It must have been my lucky Thursday
Your dad went on that spree
Before the crew could put out the fires
You hopped a bus for NYC
Down in Tampa the future looked desperate and dark
Now you're the wonderwaif of Gramercy Park
Who makes the morning fabulous
Who says today's a fun day
Why do I feel like sailing again
Honey it's you Janie Runaway
Let's grab some takeout from Dean and Deluca
A hearty gulping wine
You be the showgirl and I'll be Sinatra
Way back in '59
Sweetness in heels, look at you, in long black gloves
Come to old blue eyes tell me, who do you love
Who makes the traffic interesting
Rescues a dreary Sunday
Who makes me feel like painting again
Honey it's you, Janie Runaway
Let's plan a weekend alone together
Drive out to Binky's place
The sugar shack in Pennsylvania
Or would that be a federal case?
We'll take the Big Red, the Blazer, it's nice inside
And guess who's coming along for the ride
Who has a friend named Melanie
Who's not afraid to try new things
Who gets to spend her birthday in Spain
Possibly you, Janie Runaway
Your dad went on that spree
Before the crew could put out the fires
You hopped a bus for NYC
Down in Tampa the future looked desperate and dark
Now you're the wonderwaif of Gramercy Park
Who makes the morning fabulous
Who says today's a fun day
Why do I feel like sailing again
Honey it's you Janie Runaway
Let's grab some takeout from Dean and Deluca
A hearty gulping wine
You be the showgirl and I'll be Sinatra
Way back in '59
Sweetness in heels, look at you, in long black gloves
Come to old blue eyes tell me, who do you love
Who makes the traffic interesting
Rescues a dreary Sunday
Who makes me feel like painting again
Honey it's you, Janie Runaway
Let's plan a weekend alone together
Drive out to Binky's place
The sugar shack in Pennsylvania
Or would that be a federal case?
We'll take the Big Red, the Blazer, it's nice inside
And guess who's coming along for the ride
Who has a friend named Melanie
Who's not afraid to try new things
Who gets to spend her birthday in Spain
Possibly you, Janie Runaway
Lyrics submitted by blackiswhite
Janie Runaway Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Not sure if you're serious with the "take-out" comment, but... Dean & Deluca's is an ultra-high-end grocery store that also sells takeout. Food, not clothes.
I enjoy reading the various theories about how the song is really about drugs, but really, dude, it's a stretch.
The speaker in the song reels her in by using her flair for the dramatic and romantic (typical of many teenage girls) against her. "You be the showgirl, I'll be Sinatra..." He also mentions a few other creepy things that I haven't heard anyone with this same take as mine: Sailing - which is taking her to an isolated situation where she cannot get away easily. Painting - suddenly he feels like painting (nude?) portraits...so innocent-sounding. Getting her drunk - "hearty gulping wine."
And just to kick it up a notch, he lets her know that, if she doesn't "come along for the ride," there's another, more willing girl waiting in the wings. If she does, she MIGHT get some glamorous goodies, like a trip to Spain, picnics, weekend alone together, her portrait painted (flattery), and sailing.
But he's the real deal child molester, taking Janie on the trip to Pennsylvania ( a federal case = crossing state lines with a minor for the purposes of sex) with her new "friend" Melanie so they can have a threesome (trying "new things") at Binky's place. And, of course, if she does it, Janie just might get a trip to Spain out of it...
God-damned wonderful Dan.