On December 10, 1967, Redding, his manager, and band members Jimmy King (b.1949; guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (b. 1948; organ), Phalon Jones (b. 1949; saxophone), and Carl Cunningham (b. 1949; drums) died in a plane crash in Lake Monona while on their way to a performance in Madison, Wisconsin.
Trumpeter Ben Cauley survived the crash and bassist James Alexander (who missed the flight due to returning a rental car) rebuilt the group.
The reformed band consisted of Cauley; Alexander; Harvey Henderson, saxophone; Michael Toles, guitar; Ronnie Gorden, organ; Willie Hall, drums and later Larry Dodson, lead vocals.
The group backed dozens of major Stax artists on recordings afterwards, including on Isaac Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul album, and changed direction in the 1970s to have a successful funk music career. Lloyd Smith joined the Bar-Kays in 1973. They continued to score hits on R&B charts well into the 1980s and lately have incorporated contemporary rap & remix elements into their continuing career and have performed all over the world.
You Can't Run Away
The Bar-Kays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the smile that I put on your face
'Cause it won't be okay
So you might as well just stay
You can't run away
With the smile that I put on your face
'Cause it won't be okay
So you might as well just stay
You really did that to me
Trust issues on the rise
I thought so much to be
I made you so happy
So I don't know why you left
Don't tell me it's nothing
When you threw the things I kept
I know about somebody
That you been seeing behind my back
So you keep on running
Because you know what I'd do to that
I don't take too kindly to cheaters and hoes
But going down this road is something you chose
You left me with your extended nose
Pinocchio, you lied to me so
You can't run away
With the smile I put on your face
'Cause it won't be okay
So you might as well just stay
I can't believe my eyes
You really did that to me
Trust issues on the rise
I thought so much to be
You can't run away
With the smile I put on your face
'Cause it won't be okay
So you might as well just stay
I can't believe my eyes
You really did that to me
Trust issues on the rise
I thought so much to be
The Bar-Kays's song “You Can't Run Away” speaks about betrayal in a relationship. The first two lines of the song, “You can't run away with the smile that I put on your face, 'cause it won't be okay, so you might as well just stay” refer to the fact that the singer provided happiness to his partner and that his partner can't simply escape their troubled relationship to find it elsewhere. The song suggests that trying to escape their issues will be fruitless because the problems will always resurface due to the betrayal.
The singer is unhappy about something his partner did to him, and he feels that his trust issues are rising. He provided happiness to his partner, yet he was still betrayed. The lines “I made you so happy, so I don't know why you left” suggest that he doesn't understand why his partner left despite everything he did to make her happy. The singer also mentions that he knows about somebody that his partner has been seeing behind his back. He expresses that he doesn't take kindly to cheaters and hoes, and his partner's actions have forced him down this road. Pinocchio is referenced, which means that his partner lied just like Pinocchio's nose grew when he lied in the children's story.
Overall, the song suggests that trust is incredibly important in a relationship, and if it is broken, it can't simply be remedied by running away. The lyrics demonstrate the importance of communication and honesty in a relationship, and how running away from problems can't truly fix them.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't run away
You cannot escape or avoid the situation
With the smile that I put on your face
With the happiness that I gave you
'Cause it won't be okay
Because the situation is not good
So you might as well just stay
You should remain in the situation
I can't believe my eyes
I am in disbelief
You really did that to me
You actually did something hurtful to me
Trust issues on the rise
I am having trouble trusting others due to this situation
I thought so much to be
I expected so much more
I made you so happy
I provided happiness to you
So I don't know why you left
I do not understand why you left
Don't tell me it's nothing
Do not say that the situation is insignificant
When you threw the things I kept
When you got rid of the things that were important to me
I know about somebody
I am aware of someone
That you been seeing behind my back
That you have been secretly seeing someone else
So you keep on running
You keep trying to avoid the situation
Because you know what I'd do to that
You know how I would react to that
I don't take too kindly to cheaters and hoes
I have a strong negative reaction towards people who cheat
But going down this road is something you chose
You made the conscious decision to take actions that led to this situation
You left me with your extended nose
You left me feeling deceived and misled
Pinocchio, you lied to me so
You have lied to me like Pinocchio (a character known for lying)
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Dontay Jones, Kyle Ashworth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dallenoliver
I would have to agree with Dwaynism 100%. This album is one of the all time greats, solid from the first to the last song. It's not surprising it didn't get the recognition it deserved but that was a different day and age. The Bar-Kays were totally underrated. The truth is coming to light!
@suzetteblakely2553
Me & brothers, sisters are children of the late 50’s, 60’s & 70’s! My brother passed away on 8/9/2021 so I’m dedicating this song to him. He also loved “Attitudes”. Here’s to you Cliff! 😁🥃😍❤️🎹🎼🎶🎵🎺🎸🥁🕺🏼💃🏼🕺🏼💃🏼
@jamesmagnum1975
I LOVE this classic Barkays hit,, one of my favorite bands of all time,, I miss this kind of music!
@tenki15
You can't run away from this great music, it's too good.
@darrindaniels8424
Can we please make music like this again !!!! Funk will Live 4Ever....
@jimmiesmith5811
There's guys out doing it they just need exposure mainstream radio nowadays doesn't promote it check out some internet channels cool funk zeze 2 and others their out there
@devinedarkdiva
JAMMIN HARD!! Grew up with this one and many more like it!! Can't help but rock my body with it whenever I hear this funky groove, it's soooo contagious!!!!!!!
@angeladay1534
Yeppers! 🎉💃🏾
@michaeltan4895
One of the best grooves in my vinyl collection! All time classic.
@lindahamilton8845
This song really takes me back to my early days with my husband we had all of their albums,what a shame you can never replace this music and they don't make this kind of music anymore.