The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another, you been messin' around
They say you got a boyfriend
You're out late every weekend
They're talkin' about you and it's bringin' me down
But I know the neighborhood
And talk is cheap when the story is good
And the tales grow taller on down the line
But I'm tellin' you, babe
That I don't think it's true, babe
And even if it is, keep this in mind
You take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
You're thinkin' up your white lies
You're puttin' on your bedroom eyes
You say you're comin' home but you won't say when
But I can feel it comin'
If you leave tonight, keep runnin'
And you need never look back again
You take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
Take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
Take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another, you been messin' around
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another, you been messin' around
They say you got a boyfriend
You're out late every weekend
They're talkin' about you and it's bringin' me down
But I know the neighborhood
And talk is cheap when the story is good
And the tales grow taller on down the line
But I'm tellin' you, babe
That I don't think it's true, babe
And even if it is, keep this in mind
You take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
You're thinkin' up your white lies
You're puttin' on your bedroom eyes
You say you're comin' home but you won't say when
But I can feel it comin'
If you leave tonight, keep runnin'
And you need never look back again
You take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
Take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
Take it on the run, baby
If that's the way you want it, baby
Then I don't want you around
I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You're under the gun, so you take it on the run
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another, you been messin' around
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So far I haven't seen anyone nail the meaning of this song. I have a 100% connection to what this song is about.
This song is about a guy who is dating a woman. This woman has obviously been leaving for periods of time and he has this trust in her that everything is ok.
Then he starts hearing from people that "you've been messing around." So it seems on one of the night she plans on going out, he starts asking about where she is going and what she is doing that night and he sees that "You’re thinking up your white lies. You’re putting on your bedroom eyes. You say you’re coming home but you won’t say when..." He puts her "under the gun" by telling her what he has been hearing and tells her that at that moment he doesn't believe it but to take this message when she is leaving "so you take it on the run" (also implies that she could be running around with other men so he might actually believe it) and the key message is "If you leave tonight keep running" because if she does leave, he doesn't need her coming back again.
The under the gun is telling her she needs to make a choice. She can either stay with him or he believes she really is messing around with other people and he doesn't need her still around.
He tries to give her the benefit of the doubt though by saying the rumors could be nothing and talk is cheap. He wants her to prove to him with actions that she wants to be with him by staying. If she leaves though, he will believe what the others are saying and that she is messing around on him.
Unfortunately, the song also implies that she did leave him instead of staying, so he says "You take it on the run baby, if that's the way you want it baby, then I don't want you around."