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.
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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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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Great version of a great song,
Blue
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This is some creepy predatory bored wealthy older man in NYC who picks up runaway girls who are probably cute and VERY young (we'll drive to PA from NY- across the state border, "would that be a federal case" of kidnapping?), takes them in to 'take care' of them in turn for sexual favors (no doubt). He keeps taunting Janie with all the fun things they can do, so long as she keeps being 'interesting' to him. (tee hee - you be the showgirl and I'll be Sinatra. Oh yeah!) It sounds like he is basically threatening her with her friend? Melanie as another runaway who is more willing to perform more lewd acts than Janie is and thus, Janie better get a lot more willng and creative if she wants to go to Spain with this creep. It just amazes me how the Dan's depraved lyrics can sound so innocent with that awsome music fooling you into thinking the song is about something different until you READ the words! They are the BEST!!