This is the extended version of the LP. The video comes from the short version. So I had to make a DIY 😉
Video : unknown director.
“Runaway Child, Running Wild” (shown as “Run Away Child, Running Wild” on the label of the original single) is a 1969 hit single for the Gordy (Motown) label, performed by The Temptations and produced by Norman Whitfield. The single was both the second from their landmark Cloud Nine LP, and the second of their “psychedelic soul” tracks penned by Whitfield and former Motown artist Barrett Strong.
Featuring all five Temptations – Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams) – trading verses and harmony lines, “Runaway Child, Running Wild” paints a tale of a young boy (presumably a preteen) who runs away from home after being punished for playing hooky. The boy wanders the dark streets alone, eventually realizing he cannot survive on his own, but cannot find his way home, and ends up lost, frightened by strangers, unfamiliar landmarks, and his own thoughts. “Runaway child runnin’ wild,” the Temptations tell the boy during the chorus, “you better go back home/where you belong”.
The Temptations alternately express and depict his fears, with the tension of the record building to a climax over the first five minutes of the record. At this point, the vocals fade out, and the record briefly gives voice to its young protagonist, who cries desperately for his mother before fading into the mix. “Runaway Child” then segues into an extended instrumental passage, during which Earl Van Dyke’s organ, Joe Messina’s electric guitar, and Dennis Coffey’s distorted wah-wah pedal guitar take center stage for four minutes. After the instrumental builds the song up to a second climax, the track is stripped to a bassline and repeating hi-hat figure, and The Temptations return to the mix to issue one final admonition to the runaway: “Listen to your heart beat/it’s beating much too fast/go back home/where you belong”.
The single version of “Runaway Child” only features the first five minutes of the song, fading out before the instrumental section begins.
“Runaway Child, Running Wild” is often cited as one of the best songs on the subject of runaways, and Temptation Otis Williams often hears from fans that the record’s terrifying depiction of running away kept them from doing so as children.[1] The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Black Singles chart, and reached #6 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.[2] Earl Van Dyke, who performs the prominent organ solo during the instrumental section of the record, recorded his own instrumental version of “Runaway Child, Running Wild”, which was released as a single the same year.
Lead and background vocals by Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams
Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers, with featured solos by Earl Van Dyke (organ), Joe Messina (electric guitar), and Dennis Coffey (wah-wah guitar)
(Wikipedia).
I remember how gritty back in the days was especially for a kid growing up in the NYC/Brooklyn traveling in the subways from Brooklyn to the Bronx vice versa to 42nd to Harlem was ruff but at the same time something I appreciated how much more street wise I am now.
Classic group that had some means singers and musicians one of my favorites comparable to the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Wow did I say that but it’s true look at these guys on stage with moves and control of the performances.
I'm run way child but not a wild pre teenagers, I haves a situational then, with, parental daddy dearest, he's so fortunately, he's, still a lived hardly home's, also when I do trying too gets out of the circles, I still returned too that's places, regards if I keeps escaped,
PEACE AND BLESSINGS GBU SALUTE TO THIS MASTERPIECE OF THE TEMPTATION IN THE THEIR LYRICS THEIR EXPOSING SEX TRAFFICKING WHICH IS GOING ON TODAY STILL ITS JUST MORE THAN A SONG IT"S AWARENESS TO OUR UPCOMING GENERATION OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
Phenomenal. . remember this like it was yesterday ..Served it's purpose to all kids of all races Big city was not where anybody would want to be alone… No matter who the hell you were. The talent in this one song blows 20 years of "stars" of today… just so you know
You played hookie from school and you can't go out to play, yeah Mama said, for the rest of the week, in your room you gotta stay, yeah Oh ho, now you feel like the whole world's pickin' on you But deep down inside, you know it ain't true You're in punishment 'Cause your mother wants to raise you in the right way, yeah But you don't care 'Cause you already made up your mind you wanna run away yeah You're on your way, runaway child, running wild Runaway child running wild Better go back home where you belong Roaming through the city going nowhere fast, you're on your own at last Hey, it's gettin' late, where will you sleep? You're gettin' kinda hungry, you forgot to bring something to eat Oh, lost with no money you start to cry But remember, you left home wantin' to be grown, so dry your weeping eyes Sirens screamin' down neon lighted streets You want your mama Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run Are they looking for you? You're frightened and confused I want my mama Run, run, run, run, run, run, run But she's much too far away, she can't hear a word you say You've heard some frightening news on the radio About little boys running away from home And the parents don't see them no more You wanna stop to hitch a ride, I know But your mama told you never trust a stranger And you don't know which way to go Streets are dark and deserted, not a sound nor sign of life Oh how you long to hear your mother's voice, 'cause you're lost and alone But remember, you made the choice, runaway child, running wild You better go back home where you belong He he he, oh, runaway child, running wild You better go back home where you belong You're lost in this great big city Go back home where you belong Not one familiar face, ain't it a pity Go back home where you belong Oh, runaway child running wild You better go back home where you belong Oh yeah, my girl Mama, mama, please, come and sit here by me Oh but she's much too far away, she can't hear a word you say Oh, you're frightened and confused, which way will you choose
11years old when I got my proper musical Education. Older sister brought home Temptations cloud nine, Hendrix's are you experienced, Cream's goodbye, Grateful Dead, Steppenwolf 2, Grand Funk's closer to home, Sly & the Family Stone. Been groovin to them ever since.
Lord this bring me back to my baby brother who ran away in SF cali at thirteen and he told me he was so scared miss u baby bro Rip I’m stay here at 70 groovy your song watching the North Star or this bright red star in Alt could u believe in I’m in the south thank u U tube for letting an old woman remember family that has passed way but we loved and had the best music in my life tome❤❤❤❤❤
NycFraklucas
Also one of Raymond Lee Washingtons favorite songs da founder and leaders of da CRIPS
I was 13 and this was doing the riots in Newark and Detroit.
1)First album with Dennis Edwards after David Ruffin, 2) Mutitrack recording is just coming into the industry at this time.
NEVER WISH TO BE MORE THAN WHAT YOU ARE. JUST VE THE BEST FUCKING YOU CAN BE AT THE MOMENT.
Maybe more blacks should have heeded this warning but nooooooo.
Great song love that era
I remember how gritty back in the days was especially for a kid growing up in the NYC/Brooklyn traveling in the subways from Brooklyn to the Bronx vice versa to 42nd to Harlem was ruff but at the same time something I appreciated how much more street wise I am now.
THIS is a masterpiece!!
Classic group that had some means singers and musicians one of my favorites comparable to the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Wow did I say that but it’s true look at these guys on stage with moves and control of the performances.
i love that song
1969..
The world where we live.
Where everyone is an enemy, and no one is a friend.
Bobby Fischer brought me here. Rip Bobby Fischer.
Another nitty gritty temptations.
I miss the original temptations love this song I was 5years old when this song came out
I'm run way child but not a wild pre teenagers, I haves a situational then, with, parental daddy dearest, he's so fortunately, he's, still a lived hardly home's, also when I do trying too gets out of the circles, I still returned too that's places, regards if I keeps escaped,
PEACE AND BLESSINGS GBU SALUTE TO THIS MASTERPIECE OF THE TEMPTATION IN THE THEIR LYRICS THEIR EXPOSING SEX TRAFFICKING WHICH IS GOING ON TODAY STILL ITS JUST MORE THAN A SONG IT"S AWARENESS TO OUR UPCOMING GENERATION OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
Superior Supreme Perfection
I rank the temps with the stones zep the who the kinks and bobby Dylan and maybe even the Beatles nuff said
Phenomenal.
. remember this like it was yesterday
..Served it's purpose to all kids of all races
Big city was not where anybody would want to be alone… No matter who the hell you were. The talent in this one song blows 20 years of "stars" of today… just so you know
Temptations are the World's Best Group..
Slammin' Classic
" DARK TEMPTATION FOREVER "
Paul says the word, "running," extremely nice at 2:39.
Still relevant in this century – notice that radio stations avoid this so-called “woke” message music. SMDH
For some reason Motown saved its most prolific and cutting edge music arrangements for The Temptations.
I am the runaway child…I'm 40 now and I'm still a runaway child.lol
You played hookie from school and you can't go out to play, yeah
Mama said, for the rest of the week, in your room you gotta stay, yeah
Oh ho, now you feel like the whole world's pickin' on you
But deep down inside, you know it ain't true
You're in punishment
'Cause your mother wants to raise you in the right way, yeah
But you don't care
'Cause you already made up your mind you wanna run away yeah
You're on your way, runaway child, running wild
Runaway child running wild
Better go back home where you belong
Roaming through the city going nowhere fast, you're on your own at last
Hey, it's gettin' late, where will you sleep?
You're gettin' kinda hungry, you forgot to bring something to eat
Oh, lost with no money you start to cry
But remember, you left home wantin' to be grown, so dry your weeping eyes
Sirens screamin' down neon lighted streets
You want your mama
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
Are they looking for you?
You're frightened and confused
I want my mama
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run
But she's much too far away, she can't hear a word you say
You've heard some frightening news on the radio
About little boys running away from home
And the parents don't see them no more
You wanna stop to hitch a ride, I know
But your mama told you never trust a stranger
And you don't know which way to go
Streets are dark and deserted, not a sound nor sign of life
Oh how you long to hear your mother's voice, 'cause you're lost and alone
But remember, you made the choice, runaway child, running wild
You better go back home where you belong
He he he, oh, runaway child, running wild
You better go back home where you belong
You're lost in this great big city
Go back home where you belong
Not one familiar face, ain't it a pity
Go back home where you belong
Oh, runaway child running wild
You better go back home where you belong
Oh yeah, my girl
Mama, mama, please, come and sit here by me
Oh but she's much too far away, she can't hear a word you say
Oh, you're frightened and confused, which way will you choose
Streets are dark and deserted not a sound or sign of life
Sirens screaming down neon lighted streets you want your mama!!!
But remember you left home on your own so dry your weeping eyes !!!
11years old when I got my proper musical Education. Older sister brought home Temptations cloud nine, Hendrix's are you experienced, Cream's goodbye, Grateful Dead, Steppenwolf 2, Grand Funk's closer to home, Sly & the Family Stone. Been groovin to them ever since.
The School of hard knocks broght me here!
Lord this bring me back to my baby brother who ran away in SF cali at thirteen and he told me he was so scared miss u baby bro Rip I’m stay here at 70 groovy your song watching the North Star or this bright red star in Alt could u believe in I’m in the south thank u U tube for letting an old woman remember family that has passed way but we loved and had the best music in my life tome❤❤❤❤❤
I'm willing ro wager that the Theme From Shaft came out of Isaac hearing this tune.
Bobby Fischer sent me here.
I grew up with the Temptin Temptations and ALL these songs have so many beautiful memories for me Dee Neal Dallas Tx Pleasant Grove Tx