- Album This song officially appears on the Rubber Soul (UK Mono) LP.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Oct 12, 1965
Nov 09, 1965
Nov 10, 1965
Get Back sessions - January 21, 1969 - Day 10
Jan 21, 1969
Get Back sessions - January 31, 1969 - Day 20
Jan 31, 1969
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Run for Your Life” is a song recorded by the Beatles for their 1965 album Rubber Soul. The song, credited to “Lennon–McCartney”, was primarily a John Lennon composition.
Background
The song’s lyrics establish a threatening tone towards the singer’s unnamed girlfriend (referred to throughout the song as “little girl”), claiming “I’d rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man.” The line was taken from an early Elvis Presley song, “Baby, Let’s Play House” (written by Arthur Gunter). Lennon designated this song as his “least favourite Beatles song” in a 1973 interview and later said it was the song he most regretted writing. He also stated that the song was one of George Harrison’s favourite songs on Rubber Soul at that time, despite Lennon’s dislike of it.
Lennon would revisit this theme in a more apologetic fashion with his post-Beatles song “Jealous Guy“.
Personnel
Ian MacDonald criticised the vocal performance and added these comments about the guitar: “The guitar-work, some of which is badly out of tune, is similarly rough, the piercingly simplistic blues solo suggesting that the player was not Harrison but Lennon himself.“
Paul McCartney, in Many Years From Now, by Barry Miles:
John was always on the run, running for his life. He was married; whereas none of my songs would have ‘catch you with another man’. It was never a concern of mine, at all, because I had a girlfriend and I would go with other girls; it was a perfectly open relationship so I wasn’t as worried about that as John was. A bit of a macho song.
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
- [a] mono 9 Nov 1965.
UK: Parlophone PMC 1267 Rubber Soul 1965.
US: Capitol T 2442 Rubber Soul 1965.- [b] stereo 10 Nov 1965.
UK: Parlophone PCS 3075 Rubber Soul 1965.
US: Capitol ST 2442 Rubber Soul 1965.- [c] stereo 1987.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46440 2 Rubber Soul 1987.A thump during the instrumental break– possibly someone hitting a microphone– has been removed in [c].
Last updated on March 26, 2016
Lyrics
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, little girl
Well I 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, 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
I catch you with another man
That's the end, 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, little girl
Na, na, na
Na, na, na
Na, na, na
Na, na, na
Officially appears on
LP • Released in 1965
2:18 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
LP • Released in 1965
2:18 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 10, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
2:26 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1965
2:21 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 10, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
CD • Released in 1987
2:18 • Studio version • C • Stereo • 1987 mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- 1987 remixing, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Rubber Soul (US - 2006 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2006
2:21 • Studio version • B2006 • Stereo • 2006 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 10, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Rubber Soul (US - 2006 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2006
2:26 • Studio version • A2006 • Mono • 2006 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Rubber Soul (Mono - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:18 • Studio version • A2009 • Mono • 2009 mono remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Sean Magee :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 09, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Rubber Soul (Mono - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:18 • Studio version • B2009 • Stereo • 2009 stereo remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Sean Magee :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 10, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road
Rubber Soul (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:18 • Studio version • C2009 • Stereo • 2009 stereo remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums, Tambourine
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Harmony vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- 1987 remixing, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
Rubber Soul - Studio Sessions - Back To Basics
Unofficial album • Released in 2012
0:15 • Outtake • Stereo • Take 1
- Session Recording:
- Oct 12, 1965
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Unofficial album
8:47 • Rehearsal • Take This Hammer-Long Lost John-Five Feet High And Rising-Bear Cat Mama-Black Dog Blues-The Right String But The Wrong Yo-Yo-
A/B Road Complete Get Back Sessions - Jan 21st, 1969 - 1 & 2
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
0:32 • Rehearsal • Jan.21 - D2-03 - Run For Your Life 21.29
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Ringo Starr • John Lennon • George Harrison
- Session Recording:
- Jan 21, 1969
- Studio :
- Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London
A/B Road Complete Get Back Sessions - Jan 31th, 1969 - 1 & 2
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
9:03 • Rehearsal • Medley with "Take This Hammer","Lost John","Five Feet High and Rising","Bear Cat Mama","Black Dog","Right String, Wrong Yo-Yo"
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Ringo Starr • John Lennon • George Harrison
- Session Recording:
- Jan 31, 1969
- Studio :
- Apple Studios, 3 Savile Row, London
Rubber Soul - Studio Sessions - Back To Basics
Unofficial album • Released in 2012
0:29 • Alternate take • (Studio Chat) (mono)
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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