Before They Make Me Run
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Before They Make Me Run" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Song by The Rolling Stones | ||
| from the album Some Girls | ||
| Released | June 9, 1978 | |
| Recorded | March, 1978 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3m:25s | |
| Label | Rolling Stones/Virgin | |
| Writer(s) | Jagger-Richards | |
| Producer(s) | The Glimmer Twins | |
| Some Girls track listing | ||
| "Respectable" (7) |
"Before They Make Me Run" (8) |
"Beast of Burden" (9) |
"Before They Make Me Run" is a song by rock and roll band the Rolling Stones featured on their 1978 album Some Girls.
Written by guitarist Keith Richards the song is his response to his criminal arrest for heroin possession in Toronto in February of 1977 that loomed over the Some Girls sessions and in fact endangered the future of the Rolling Stones. Richards faced serious jail time for the first time in Canada, despite a decade long series of drug arrests in England, France and North America. The lyrics talk of the lifestyle that Richards had led up until that point, and are indicative of the confessional tone that had always accompanied Richards' unique mix of rock and roll, alcohol and drugs.
| “ | Worked the bars and sideshows along the twilight zone. Only a crowd can make you feel so alone... Booze and pills and powders, you can choose your medicine. Well here's another goodbye to another good friend. | ” |
The word 'friend' in the lyric has been variously interpreted as meaning Gram Parsons, Richards' close friend who died in 1973 from a drug overdose, or the substance itself, as Richards often personafies booze and drugs as 'friends', 'companions' or 'making a great team'. Originally titled "Rotten Roll," the song was written and recorded in a Paris studio when Mick Jagger was away in New York finalizing his divorce. The base track was laid down over one night with only drummer Charlie Watts accompanying Richards. Recorded in March of 1978, the track eventually featured Richards (lead vocals/guitars/bass), guitarist Ron Wood (pedel steel & electric slide guitars/backup vocals), and Watts. Keith's harsh vocals were double-tracked to make them stand out more on the final cut.
Since its release, the song is one of the most popular choices for the Richards lead vocal turns during Rolling Stones concerts, perhaps only rivaling "Happy" as the guitarist's most popular tune. It was a rousing favorite during the 1979 The New Barbarians North American tour, especially at the April 1979 dates in Toronto, which satisfied his guilty plea in the Toronto heroin case. It was also played regularly during Richards 1992-93 solo tour for Main Offender. Steve Earle has also performed the song in concert.
