Running Wild
Roxy Music Lyrics


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There's that melody again
Burning through my head it does me in
Turns me right around to my old friend
Wonder how you've changed, are you still

Running wild, like you do
When all your dreams come true
Happy days you pretend
That your love will never end
There's that melody again

Where it's coming from I must have been
Drifting out of time, now I'm in
Underneath you'll find I'm just the same
Running wild, like you do
When all your dreams fall through

I can always pretend
That I'll fall in love again
Running wild, like we do
If only dreams came true




I could even pretend
That I'll fall in love again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Roxy Music's song "Running Wild" are about the longing for the past and for lost love. The singer is being haunted by a melody that brings back memories of an old friend, and wonders if they still possess the reckless abandon that defined their youth. They reflect on how they have changed since then, but also realize that deep down, they are still the same person, running wild and free. The song speaks to the universal desire to hold onto nostalgia and the hope that the future will bring opportunities to recapture what has been lost.


The lyrics capture a wistful, reflective mood with lines like "when all your dreams fall through" and "if only dreams came true." Despite this melancholy tone, there is also a sense of hope and possibility in the song, with the idea that falling in love again is always a possibility. Overall, "Running Wild" is a nostalgic tribute to youth and the thrill of the unknown, as well as a bittersweet acknowledgment of the passage of time.


Line by Line Meaning

There's that melody again
The singer keeps hearing a particular tune that reminds them of something from the past.


Burning through my head it does me in
The tune is becoming an unpleasant burden for the singer.


Turns me right around to my old friend
The tune evokes memories of the singer's old friend.


Wonder how you've changed, are you still
The artist wonders how their friend has changed since they last saw each other.


Running wild, like you do
The artist imagines their friend living a carefree, adventurous life.


When all your dreams come true
The singer imagines that their friend's happiness comes from fulfilling their aspirations.


Happy days you pretend
The singer thinks their friend is putting on a facade of being happy.


That your love will never end
The artist assumes that their friend is in a successful, long-lasting romantic relationship.


Where it's coming from I must have been
The artist is unsure of where they keep hearing the tune from.


Drifting out of time, now I'm in
The artist believes that hearing the tune is causing them to reminisce about the past.


Underneath you'll find I'm just the same
The singer thinks they haven't changed much since they last saw their friend.


When all your dreams fall through
The artist imagines their friend experiencing disappointment and failure.


I can always pretend
The singer can choose to deceive themselves about their romantic prospects.


That I'll fall in love again
The singer wishes for romantic love in their life.


Running wild, like we do
The singer imagines themselves and their friend enjoying a carefree, hedonistic lifestyle.


If only dreams came true
The artist wishes for the unrealistic fantasy of a carefree life to be possible.


I could even pretend
The artist acknowledges that they have the option to deceive themselves about love and life.


That I'll fall in love again
The singer wants to experience romantic love again despite the disappointment they may face.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRYAN FERRY, PHIL MANZANERA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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