Run For Your Life: Introduction
“Run For Your Life” is a Beatles song from their Rubber Soul album. It wasn’t a favourite of John Lennon, even though he wrote it.
In Detail
- Publisher: Northern Songs
- Release Date: December 3, 1965 (UK), December 6, 1965 (US)
- Recorded: October 12, 1965
- Studio: EMI Studios, London
- Genre: Rock and roll, rock
- Track Duration: 2:18
- Record Label: Parlophone
- Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Norman Smith
Performers And Instruments
- John Lennon: vocal, acoustic 12-string guitar, slide guitar
- Paul McCartney: harmony vocal, also the bass guitar
- George Harrison: harmony vocal, electric rhythm guitar, lead guitar
- Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine
Where To Find “Run For Your Life”
This song is still available to buy on the following album:
Run For Your Life: Background
Although John Lennon wrote the song, he didn’t particularly like it. Indeed, in 1973, he said he “regretted writing it.” In contrast, George Harrison thought it was the best on the Rubber Soul album. So, there is a little bit of a conflict here. Be that as it may, the inspiration for the song came from an Elvis Presley track from 1955, “Baby Let’s Play House.”
“Just a sort of throwaway song of mine that I never thought much of, but it was always a favourite of George’s.
It has a line from an old Presley song: “I’d rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man.” It is a line from an old blues song that Presley did once.”
John Lennon
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
“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.”
Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
Recording Studio
The Beatles began recording “Run For Your Life” on October 12, 1965, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios in London (2.30 p.m.–7.00 p.m. session). In fact, it was the first recording for their new Rubber Soul album.
There were 5 takes that day, with take 5 becoming suitable for the backing vocals overdub together with the tambourine, acoustic guitar, and electric guitars.
Although the song attracted negative remarks from some critics, it was good enough for the classic Rubber Soul LP, despite being the last song on the album. So, what do you think of this song?
Take A Listen
Have a listen to the song and see if you can tell why George Harrison likes it and John Lennon doesn’t. Once you give it a spin, why not let us know how it makes you feel?
