Teenage Mary said to Uncle Dave
I sold my soul, must be saved
Gonna take a walk down to Union Square
You never know who you're gonna find there
You gotta run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
Marguerita Passion had to get her fix
She wasn't well, she was getting sick
Went to sell her soul, she wasn't high
Didn't know, thinks she could buy it
And she would run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
Seasick Sarah had a golden nose
Hobnail boots wrapped around her toes
When she turned blue, all the angels screamed
They didn't know, they couldn't make the scene
She had to run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
Beardless Harry, what a waste
Couldn't even get a small-town taste
Rode the trolleys down to forty-seven
Figured he was good to get himself to heaven
'Cause he had to run, run, run, run, run Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do



Lyrics submitted by capitol76

Track duration: 04:23

"Run Run Run" as written by Vicci Martinez, Johan Carisson, Chad Wolfenbarger

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Run Run Run song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I think it describes the deaths of people (due to heroin) that were actually decent people who got mixed up with the lifestyle. an angsty, apathetic teenager, seasick sarah, probably blonde and had class, and poor wretched harry. but even the angels can't attend them when they die, though Sarah was well-loved. No spot in heaven for a "gypsy death"
    Flag minuetteon September 30, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Not every Velvet song is about heroin, but this one definitely is.

    This song is very much like Walk On the Wild Side with each verse introducing a new character.
    Flag hallogalloon November 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"Teenage Mary, said to uncle dave/Sold my soul, must be saved"

    The virgin mary was a teenager when she found out she would have jesus as a son. Uncle Dave could be King David, who was connected to the birth of Jesus (not sure how). Introduces the song with some sort of biblical religious reference (regardless of the meaning has been influential in songwriters like black francis).
    Flag TozieDon January 09, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Velvet Underground songs overall aren't too hard to interpret -- the thing that I love about their lyrics are more the deeper implications behind the song's rather straight-forward lyrics. Why did they make a song about four kids killing themselves on drugs? It is just complete self-awareness. They are dying through their choice of drug, through their lifestyle -- and the self-hatred and equal indifference just resonates through so much of their music.
    Flag AndrewVSon June 12, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"When she turned blue, all the angels screamed
    They didn't know, they couldn't make the scene"

    someone explain this to me, please
    Flag othatzsokewlon November 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:BTY chasing the dragon is smokking/searching for Opium... but the songs deff. talking about H Smack or Heroin whatever u wanna call it...
    Flag g0alpost1on September 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:MY FAVORITE VU SONG... well heroins maybe a bit better.. but yeah i love this band
    Flag g0alpost1on September 09, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:the constant rhythm in the song is perfect. the guitar is quite unique as well. it's all over the place. but most of the velvets stuff is.
    Flag prettywhnsedatedon December 26, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:can someone explain this songs plot?
    Flag richa_zerlinaon October 13, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:There is a fantastic live version of this song (it skips the second verse) where you feel the energy of the song. Just great lines - the opening verse for me always set the mood. Taking a walk to Union Square and then you never know what you'll find there. Lou writes from personal experience of the lower Manhattan drug scene.
    Flag John_Caleon October 09, 2006   Link

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