‘Turn Me Loose’ is a hit song recorded by the Canadian rock band Loverboy. It was released on their self-titled debut album in 1980, and as a single in 1981. With a strong rock synthesizer start to the song, followed by a steady build on the guitars, it peaked at #7 on the RPM singles chart in 1981 and #6 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart in the US.
The song was the first charting single for Loverboy, their breakout hit, and a single from their debut album all at once. While charting low on the US Hot 100, it fared far better on charts all around the world and hit #7 in their native Canada, foreshadowing greater later success for the band in the States as well as the rest of the English-speaking world. It still gets steady airplay to this day.
In the book MTV Ruled the World - The Early Years of Music Video, Loverboy guitarist Paul Dean shares the story behind the video and the meaning of the song: "We had just signed with Columbia, and we were all on holiday. We had been working hard, and we had the week off. We were all down in Mexico - Mike, Matt, and me, with our girls. I think we got a call from out manager saying, 'We're shooting a video for 'Turn Me Loose' at a club in New York City, the Ritz.' So that was our first foray into that. The director thought the song was a parody. He didn't take the lyrics serious. We wrote the lyrics serious - it was a put-down to this girl. It's all fiction... that's why they call it 'creative writing' you know? So anyway, the director, his take was 'This should be a comedy.' Who are we to argue? We were a fledgling thing... We were just thrilled to be asked, because we knew the marketing value of MTV."
You can credit Loverboy lead singer Mike Reno for popularizing the '80s headband look, which he rocks in this video and also the clip for "Working For The Weekend." Previously the domain of tennis players, the headband soon became a popular fashion accessory.
Label – Columbia
Songwriters – Paul Dean, Mike Reno
Producers – Bruce Fairbairn
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]I was born to run
I was born to dream
The craziest boy you ever seen
I gotta do it my way
Or no way at all
[Verse 2]
And I was here to please
I'm even on knees
Making love to whoever I please
I gotta do it my way
Or no way at all
[Verse 3]
And then you came around
Tried to tie me down
I was such a clown
You had to have it your way
Or no way at all
[Bridge]
Well I've had all I can take
I can't take it no more
I'm gonna pack my bags and fly my way
Or no way at all
[Chorus]
So, why don't you turn me loose?
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
I gotta do it my way
Or no way at all
Why don't you turn me loose?
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
I gotta do it my way
I wanna fly
[Verse 4]
I'm here to please
I'm even on my knees
Making love to whoever I please
I gotta do it my way
I gotta do it my way
[Bridge]
And when you came around
You tried to tie me down
I was such a clown
You had to have it your way
Well I'm sayin' no way
[Chorus]
So, why don't you turn me loose?
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
I gotta do it my way
Or no way at all
Why don't you turn me loose?
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
I gotta do it my way
I wanna fly
Ooh, yeah
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
So, why don`t you turn me loose?
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
I gotta do it my way
Or no way at all
Why don't you turn me loose?
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
I gotta do it my way
I gotta do it my way
[Chorus]
Why don't you turn me loose?
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
I gotta do it my way
I wanna fly
[Outro]
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
Turn me loose
Turn me loose