Song Information
“Run, Run, Run” is a Motown single recorded by The Supremes and released on February 8, 1964 under Motown’s subsidiary label, Motown Records (catalog number M 1052). The track was written and produced by the iconic team Holland–Dozier–Holland, who were responsible for many of the group’s biggest hits. Despite being released shortly before the group’s breakout success with “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Run, Run, Run” only reached #93 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it a lesser-known entry in the Supremes’ early catalog. It features Diana Ross on lead vocals, with Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson on background harmonies.
Song Meaning & Summary
“Run, Run, Run” is a spirited warning from a young woman to herself—or perhaps to another—about the dangerous allure of a smooth-talking, womanizing man. The lyrics portray the singer as fully aware of the man’s reputation, warning of his pattern of seducing and abandoning women without remorse. Instead of giving in to his charm, she advises herself to literally “run, run, run” away from him before getting hurt.
The song’s upbeat tempo and Motown-style instrumentation contrast with the cautionary message, creating an ironic undertone. It’s a clever fusion of vulnerability and strength—while the narrator is clearly tempted, she chooses self-preservation over emotional risk. That sense of empowerment, rare in pop songs of the early 1960s, was part of what made The Supremes such a fresh and progressive force in music.
With themes of temptation, heartbreak, and female agency, “Run, Run, Run” highlights the transition from innocence to experience—a theme that would become increasingly common in the Supremes’ later work.
Explaining the Core Issue Raised
The central issue in “Run, Run, Run” lies in the emotional conflict between attraction and self-preservation. The lyrics reflect a young woman’s struggle to resist a charming but unreliable man. What’s powerful here is that the singer isn’t naive—she sees the pattern, hears the warnings, and still feels the pull. This duality represents a universal theme in relationships: the tension between desire and reason.
In many early ’60s pop songs, women were often portrayed as passive or victims of love. But this song flips that script. The narrator may feel emotionally vulnerable, but she’s not waiting to be saved—she’s saving herself. This theme of “I know better, even if I don’t want to listen to myself” feels surprisingly modern. It’s a reflection of growing female self-awareness, especially in the context of dating and romantic choices.
The Supremes, especially through Holland–Dozier–Holland’s songwriting, were pioneers in giving voice to the complicated emotional realities of young women. “Run, Run, Run” didn’t chart high, but it was a formative step in shaping the group’s voice—a sound that would soon come to define an era.
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Lyrics
Girls, gather ’round me and hear the news
He finally kissed me, oh, happy day
My heart’s gotta shout it
I’ll get my diary and write about it
(Well, as your friends, we wanna say
He’ll break your heart one day
So, you better run run run run run run
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
Oh-oh-oh, but he’s such a quiet kind of guy
How he thrills me, my oh my
Maybe it isn’t true
What they’re sayin’ about him
(Don’t be fooled by the shyness in his eyes) His eyes
(Don’t you know he’s just a devil in disguise?
So, you better run run run run run run
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
Oooooooooh
Oooooooooh
(Well, as your friends, we wanna say
He’ll make a fool of you one day
So, you better run run run run run run
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
No no no, but how can I run away
When I love him more each day?
So, with him, I’m gonna stay
I’ll take my chances along the way
He won my heart from the start
From him, I will never never part
I love him so, love him so,
Never let him go
Every time he gets nearer,
My love gets dearer, so much dearer
Oh, no no no, no, I’ll never run,
No, I’ll never run
No no no no