
Just saw here perform this live twice this past weekend it was whole heartedly badass!!!!
@johnkirby4907
First Concert ever. 1982, 14 years old. I love Joan Jett! Rock on Joan!
@songs-maybelyrics3595
Why are people putting a thumbs down this is what you call real music
@3walldorf1
All the finest "side songs" of Joan are complexed on this record : I Love Rock N' Roll... RUNAWAY, LOVE IS PAIN, VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE... never before or after did she have so many great rock-anthems than on this record!
@susanszabo2207
One of her best song!!
@TheReneepruitt
Loved Joan Jett! Loved Pat Bennitar, and the Pretenders! I wish there was music like this now.
@ryandevore424
Ya gotta dig deep but there are some great new rock bands. Check out: Ex Hex. It's similar to Joan Jett ect.