The group was founded as The Roosters by Chattanooga, Tennessee natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks, who moved to Chicago, Illinois and added Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield to their lineup to become Jerry Butler & the Impressions. By 1962, Butler and the Brookses had departed, and after switching to ABC-Paramount Records, Mayfield, Gooden, and new Impression Fred Cash collectively became a top-selling soul act. Mayfield left the group for a solo career in 1970; Leroy Hutson, Ralph Johnson, Reggie Torian, and Nate Evans were among the replacements who joined Gooden and Cash before the group's demise in 1983.
Inductees into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Impressions are best known for their 1960s string of hits, many of which were heavily influenced by gospel music and served as inspirational anthems for the Civil Rights Movement.
Personnel:
Jerry Butler (1958 - 1960)
Curtis Mayfield (1958 - 1970)
Sam Gooden (1958 - 1983)
Arthur Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Richard Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Fred Cash (1960 - 1983)
Leroy Hutson (1970 - 1973)
Ralph Johnson (1973 - 1976)
Nate Evans (1976 - 1979)
Reggie Torian (1973 - 1983)
Discography
Albums
1963: The Impressions
1964: Keep on Pushing
1964: The Never Ending Impressions
1965: One by One
1965: People Get Ready
1966: Ridin' High
1967: The Fabulous Impressions
1968: We're a Winner
1968: This Is My Country
1969: The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
1969: The Versatile Impressions
1969: Amen
1970: Check out Your Mind!
1972: Times Have Changed
1973: Preacher Man
1974: Finally Got Myself Together
1974: Three the Hard Way
1975: First Impressions
1975: Sooner or Later
1976: It's About Time
1976: Originals
1976: Loving Power
1979: Come to My Party
1981: Fan the Fire
You've Got Me Runnin'
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's got me runnin' tryin' to find her
Like a diesel I'm on tracks behind her
Though I know from me she wants to escape
Fool I am I won't accept my fate
So I'm runnin' and I'm so tired
Can't stop now 'cause she's got such a head start
Another man holding what once was mine
Runnin'
Wooh hoo
They say love, can be so blind
And it can also drive you out of your mind
Look at me an educated fool
Lovin' this woman has made me blow my cool
So I'm runnin' tryin' to find her
Like a diesel I'm on track behind her
Any day I know I'll step in and find
Another man holding what once was mine
Still runnin'
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Lighter
They say love, can be so blind
And it can also drive you out of your mind
Look at me an educated fool
Lovin' this woman has made me blow my cool
So I'm runnin' tryin' to find her
Like a diesel I'm on tracks behind her
Any day I know I'll step in and find
Another man holding what once was mine
Runnin'
Runnin'
The Impressions' song "You've Got Me Runnin'" is a R&B track about unrequited love and the desperation it can cause. The singer sings about a woman who he is madly in love with, but she seems to be running away from him, and he feels like he's constantly chasing after her. He compares himself to a diesel engine that can't stop chasing her down, even though he knows she doesn't want him. He's in denial about the fact that she's not interested in him, and so he keeps running and chasing her, even though he's exhausted and knows it's futile. He's afraid that he'll eventually catch up to her and find her with another man, which fills him with despair. He's aware that love can be blind, and that it's made him lose his cool and act foolishly, but he still can't help but chase after her.
The lyrics of the song describe the pain and frustration that can come with loving someone who doesn't love you back. It's a powerful depiction of the way unrequited love can feel like a battle that you're doomed to lose. The music itself is propulsive and driving, with a soulful edge that adds to the intensity of the lyrics. The song has a strong, memorable hook that makes it easy to sing along with, and the haunting melody sticks with you long after the song is over. It's a classic example of R&B music from the 1960s, with its soulful vocals, driving percussion, and memorable hooks.
Line by Line Meaning
Wooh hoo
An expression of excitement or enthusiasm.
She's got me runnin' tryin' to find her
I am chasing after her in an attempt to locate her.
Like a diesel I'm on tracks behind her
I am pursuing her relentlessly, just like a train on its tracks.
Though I know from me she wants to escape
Even though I am aware that she doesn't want to be with me, I am still chasing after her.
Fool I am I won't accept my fate
I am foolish for not accepting that she doesn't want to be with me.
So I'm runnin' and I'm so tired
I am exhausted from chasing after her.
Can't stop now 'cause she's got such a head start
I cannot quit pursuing her because she is so far ahead of me.
Any day I know I'll step in and find
I am confident that I will eventually locate her.
Another man holding what once was mine
I anticipate finding another man in possession of the woman who once belonged to me.
They say love, can be so blind
It is said that love can cause individuals to overlook obvious faults or problems.
And it can also drive you out of your mind
It can make you do irrational things.
Look at me an educated fool
I am educated, but my love for her has made me foolish.
Lovin' this woman has made me blow my cool
My love for her has caused me to become angry or upset.
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
A vocalization expressing emotion or energy.
Lighter
A final vocalization expressing emotion or energy.
Still runnin'
I am still chasing after her.
Runnin'
I am still chasing after her.
Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
King Kook
Curtis a real musical genius whose music sounds as fresh and relevant as it ever did. He is sorely missed. xxx
Valentin L
amen
DJ Mega Mase
I can loop this for 2 hours straight and just think. Mayfield's music is special. Just beautiful. Never been another like him.
Nettie
@QueenAnita Soul Amen
QueenAnita Soul
@Sean Fitzpatrick
Wrong
The Black People's Anthem
you must didn't know about Curtis Mayfield to make that comment
He wrote
These Songs To An For Uplifting
Black
People
Sean Fitzpatrick
This is for all people in this struggle not for people who belong to any particular race great song anyway have a good day
JayTheMindset
theme song for my people back in the day and still needs it
QueenAnita Soul
The Black People's Anthem
Mark Johnson
True that
Arlene Godlock
Jordan A. For real