Runaround Sue - Dion [DiMucci] (cover-live by Bill Sharkey)

Runaround Sue (Dion [DiMucci], 1961). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2025-09-06. "Keeping the Oldies & Classics Alive"

"Runaround Sue," written by Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca, was Dion's first no. 1 hit as a solo artist. It was his second top 40 hit. The song reached the no. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961 and remained on the chart for 14 weeks (Whitburn, 2013). Additionally, Leif Garrett had a hit with the song in 1977; his version landed at the no. 17 position on the Billboard chart (Whitburn, 2013). In 2002, "Runaround Sue" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (grammy, 2025). According to Dion, the song "came about by partying in a schoolyard. We were jamming, hitting tops of boxes. I gave everyone parts like the horn parts we'd hear in the Apollo Theater and it became a jam that we kept up for 45 minutes . . . But when I actually wrote the song and brought it into the studio to record it, well, her name wasn't actually Sue. It was about, you know, some girl who loved to be worshiped but as soon as you want a commitment and express your love for her, she's gone. So the song was a reaction to that kind of woman. . . I remember telling the band, 'No cymbals! I don't want a drum kit, we're just gonna clap our hands" (songfacts, 2025). After leaving the Belmonts, Dion enlisted The Del Satins to sing backup for him on his early solo recordings (delsatins, 2013).

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Lyrics:

Here's my story, it's sad but true
It's about a girl that I once knew
She took my love then ran around
With every single guy in town

Ah, I should have known it from the very start
This girl will leave me with a broken heart
Now listen people what I'm telling you
A-keep away from-a Runaround Sue
I miss her lips and the smile on her face
The touch of her hair and this girl's warm embrace
So if you don't wanna cry like I do
A-keep away from-a Runaround Sue

Ah, she likes to travel around
She'll love you but she'll put you down
Now people let me put you wise
Sue goes out with other guys
Here's the moral and the story from the guy who knows
I fell in love and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say
Keep away from-a Runaround Sue

Yeah keep away from this girl
I know what she'll do
Keep away from Sue

She likes to travel around
She'll love you but she'll put you down
Now people let me put you wise
Sue goes out with other guys
Here's the moral and the story from the guy who knows
I fell in love and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say
Keep away from-a Runaround Sue