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, you 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
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


Lyrics submitted by Ice

Run For Your Life Lyrics as written by Paul Mccartney John Lennon

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Run for Your Life song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +6
    Song Meaning

    The basic message of this song is: if you cheat on me, I'll kill you.

    Creepiest Beatles song EVER, IMO.

    purplepassionon March 18, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Great song. John was known for his sometimes apparent "jealous mind." Very bitter lyrics..."I’d rather see you dead, little girl, Than to be with another man."

    missbinnyon July 18, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    But did you know that John "borrowed" those two lines from an Elvis song, "Baby Let's Play House"? He always regretted doing that, saying it was lazy, and it was apparently his least favourite of his own songs. He later did the same with Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me" for the first two lines of "Come Together".

    butterfingersbeckon September 18, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is one of the few lennon "regretted writing"

    fixerupperon June 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, John was actually quoted as saying he hated this song. It's a good tune, so I'm not sure why he would hate it. However, John was a feminist, so he might have hated the somewhat chauvenistic lyrics - being so possessive of a woman that you threaten to kill her.

    TangeledUpInBlueon June 30, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I can see why John regretted writing it. This is one of the more problematic songs on Rubber Soul. There seems to be a theme running through the love songs on the album - they're less poppy and more cerebral, adding analysis to what was previously goofy lyrical love. Most of the other songs - "Think For Yourself," "I'm Looking Through You," "Girl" - take the moral high road, however, while this one is actually masochistic. At least Lennon's later "Jealous Guy" inspires a bit more sympathy. Catchy tune, but I don't care for the lyrics.

    On a side note - on the Rubber Soul tribute album released last year, the Cowboy Junkies cover this song, flipping the gender roles. It's interesting.

    maddsurgeonon March 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    harsh lyrics by lennon. songs good

    heyjude55on April 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song reminds me of my ex messed up i know lol

    elderlymechanicon September 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I sort of like how scary it is. It's full of passion like he really digs into his voice as he sings it sort of...run for you life if you can little girl...little girl. I can see why he would have hated it, though, having written it himself. If I had written something so bluntly jealous and threatening, I would hate it, too, worried that people would get the wrong impression of me. But the song itself is really powerful. I like it.

    HeyJude91on July 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is quite a song. Lennon was definitely feeling brave and scared when he wrote this one. He is also 100% trying to be Dylan in the verses as well, not a bad impression.

    hockeyplayer168on November 20, 2007   Link

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