Renegade

"Renegade" is a 1979 hit song recorded by the American rock band Styx. It was on their album Pieces of Eight. It reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is a first-person narrative of an outlaw, captured for a bounty, who recognizes that he is about to be executed for his criminal activities. The execution will be by hanging, as the outlaw laments, "Hangman is coming down from the gallows and I don't have very long." Some pressings of the single were made with translucent, red vinyl. When performed live from 1978 to 1983, drummer John Panozzo increased the tempo of the drum pattern during the guitar solo sections. Also, the track would serve as the drum solo spot for Panozzo during that time frame save the Paradise Theater tour of 1981/82. Although songwriter Tommy Shaw and fellow Styx guitarist James Young usually played lead guitar on their own compositions, Young asked Shaw if he could take the solo on "Renegade". Shaw agreed, and later Young returned the favor by allowing Shaw to play lead on J.Y.'s "Half-Penny, Two-Penny" on the Paradise Theatre album.

[Intro] Oh Mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law Lawman has put an end to my running, and I'm so far from my home Oh Mama, I can hear you a-cryin', you're so scared and all alone Hangman is comin' down from the gallows, and I don't have very long (Yeah!) [Chorus] The jig is up, the news is out They finally found me The renegade who had it made Retrieved for a bounty Nevermore to go astray This'll be the end today Of the wanted man [Verse] Oh Mama, I've been years on the lam and had a high price on my head Lawman said, "Get him dead or alive;" I was for sure he'll see me dead Dear Mama, I can hear you a-cryin', you're so scared and all alone Hangman is comin' down from the gallows, and I don't have very long [Chorus] The jig is up, the news is out They finally found me The renegade who had it made Retrieved for a bounty Nevermore to go astray The judge will have revenge today On the wanted man [Guitar Solo] [Bridge] Oh Mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law Hangman is comin' down from the gallows, and I don't have very long [Chorus] The jig is up, the news is out They finally found me The renegade who had it made Retrieved for a bounty Nevermore to go astray This'll be the end today Of the wanted man The wanted man [Outro] And I don't wanna go, no, no Mama, don't let 'em take me! Hey, hey No, no, no, I can't go