Runaway

"Runaway" is a Bon Jovi song, written in 1980 and originally recorded in 1981 for the so called "Power Station Demos". The recordings were primarily done by an ensemble simply known as Jon Bongiovi & The Rest. Lead guitar on the original 1980's track was Bon Jovi's neighbour, Dave Sabo (a.k.a. The Snake), who would later form the group Skid Row. One night after a show, Richie Sambora found Bon Jovi backstage and told him that he should be the guitarist. Bon Jovi wrote him off and didn't think much of it but told him to learn the material and show up for rehearsal. Sambora was early and knew the material and Bon Jovi was impressed; in that moment, Sambora became the band's lead guitarist and a Bon Jovi was born. The track released in 1983 was recorded in 1982 by Jon Bon Jovi and a group of studio musicians known as "The All Star Review," which included Hugh McDonald (bass), Tim Pierce (guitar) and Roy Bittan (keyboards). The keyboard intro was written by Mick Seeley, then of John Bongiovi and the Wild One's and later with Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. In 1983, local radio station WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple" had a contest, held in conjunction with St. John's University, to search for the best unsigned band. After the song won the contest, it became an instant hit in the summer of 1983. Runaway was later released as the first single from the album Bon Jovi. It hit the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 at #39 in early-1984 and became the band's first Top 40 hit in US. It should also be noted that it is the only song from the bands' first two albums that is still performed live. In recent live performances, frontman and occasional rhythm guitarist Jon Bon Jovi has been known to do a short guitar solo near the end of the song, something which he has rarely (if ever) done before onstage. A dance/club remake of "Runaway" was released in July 2008 by "DJ Freddy Retro featuring Jim Davis Jr." on Casa Records. The song was recently featured on a MasterCard commercial. Runaway was recently featured in Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

[Verse 1] On the street where you live girls talk about their social lives They're made of lipstick, plastic and paint, a touch of sable in their eyes (All your life) all your life all you've asked when's your daddy gonna talk to you But you were living in another world trying to get your message through [Chorus 1] No one heard a single word you said They should have seen it in your eyes What was going around your head [Chorus 2] Ooh, she's a little runaway Daddy's girl learned fast All those things she couldn't say Ooh, she's a little runaway [Verse 2] Take a line every night guaranteed to blow your mind I see you out on the streets, calling for a wild time So you sit home alone cause there's nothing left that you can do There's only pictures hung in the shadows left there to look at you You know she likes the lights at nights on the neon Broadway signs She don't really mind, it's only love she hoped to find [Chorus 2] Ooh, she's a little runaway Daddy's girl learned fast All those things she couldn't say Ooh, she's a little runaway [Chorus 1] No one heard a single word you said They should have seen it in your eyes What was going around your head Ooh, she's a little runaway Daddy's girl learned fast All those things she couldn't say Ooh, she's a little runaway Daddy’s girl learned fast Now she works the night away Ooh, she's a little runaway Daddy's girl learned fast All those things she couldn't say Ooh, she's a little runaway Daddy’s girl learned fast Now she works the night away Ooh, she's a little runaway