Take It on the Run

REO Speedwagon

About Take It on the Run

"Take It on the Run" is the fifth track on the REO Speedwagon album Hi Infidelity. It was released as a single in 1981 and reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached number 19 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was written by lead guitarist Gary Richrath. "Take It on the Run" was the follow-up single behind the group's number one hit, "Keep on Loving You". The single went gold on April 17, 1989. "Take It on the Run" has appeared on dozens of 'various artists' compilation albums, as well as several REO Speedwagon greatest hits albums. According to REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin, the original title to the song was "Don't Let Me Down." Cronin says that he insisted that the title should be "Take It on the Run" and that he added the line to the refrain "You're under the gun / So you take it on the run," which he says "either makes sense or it doesn't, but it sure sung well and it sure rhymed, and it was a spur-of-the-moment thing that when I heard the rest of the song, that's what I felt."The song's music video was technically the ninth video played on MTV's first day, August 1, 1981. However, the video went to black just 12 seconds into the song and did not finish. This song was released as a downloadable add-on for the Rock Band video game franchise on April 21, 2009. The cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes covered this song as a punk version for their live album Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah. 


Year:
1995
3:59
418 
#1

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Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another you been messin' around
They say you got a boy friend
You're up there every weekend
They're talkin' about you and it's bringin' me down

But I know the neighborhood
And talk is cheap when the story is good
And the tales grow taller on down the line
So I'm telling you, babe
That I don't think it's true, babe
Or even if it is keep this in mind

You take it on the run baby
If that's the way you want it baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it, not for a minute
You're under the gun so you take it on the run

Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another you been messin' around
So I'm telling you, babe
That I don't think it's true, babe
Or even if it is keep this in mind

You take it on the run baby
If that's the way you want it baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it, not for a minute
You're under the gun so you take it on the run

You take it on the run baby
If that's the way you want it baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it, not for a minute
You're under the gun so you take it on the run

You take it on the run baby
If that's the way you want it baby
Then I don't need you around
I don't believe it, not for a minute
You're under the gun so you take it on the run

Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another you been messin' around

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REO Speedwagon

REO Speedwagon (originally stylized as R.E.O. Speedwagon) is an American rock band. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Hi Infidelity (1980) contained four US Top 40 hits and is the group's best-selling album, with over ten million copies sold. Over the course of its career, the band has sold more than 40 million records and has charted thirteen Top 40 hits, including the number ones "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling". REO Speedwagon's mainstream popularity dissipated in the 1990s but the band remains a popular live act. more »

11 fans

Written by: Gary Dean Richrath

Lyrics © HORI PRO ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Song Authorship
"Take It on the Run" was written by REO Speedwagon's lead guitarist, Gary Richrath.
Album Release
This song was part of their album "Hi Infidelity," which was released in 1980.
Song Popularity
It became the band’s second Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 5.
Lyrics Meaning
The lyrics talk about a man who hears rumors that his girlfriend is cheating, but he chooses not to believe them until he sees proof.
Music Video
The music video for "Take It on the Run" was an early favorite on MTV when it launched in 1981.
Cover Versions
Numerous artists have covered "Take It on the Run," including country star Sara Evans, who included it on her 2013 album "Slow Me Down."
Song Legacy
The song is often recognized for its catchy chorus which has kept it in regular rotation on Classic Rock radio stations.
Live Performances
"Take It on the Run" quickly became a staple at REO Speedwagon's live performances and remains a fan favorite.
Relevance in Pop Culture
The popular television series 'Supernatural' featured "Take It on the Run" in one of its episodes in Season 10, re-introducing the song to new generations.
Song Success
The song also ranked at number 4 on the Top Rock Tracks chart, making it one of REO Speedwagon's most successful singles.
Song Legacy in Band's Career
"Take It on the Run" has helped to solidify REO Speedwagon's status as one of the leading rock bands of the early '80s.
Hi-Infidelity Album Success
The album "Hi Infidelity" featuring the song "Take It on the Run" spent 15 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200.

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    Take It on the Run

    9.7M
    49,215     2,262

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1981

    Billboard #5


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