The group's musical line-up incorporates such diverse instruments as mandolins, glockenspiels, accordion, military bass-drum, and the legendary Nickelodeon, an extraordinary instrument designed and built for the purpose of delivering Sailor's definitive sound.
Their first album, released in 1974, included the hit "Traffic Jam". The album achieved Gold status in Holland. But it was the second album "Trouble" that established Sailor throughout the world. "A Glass of Champagne" was a massive hit throughout the world in 1975, followed by "Girls Girls Girls" in 1976.
The original line-up changed regularly from the end of the 1970s. In 1980 Phil and Henry released a new album together with Gavin David and Virginia David. In 1989 a new album was released after a ten year silence, featuring two singles "The Secretary" and "La Cumbia", so after a long gap they went back on tour again. In 1995 Georg Kajanus departed the band to pursue a solo career, leading to the introduction of Peter Lincoln, a respected guitarist and singer. Original member Henry Marsh left the band in late 1999, to be replaced by Anthony England. He was replaced in turn by Rob Alderton in 2001.
In 2004 Sailor were voted the 45th most successful pop band of the last 40 years in Germany.
In July 2005 Rob Alderton departed, but a few weeks later, original member Henry Marsh returned to his place at the Nickelodeon. In 2006 Peter Lincoln decided to leave after ten years to join The Sweet. Afterwards, Henry's son Oliver Marsh joined the band as their new singer to continue the journey...
The Runaway
Sailor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause you know that melody only breaks me down
I was a queen
Who now wears a broken crown
Don't play that honky-tonk
'Cause you know that same old song only makes me cry
Times gone by, our love lit up the sky
Our romance hit the neighbourhood
Like a hurricane
Now I'm left with a broken heart
And a telegram
(Chorus:)
Runaway, and I thought that you were here to stay
But you broke my heart and ran away
Runaway
Runaway, won't you come on back to me one day
Until then I'll hide my heart away
Don't play that song again
It hurts to see all my friends on the dancing floor
There was a time when we had so much more
We shared that melody
Now all I have ais a memory of a precious time
It's a crime, our words no longer rhyme
Our romance set the world on fire like a burning flame
But all that's left is a broken heart
And a telegram...
(Repeat chorus)
Runaway, you came and stole the sun away
All you left me was a rainy day
Runaway
Runaway, I hope that you'll come back to me one day
Until then I'll hide my heart away
Runaway...
(Repeat chorus and fade)
In "The Runaway" by Sailor, the lyrics depict a melancholic tale of heartbreak and abandonment. The singer pleads with the listener not to play a certain song because it reminds them of a love lost. The song's melody brings back painful memories, as it is associated with a time when the singer was a confident queen, but now they wear a broken crown, symbolizing their shattered identity.
The honky-tonk song further exacerbates the singer's emotions, making them cry and longing for the times when their love lit up the sky. The lyrics suggest that their romance was explosive, hitting the neighborhood like a hurricane. However, now all that remains is a broken heart and a telegram, symbolizing their lover's departure.
The chorus captures the essence of the song, with the singer expressing their pain and disappointment in their ex-lover's decision to run away. They had believed their love was meant to last, but instead, their heart was broken, and now they hide it away. The lyrics paint a picture of longing, hoping that one day the runaway will return, but until then, the singer is left with memories and a sense of loss.
Overall, "The Runaway" by Sailor is a bittersweet exploration of heartbreak, abandonment, and the lingering pain that love can leave behind. Through its emotional lyrics and wistful melody, the song captures the universal experience of lost love and the desire for closure and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't play that song for me
Please do not play that specific song because it only brings me sadness and emotional pain.
'Cause you know that melody only breaks me down
Because you are aware that particular tune only brings me sadness and emotional turmoil.
I was a queen
I used to feel powerful and in control of my life and emotions.
Who now wears a broken crown
But now I feel defeated and broken, no longer holding onto my former sense of power and control.
Don't play that honky-tonk
Please refrain from playing that old-fashioned, melancholic song as it only makes me cry.
'Cause you know that same old song only makes me cry
Because you are aware that listening to that repetitive and nostalgic song only brings me to tears.
Times gone by, our love lit up the sky
In the past, our love was so strong and vibrant that it brightened up our world.
Our romance hit the neighbourhood
Our love story became known and had an impact within the community.
Like a hurricane
Similar to a destructive storm, our relationship made a significant impact and left a trail of devastation.
Now I'm left with a broken heart
Now I am left feeling heartbroken and emotionally wounded.
And a telegram
The only communication I have from you is a cold and distant telegram, further emphasizing our separation.
Runaway, and I thought that you were here to stay
You left without warning, and I naively believed that our love was permanent and enduring.
But you broke my heart and ran away
However, you shattered my heart and escaped from our relationship.
Runaway
You fled from our love and commitment.
Runaway, won't you come on back to me one day
I still hope that someday you will return to me.
Until then I'll hide my heart away
In the meantime, I will guard and protect my vulnerable heart from further pain and disappointment.
It hurts to see all my friends on the dancing floor
Seeing my friends enjoying themselves on the dance floor reminds me of happier times when we used to dance together.
There was a time when we had so much more
There was a period in our relationship when we had a deeper connection and shared a greater amount of love and happiness.
We shared that melody
We both had a special bond and connection with that particular song.
Now all I have is a memory of a precious time
Now, all I am left with is the memories of a precious and significant time in our relationship.
It's a crime, our words no longer rhyme
It feels like a tragedy that our words and emotions no longer align and harmonize as they once did.
Our romance set the world on fire like a burning flame
Our love story was so passionate and intense that it had a profound impact on the world around us.
But all that's left is a broken heart
However, now all that remains is a heart shattered into pieces.
Runaway, you came and stole the sun away
You entered my life and took away all the happiness and brightness that used to exist.
All you left me was a rainy day
After you left, all that remained for me was a gloomy and melancholic existence.
I hope that you'll come back to me one day
I still hold onto the hope that you will return to me in the future.
Until then I'll hide my heart away
In the meantime, I will keep my heart protected and shielded from potential pain and heartbreak.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jcarter3562
lovely song this! Had some of their albums on vinyl back in the 70s! Oh what happy days! So I've Just purchased Sailors 5 album cd box set on Cherry Red Records. Great band!
@axelm.5154
Great!!! I love it!!!!
@MrHoefnix
Why wasn’t this a hit in 1978?
@dschinni9391
Sailor(only with Georg)=❤
@mandyboose8983
This song was written by Phil Pickett
@DianaLee5904
x lol my apologies...I'm just sitting here...kinda looking at my screen dumbfounded like...yep...I just woke up from an early morning *cat nap*...I would have added a shimmy shimmy in here but I just woke up when this video started....xx 🙃😇💯👣✌️