Now you see her, now you don't
November 28, 2011 10:54 AM Subscribe
Looking for songs about girls running away/being awesome by not being attached.
This weekend I was bopping along to M. Ward's Magic Trick, and I realized this is a theme in music that I really love: girls running away. In some cases maybe from needy guys, and usually leaving heartbreak in their wake. I don't know too many songs in this vein, but past favorites include two by The Wedding Present, Montreal and Jet Girl. All of these songs are by male musicians, but I'd be happy to hear from women as well.
I like the general happy tone to these songs too - no whiny sad sacks, just folks that happened to meet someone awesome, imagined a life with them, and then one day woke up alone. Kind of like they'd known all along that that would happen, and don't really bear any resentment towards her for leaving. That back story isn't necessary, but I prefer peppy melancholy over broken-hearted despair!
This weekend I was bopping along to M. Ward's Magic Trick, and I realized this is a theme in music that I really love: girls running away. In some cases maybe from needy guys, and usually leaving heartbreak in their wake. I don't know too many songs in this vein, but past favorites include two by The Wedding Present, Montreal and Jet Girl. All of these songs are by male musicians, but I'd be happy to hear from women as well.
I like the general happy tone to these songs too - no whiny sad sacks, just folks that happened to meet someone awesome, imagined a life with them, and then one day woke up alone. Kind of like they'd known all along that that would happen, and don't really bear any resentment towards her for leaving. That back story isn't necessary, but I prefer peppy melancholy over broken-hearted despair!
Vanishing Girl by XTC (as the Dukes of Stratosphear); definitely peppy melancholy.
posted by kimota at 11:05 AM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by kimota at 11:05 AM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Littlest Birds by The Be Good Tanyas. Catchy as hell.
posted by MsMolly at 11:15 AM on November 28, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by MsMolly at 11:15 AM on November 28, 2011 [3 favorites]
Marshall Crenshaw, Don't Disappear Now (can't find it on youtube, but it's on iTunes)
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:16 AM on November 28, 2011
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:16 AM on November 28, 2011
Tanya Tucker covered The Eagles' "Already Gone" on Common Threads: The Songs of The Eagles album. Regrettably no YouTube video that I can see.
posted by seabound_coast at 11:24 AM on November 28, 2011
posted by seabound_coast at 11:24 AM on November 28, 2011
Raggle Taggle Gipsies (also known as "The Gypsey Laddie") is a great folk song that shows that the theme is an old one in popular song:
Excerpt:
What makes you leave your house and land?
What makes you leave your money, O?
What makes you leave your new wedded lord,
To go with the wraggle taggle gipsies, O?
What care I for my house and my land?
What care I for my money, O?
What care I for my new wedded lord?
I'm off with the wraggle taggle gipsies, O!
Last night you slept on a goose-feather bed,
With the sheet turned down so bravely, O!
And tonight you'll sleep in a cold open field,
Along with the wraggle taggle gipsies, O!
What care I for a goose-feather bed,
With the sheet turned down so bravely, O?
For tonight I'll sleep in a cold open field,
Along with the wraggle taggle gipsies, O!
posted by yoink at 11:27 AM on November 28, 2011
Excerpt:
What makes you leave your house and land?
What makes you leave your money, O?
What makes you leave your new wedded lord,
To go with the wraggle taggle gipsies, O?
What care I for my house and my land?
What care I for my money, O?
What care I for my new wedded lord?
I'm off with the wraggle taggle gipsies, O!
Last night you slept on a goose-feather bed,
With the sheet turned down so bravely, O!
And tonight you'll sleep in a cold open field,
Along with the wraggle taggle gipsies, O!
What care I for a goose-feather bed,
With the sheet turned down so bravely, O?
For tonight I'll sleep in a cold open field,
Along with the wraggle taggle gipsies, O!
posted by yoink at 11:27 AM on November 28, 2011
Stevie Nicks - Think About it
posted by mattbucher at 11:36 AM on November 28, 2011
posted by mattbucher at 11:36 AM on November 28, 2011
Stone Poneys Different Drum, which switches the genders from the original version (sorry, no link! I'm at work)
posted by Ideal Impulse at 11:37 AM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ideal Impulse at 11:37 AM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Girl Why'd you run away?
By Reggie and the Full Effect.... In Fucking Full Effect, yeaaaaa
posted by handbanana at 11:46 AM on November 28, 2011
By Reggie and the Full Effect.... In Fucking Full Effect, yeaaaaa
posted by handbanana at 11:46 AM on November 28, 2011
Dixie Chicks - Ready to Run
Also Gypsen Davy, which is a variation on the Raggle Taggle Gypsies.
posted by missrachael at 11:49 AM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also Gypsen Davy, which is a variation on the Raggle Taggle Gypsies.
posted by missrachael at 11:49 AM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
From the female point of view: Nelly Furtado's I'm Like A Bird.
posted by kimota at 11:59 AM on November 28, 2011
posted by kimota at 11:59 AM on November 28, 2011
Willie Nelson - Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
Richard Thompson - Beeswing
I think those two really fit, the rest to a lesser extent.
Squeeze - Goodbye Girl
Semisonic - Sunshine and Chocolate (the audio is the song, ignore the video this person added, sorry)
Bob Dylan - Simple Twist of Fate
Beastie Boys - She's Crafty
UB40 - Red Red Wine
Hank Williams Jr - Big River
Smokie - Who the F**k is Alice?
posted by cali59 at 12:09 PM on November 28, 2011
Richard Thompson - Beeswing
I think those two really fit, the rest to a lesser extent.
Squeeze - Goodbye Girl
Semisonic - Sunshine and Chocolate (the audio is the song, ignore the video this person added, sorry)
Bob Dylan - Simple Twist of Fate
Beastie Boys - She's Crafty
UB40 - Red Red Wine
Hank Williams Jr - Big River
Smokie - Who the F**k is Alice?
posted by cali59 at 12:09 PM on November 28, 2011
Jim's Big Ego - Prince Charming
More of an empowerment anthem for the girl running away (couched in fairytale metaphor), but it's the first thing that came to mind when I read the description.
posted by anthom at 12:27 PM on November 28, 2011
More of an empowerment anthem for the girl running away (couched in fairytale metaphor), but it's the first thing that came to mind when I read the description.
posted by anthom at 12:27 PM on November 28, 2011
Witches, by the Cowboy Junkies.
There are witches in the hills calling my name
saying come join us sister, come kiss the flame
Come dance in the moonbeams, ride the night wind
make love to the darkness and laugh at man's sins
I shiver with delight, I shiver with fear
my heart wants to go but my soul's filled with fear
So I turn to my lover and ask what do I do
do I answer their call or stay here with you
But under spell of deep sleep he moans and turns away
taking his protection and my desire to stay
So I rise to the hill tops, I ride the night winds
I make love to the darkness and laugh at man's sins
posted by Elly Vortex at 12:27 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
There are witches in the hills calling my name
saying come join us sister, come kiss the flame
Come dance in the moonbeams, ride the night wind
make love to the darkness and laugh at man's sins
I shiver with delight, I shiver with fear
my heart wants to go but my soul's filled with fear
So I turn to my lover and ask what do I do
do I answer their call or stay here with you
But under spell of deep sleep he moans and turns away
taking his protection and my desire to stay
So I rise to the hill tops, I ride the night winds
I make love to the darkness and laugh at man's sins
posted by Elly Vortex at 12:27 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Probably the most ridiculous answer to this, but, yup, you guessed it, Journey's Don't Stop Believing.
posted by General Malaise at 12:32 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by General Malaise at 12:32 PM on November 28, 2011
We'll Sing in the Sunshine, Gale Garnett, my girlhood anthem. Just take but what they give you and give just what you can. Then be on your way.
posted by lois1950 at 12:41 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by lois1950 at 12:41 PM on November 28, 2011
Duncan Sheik - She Runs Away cheesy video, beautiful song
posted by mikoroshi at 12:46 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by mikoroshi at 12:46 PM on November 28, 2011
John Hiatt, "Child of the Wild Blue Yonder"
She has the wind as a witnessposted by kirkaracha at 12:52 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
She has feelings that fly by night
She believes in forgiveness
But it's not love if it holds too tight
And you can fly beside her
But you gotta go where your heart says go
She lets the bright lights guide her
Through the rain and the drivin' snow
Where she comes from she don't know
Response by poster: These are all great, thanks! I love Beeswing, cali59 - can't believe I forgot that one (and Breakin Up, Fell in Love with a Girl). A lot of these are new to me though - thanks for the suggestions!
posted by Curiosity Delay at 1:31 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by Curiosity Delay at 1:31 PM on November 28, 2011
Bat for lashes - What's a girl to do
perhaps even Lykke Li's Breaking it up
posted by revikim at 1:50 PM on November 28, 2011
perhaps even Lykke Li's Breaking it up
posted by revikim at 1:50 PM on November 28, 2011
Saint Etienne's "Split Screen" covers this from the female narrator's perspective -- she leaves him without warning and breezily envisions what he's doing -- sleeping, waking up to read her goodbye letter -- as she drives away.
Today I got up easyposted by Ralston McTodd at 3:18 PM on November 28, 2011
You know I'm not a morning person
Never said I was leaving
I wasn't sure until this morning
...
Now I really don't care
Cause I'm dying to get the sun in my hair
Yeah I really don't care
That I'm here and you're still there
Yeah I really don't care
Cause I'm going to breathe the country air
Yeah I really don't care
But it's OK
Motorcycle Mama (studio version is better, but this is all youtube had) and Unknown Legend
both by Neil Young
posted by shushufindi at 5:26 PM on November 28, 2011
both by Neil Young
posted by shushufindi at 5:26 PM on November 28, 2011
Would I Lie To You - Eurythmics
Goodbye - Save Ferris
Your Woman - White Town
posted by SisterHavana at 7:50 PM on November 28, 2011
Goodbye - Save Ferris
Your Woman - White Town
posted by SisterHavana at 7:50 PM on November 28, 2011
And how could I forget Runaway by Del Shannon?
posted by SisterHavana at 7:56 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by SisterHavana at 7:56 PM on November 28, 2011
Sinead O'Connor's "No Man's Woman" seems to fit the second half of your criteria.
posted by the luke parker fiasco at 11:08 PM on November 28, 2011
posted by the luke parker fiasco at 11:08 PM on November 28, 2011
now that i'm listening to the album, rilo kiley's "silver lining" is also a pretty upbeat "i'm out of here" song. (this could be a common theme with them)
I never felt so wicked
As when I willed our love to die
And I was your silver lining
As the story goes
I was your silver lining
But now I'm gold
posted by camdan at 11:08 PM on November 28, 2011
I never felt so wicked
As when I willed our love to die
And I was your silver lining
As the story goes
I was your silver lining
But now I'm gold
posted by camdan at 11:08 PM on November 28, 2011
Not the kind of music you were asking for, but here is a German folk song from 15th century Transylvania in the same vein (we still sing it as a metaphor of what you are asking about). I cannot find a translation of the lyrics, but a rough summary would be:
A little wild bird was sitting on a green branch, singing throughout the long winternight, its voice resounding through the valleys.
"Come sing to me, you little wild bird, and I will give you gold and silk."
"Keep your gold, keep your silk, I shall never sing for you. I am a little wild bird and nobody can force me."
"But if you leave your valley, the frost will crush you."
"If the cold frost crushes me, lady sun will revive me".
posted by miorita at 3:17 AM on November 29, 2011
A little wild bird was sitting on a green branch, singing throughout the long winternight, its voice resounding through the valleys.
"Come sing to me, you little wild bird, and I will give you gold and silk."
"Keep your gold, keep your silk, I shall never sing for you. I am a little wild bird and nobody can force me."
"But if you leave your valley, the frost will crush you."
"If the cold frost crushes me, lady sun will revive me".
posted by miorita at 3:17 AM on November 29, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Norwegian Wood, kinda.
posted by Jon_Evil at 11:05 AM on November 28, 2011