Dion explains his emotional ride with a non-committal, non-monogamous woman, and subsequent advice he gives to anyone else that Runaround Sue crosses paths with.
The song was a US chart-topper in October 1961. IT also reached #1 in Canada and New Zealand and peaked at #2 in Australia. Rolling Stone...
[Intro]
Here's my story, it's sad but true
It's about a girl that I once knew
She took my love, then ran around
With every single guy in town
[Chorus]
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di, hape)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di, hape)
[Verse 1]
Yeah, I should have known it from the very start
This girl would leave me with a broken heart
Now, listen people what I'm tellin' you
I'd keep away from a Runaround Sue, yeah
[Verse 2]
I might miss her lips and the smile on her face
The touch of her hand and this girl's warm embrace
So, if you don't wanna cry like I do
I'd keep away from a Runaround Sue
[Chorus]
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di, hape)
(Ahhh)
[Bridge]
She likes to travel around, yeah
She'll love you, and she'll put you down
Now, people let me put you wise
Sue goes out with other guys
[Verse 3]
Here's the moral and the story from the guy who knows
I fell in love, and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say
A-keep away from a Runaround Sue
[Chorus]
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di) Yeah, keep away from this girl
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di) I know, know what she'll do
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di, hape) Keep away from Sue
(Ahhh)
[Bridge]
She likes to travel around, yeah
She'll love you, and she'll put you down
Now, people let me put you wise
She goes out with other guys
[Verse 3]
Here's the moral and the story from the guy who knows
I fell in love, and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll tell ya
A-keep away from a Runaround Sue, yeah
[Outro]
Stay away from that girl
Don't you know what she'll do now
Whoa-whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Keep away from that girl
Don't you know
Runaround Sue was written by Dion & Ernie Maresca.
Dion released Runaround Sue on Fri Sep 01 1961.
In an interview with Marc Myers for the book Anatomy of a Song, Dion Dimucci described the song’s genesis at a birthday party in the Bronx for his friend Ellen, whom he carried a torch for:
We had a portable phonograph, but we soon turned it off and began making up our own songs. … I got everyone t...