Runnin
The Fountains Lyrics

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My gal and I, we had a fight
And I'm all by myself
I guess she thinks now that she's gone
I'll lay right on the shelf
I'm gonna show her she's all wrong
No lonesome stuff for mine
I won't sit home, all alone
She'll soon find that I'm

Runnin' wild, lost control
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Feelin' gay, reckless too
Care free mind all the time, never blue
Always goin' don't know where
Always showin', I don't care
Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild

When I first met that gal of mine
It seemed just like a dream
But when she tho't she had me right
She started actin' mean
Like mary led her little lamb
She led me all the time
Until the worm had to turn
That's the reason I'm

Runnin' wild, lost control
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Feelin' gay, reckless too
Care free mind all the time, never blue
Always goin' don't know where
Always showin', I don't care
Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild

No gal will ever make a fool of me
No gal! I mean just what I say
I ain't the simpleton I used to be
Wonder how I got that way

Once I was full of sentiment, it's true
But now I got a cruel heart
With all that other foolishness I'm through
Gonna play the Villain part

Runnin' wild, lost control
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Feelin' gay, reckless too
Care free mind all the time, never blue
Always goin' don't know where
Always showin', I don't care

Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild

Overall Meaning

The Fountains's "Runnin'" is all about a man who is determined to prove that he is not the type to wallow in self-pity just because the love of his life is gone. He admits that he and his girlfriend had a fight, and now he is alone. However, he is not going to stay cooped up at home, he will go out and show her and everyone else that he can have fun without her. The chorus reinforces this idea of living life on his own terms, without a care in the world. The man is portrayed as being "reckless" and "bold," with a "carefree mind all the time." He is "runnin' wild" and "lost control," but he wears it as a badge of honor. He even proclaims that he is "not worth while," dismissing the idea that love is valuable.

The man's attitude toward love and relationships is one of rejection. He has concluded that love is not worth the effort, and no woman will ever make a fool of him. He is no longer a "simpleton" who is full of sentiment. He got "through with all that other foolishness" and will now "play the Villain part." It is doubtful that his ex-girlfriend will find his new demeanor appealing, but he doesn't care. The man is determined to show the world that he can be happy and free without love.

"Runnin'" was written in 1922 by A. Harrington Gibbs, Joe Grey, and Leo Wood. The song was originally recorded by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and released in October of that year. The Fountains's version was released in 1927. The song has been performed by many artists since then, including Bill Haley, Joni Mitchell, and The Rolling Stones.

Line by Line Meaning

My gal and I, we had a fight
My girlfriend and I had an argument

And I'm all by myself
I am now alone

I guess she thinks now that she's gone
Perhaps she assumes I am distressed without her

I'll lay right on the shelf
She thinks I will be depressed and do nothing without her

I'm gonna show her she's all wrong
I plan to prove that assumption wrong

No lonesome stuff for mine
I will not be sad or unhappy

I won't sit home, all alone
I won't just stay at home by myself

She'll soon find that I'm
She will discover that I am

Runnin' wild, lost control
Not being restrained, not following a plan

Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Being daring and fearless

Feelin' gay, reckless too
Being carefree, without concern for consequences

Care free mind all the time, never blue
Always having a carefree attitude

Always goin' don't know where
I am constantly moving without direction

Always showin', I don't care
I am expressing indifference towards everything

Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
I don't believe it is worth my while to love anyone

All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild
I am alone and living recklessly, without restraint

When I first met that gal of mine
When I first met my girlfriend

It seemed just like a dream
Our relationship felt like a fantasy come to life

But when she tho't she had me right
But when she assumed she had control over me

She started actin' mean
She began to act rudely or unkindly

Like mary led her little lamb
She was controlling me like Mary controlled her lamb

She led me all the time
She had complete control over me

Until the worm had to turn
Until I decided to take control of my life

That's the reason I'm
That is why I am now

No gal will ever make a fool of me
I will not let another woman control me

No gal! I mean just what I say
I am serious about this statement

I ain't the simpleton I used to be
I am not the naive person I once was

Wonder how I got that way
I wonder how I became this way

Once I was full of sentiment, it's true
I used to be emotional and sentimental

But now I got a cruel heart
Now I am unfeeling

With all that other foolishness I'm through
I am done with all of that other emotional baggage

Gonna play the Villain part
I will now act like the bad guy, with no remorse

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARTHUR GIBBS, ARTHUR HARRINGTON GIBBS, JOSEPH GREY, JOSEPH W GREY, LEO WOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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