Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)

Subject: Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: NJ_bird
Date: 17 Jan 08 - 02:28 PM

Hi. Looking for the lyrics for Run Run Run by the Chad Mitchell Trio. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jan 08 - 08:29 PM

The song is a spiritual of, I think, African or African-American origin. One with a similar title was done by The Kingston Trio, too. I have as yet had no success finding the lyrics. Please note--the thread starter is NOT looking for a similar song By Nick Cave or Blind Willie Johnson.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 10:16 AM

The Chad Mitchell Trio's recording of RUN RUN RUN appears on their album "Blowin' in the Wind" which was released as an LP in 1963 and as a CD in 2006. Chad Mitchell apparently claimed copyright on this version, but it is undoubtedly based on an old spiritual.

I transcribed this excerpt from a sound sample found at Allmusic.com:

You better run, run, run.
You better run, run, run.
Run to the city of refuge.
You better run, run, run.

Well the gospel children down in Egypt land
Were held(?) right there by old pharaoh's hand.
Famine hit the land and the water run low.
Well, if you're holdin' any people better let 'em go.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: Peace
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 07:10 PM

Seems similar to a song entitled "You'd Better Run".

Subject: ADD: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 10:34 PM

I don't doubt that, as suggested above, the song is based on a spiritual, but some of the lyrics sound very Pete Seeger to me. Anyway, here they are. There's one place where I'm not sure what they're singing, second line of second verse, where I've written "Were held right there." What I hear sounds more like, "Were hair right there," but that makes no sense, so I've put in the closest thing that makes sense to me. The folk process lives.

Run, Run, Run
(as recorded by the Chad Mitchell Trio)

Now Moses stood on the Red Sea shore
Smote that water with a two-by-four
Water parted and his people go through
But the water won't part for me and you

Chorus:

You better run, run, run (x2)
Run to the city of refuge
You better run, run, run

Well the gospel children down in Egypt land
Were held right there by old Pharaoh's hand
Famine hit the land and the water run low
If you're holding any people better let them go

Well Joshua was said to be a mighty foe
'Cause he marched right up to old Jericho
He blows his horn and the walls fall down
Better not build a wall around your home town

Now a long time before they had a cotton gin
We thought we better bring a lot of working people in
Carried them over in a slavery boat
Well if you bring people here you gotta let them vote

Now you and me we got a lot to learn
About the trouble that makes this world turn
We see our neighbors and we judge them hard
Well you better look around in your own backyard

Chorus x2

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: Bert
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 12:38 AM

DIdn't Lonnie Donnegan sing that back in the Fifties?

Run, run, run
The patteroll will catch you
Run, run, run
you've gotta get away.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 01:30 AM

I wondered the same as Bert - we had a thread on Run Nigger Run which seems to be the same song.
I didn't know those Kapp recordings of the Chad Mitchell Trio were being released. I have a Kapp compilation, but not the individual albums. Now, do I break down and spend the money to buy more Mitchell Trio CD's???
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: NJ_bird
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 02:24 PM

Thank you so much for the lyrics! I can't tell you how long we have been looking. My BF is very happy. I ordered the Chad Mitchell Blowin in the Wind cd for him. He can't wait for it to arrive. It also has the Ides of Texas. Another song he's been looking for. You folks are the BEST!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 05:55 PM

Joe, I don't think it is the same song at all. Is there a link where I could hear some of RNR?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 03:17 AM

Gerry, there's a very short clip here (click), or you can download the MP3 for 99 cents at that location. I don't have the Mitchell Trio recording (which really bugs me), so I can't compare....yet.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Run Run Run (Chad Mitchell Trio)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 05:11 PM

Thanks, Joe. I don't hear much in common in the two songs, musically or lyrically. I've been wrong before, so please let us know what you think when you've been able to hear the CMT recording.