American Nights
The Runaways Lyrics


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(M. Anthony/K. Fowley)

Clean rock n roll
Makes the midnight flow tonight now
It's hot tonight
Come on let's have a good time
In the dark of the night
We hunt for fun
Chasing after the moonlight
Hiding from the sun

American nights
You kids are so strange
American nights
You're never gonna change

Our magic is young
Cause we just begun
We light up the sky
Always on the run
We live in the streets
In the alleys of screams
Cause we're the queens of noise
The answer to your dreams

American nights
You kids are so strange
American nights
You're never gonna change

Hey boy you're my good time
Dance close ya feel so fine
Hold tight we're on fire
All night you're my desire

Everybody
Wanna party
Everybody
Wanna party

American nights
You kids are so strange




American nights
You're never gonna change

Overall Meaning

The Runaways' "American Nights" is an upbeat rock and roll anthem that captures the essence of youthful rebellion. The song begins with a declaration of clean rock and roll that will make the midnight flow. It is hot tonight, and everyone is urged to have a good time. In the dark of the night, the characters in the song hunt for fun as they chase after the moonlight and hide from the sun. This line suggests that they find their vitality and freedom at night and that they are fleeing from the constraints of the day.


The chorus of the song, "American Nights, you kids are so strange," repeats twice and reaffirms the theme of youthful rebellion. The singer suggests that their behavior will continue because they are never going to change. The chorus feels like an anthem for youth culture that directly challenges adult norms. The song's magic is in its young age because they have only just begun. They light up the sky, always on the run, and live on the streets in the alleys of screams. The Runaways are the queens of noise and the answer to your dreams.


Overall, the lyrics capture an upbeat, carefree sense of rebellion that resonates with the youthful generation's spirit. The Runaways created a classic rock and roll anthem fit for the time that the song was released, 1977. "American Nights" has achieved a timeless quality that continues to be embraced today by those young at heart.


Line by Line Meaning

Clean rock n roll
We're playing some classic rock music


Makes the midnight flow tonight now
Our rock music is making the night feel alive and exciting


It's hot tonight
It's a very warm night


Come on let's have a good time
Let's enjoy ourselves and have fun


In the dark of the night
Late at night when it's dark outside


We hunt for fun
We're looking to have a good time


Chasing after the moonlight
We're out at night chasing a good time


Hiding from the sun
We're not ready to end our night and don't want the sun to come up


American nights
This is what we call nights spent in America


You kids are so strange
We find the younger generation to be different from us


You're never gonna change
We don't expect the younger generation to become like us


Our magic is young
We're still young and full of energy


Cause we just begun
We're just starting to have fun


We light up the sky
We're having such a great time that it's lighting up the sky


Always on the run
We're never staying in one place for too long


We live in the streets
We spend a lot of time outside, on the streets


In the alleys of screams
We're not afraid to make noise in dark, secluded spaces


Cause we're the queens of noise
We feel that we are in control of the noise and the fun


The answer to your dreams
We're exactly what you've been looking for to have a good time


Hey boy you're my good time
I'm having a great time with you, boy


Dance close ya feel so fine
Dancing together makes us feel really good


Hold tight we're on fire
We're feeling so much energy and excitement


All night you're my desire
I want to be with you all night


Everybody
Everyone


Wanna party
Wants to have a good time together




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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