The Beatles' Run For Your Life - Official Stalker Song?

I mean, have you ever really listened to and thought about the lyrics to this song?

Sure, it was written long before our current concept of "the stalker" and O.J. becoming a synonym for same but nevertheless, viewed from the vantage point of 2004, the words seem somehow far more ominous.

Read and decide for yourself:
_______________________

Well I'd rather see you dead, little girl
Than to be with another man
You better keep your head, little girl
Or I won't know where I am

You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end'a little girl

Well you know that I'm a wicked guy
And I was born with a jealous mind
And I can't spend my whole life
Trying just to make you toe the line

You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end'a little girl

Let this be a sermon
I mean everything I've said
Baby, I'm determined
And I'd rather see you dead

You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end'a little girl

I'd rather see you dead, little girl
Than to be with another man
You better keep your head, little girl
Or you won't know where I am

You better run for your life if you can, little girl
Hide your head in the sand little girl
Catch you with another man
That's the end'a little girl
Na, na, na
Na, na, na
Na, na, na
Na, na,

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Article comments

  • 1 - Al Barger

    Jun 27, 2004 at 4:46 pm

    True enough. John Lennon wrote this one, of course. McCartney just would never have entertained such a thought. Think of this as something of a mental companion to "Jealous Guy."

    For his part, John apparently hated this song himself. I suspect that he was a bit embarrassed by the shitty sentiment. Unlike OJ, he did not have any history of spousal abuse, let alone murder.

    On the other hand, it is a pretty good actual song. Also, the unusual harshness of the sentiment adds a little interesting texture to all those nicey-nice Paul McCartney songs.

  • 2 - JR

    Jun 27, 2004 at 5:14 pm

    Unlike OJ, he did not have any history of spousal abuse...

    Unless you believe Albert Goldman.

    Musically, I always liked this song.

  • 3 - Al Barger

    Jun 27, 2004 at 5:25 pm

    Why would anyone believe Albert Goldman?

  • 4 - Vern Halen

    Jun 27, 2004 at 8:43 pm

    I read the Goldman book - frankly, never really paid much attention to Lennon's personal life - always liked his contributions to the Beatles, though. So, was the biography inaccurate, or was he really the wet noodle he was made out to be?

  • 5 - Al Barger

    Jun 27, 2004 at 11:00 pm

    Goldman was pretty notorious, and not just for his Lennon bio. I wouldn't put much stock in anything from Goldman.

    Which is not to say that John Lennon was without fault. He himself would PUKE at the way he's been turned into a cheap plastic dashboard saint. He was a heroin addict, cheated on his wives, and could be a major league asshole sometimes.

    He did not, however, have a reputation for being violent, particularly towards women.

    Oh, and between dope and drinking binges, he was also one of the greatest singers and songwriters of the rock era.

  • 6 - Shark

    Jun 28, 2004 at 10:00 am

    Another great stalker song from Steve Earle:

    -- More Than I Can Do --

    I'm trying hard to let you go
    But it's more than I can do
    And every day or two
    I wind up right back where I started
    I'm trying not to let you know
    That I'm still in love with you
    I can't just sit home blue
    'Cause there ain't no rest for the brokenhearted

    Just because you won't unlock your door
    That don't mean you don't love me anymore
    No matter what you do
    Because you know it's more than I can do

    You told me that I got to stop
    But it's more than I can do
    And that ain't nothing new
    'Cause we both know that I'm crazy about you

    You said you're gonna call the cops
    But I ain't gonna run
    Because you're the only one
    There ain't no way I could live without you

    You left me just when I needed you
    So l ain't even close to through with you

    ==== end of lyrics ====

    from the CD: I Feel Alright

  • 7 - JR

    Jun 28, 2004 at 11:20 am

    He did not, however, have a reputation for being violent, particularly towards women.

    Well, he punched a waitress at the Troubadour in 1974. I don't know if that's at all indicative of any of his relationships; but he sounds a little more violent than, say, Paul McCartney or George Harrison.

  • 8 - The Dude

    Jun 28, 2004 at 3:04 pm

    Actually the first line of the song ("I rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man") comes from an old Elvis Presley cover, "Baby Let's Play House," I think.
    Ol' Johnny was a big Elvis fan and probably took that line to create the song. So I may be guessing, but I think the song is more of a music exercise than a confessional work of art.

  • 9 - phil

    Sep 21, 2005 at 9:57 pm

    this is not the first song to talk about killing a girl...a much more somber song is from a few years earlier...called Tom Dooley. They are just music lyrics people, but the song was banned in Canada in its day. when you think of all the violence on tv every day...whats the big deal

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