‘Run Runaway’ is a song by British rock band Slade, released in 1984 as the third single from the band's 11th studio album, The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome, and as the lead single from the album's US counterpart, Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea and produced by John Punter. It reached No. 7 in the United Kingdom and was the band's first, and only, top 20 hit in the United States, where it reached No. 20.
‘Run Runaway’, described by Holder as "a rocky Scottish jig", features Jim Lea on electric fiddle. In a 1984 interview, Holder said: "We always wanted to do a jig with the old violin going and that. We decided to go in and put a sort of rock beat behind an old Scottish jig." In a 1986 fan club interview, Lea revealed that he had come up with the song's melody while holding a conversation with someone. The song bears melodic and structural similarities to the 19th century hymn "There Is a Happy Land".
Upon its release as a single, Radio Luxembourg DJ Mike Hollis, writing for the Daily Mirror, stated, "Slade are back – and how! A tremendous single. I reckon the boys are set for a great 1984." Tommy Vance, reviewing for Kerrang!, praised it as a "good single" and wrote, "I know for a fact that this is based on a traditional tune or melody – I just can't remember which one. This is very cleverly done, however, and the sound is great." In a retrospective review by AllMusic, Dave Thompson described 'Run Runaway' as "storming" and wrote, "Building on the anthemic power of the earlier 'My Oh My', 'Run Runaway' is raucous chanting, swirling guitars, wild violin, and even a taste of heavy metal bagpipes, helped along by a drum sound that is pure early '80s."
In January 1984, ‘Run Runaway’ was released as the album's third single and reached No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart. The 1983 success of Quiet Riot's version of Slade's 1973 UK chart topper ‘Cum On Feel the Noize’ led to Slade signing with CBS Associated Records for their first American record deal since the 1970s. The label soon repackaged The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome into Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply and released ‘Run Runaway’ as the lead single in March 1984. With surging interest in the band and a music video benefiting from heavy play on MTV, ‘Run Runaway’ was Slade's breakthrough hit in the United States and would remain the band's biggest success there; it peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Rock Top Tracks Chart.
Label – RCA
Songwriters – Noddy Holder, Jim Lea
Producer – John Punter
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]Hold on
[Verse 1]
I like black and white
Dreaming of black and white
You like black and white
Run, runaway
See chameleon
Lying there in the sun
All thanks to everyone
Run, runaway (Hey)
[Verse 2]
If you're in the swing
Money ain't everything
If you're in the swing
Run, runaway
See chameleon
Lying there in the sun
All thanks to everyone
Run, runaway (Hey)
[Verse 3]
If you got a crush
Don't beat about the bush
When I got a crush
Run, runaway
See chameleon
Lying there in the sun
All thanks to everyone
Run, runaway (Woo)
[Interlude]
Hey, yeah
[Verse 4]
Oh, now can't you wait?
Love don't come on a plate
Oh, now can't you wait?
Run, runaway
See the chameleon
Lying there in the sun
All thanks to everyone
Run, runaway (Hey)
[Outro]
Run, runaway
Run, runaway
Run, runaway