About The Song
This pertains to the rock and roll lifestyle that led Keith Richards into trouble. The song was recorded during his period on bail following a heroin arrest for drug trafficking in Toronto in 1977. He was ultimately convicted of a lesser charge, possession of heroin, and received probation.
Richards assumed the role of lead singer and took on the majority of the work for this particular song. While Keith faced drug-related charges, Mick Jagger assumed more control over the album, but this track remained predominantly Keith’s creation.
Originally, the song was titled “Rotten Roll.”
To enhance the prominence of Richard’s vocals, they were double-tracked in the first section.
The lyrics in the initial section revolve around Keith Richards’ close friend, Gram Parsons:
“Booze and pills and powders, you can choose your medicine
Well, it’s another goodbye to another good friend.”
Gram Parsons, a member of The Byrds, tragically passed away in 1973 at the age of 26 due to an overdose of alcohol and morphine. His remains were stolen and incinerated in the Mojave Desert.
An engineer named Dave Jordan played a crucial role in mixing this song and later collaborated with bands like The Specials and The Pogues.
“Before They Make Me Run” stands out as one of the songs that demanded the longest studio time from Keith Richards. In his book “Life” (2010), he explained, “For sheer longevity – for long distance – there is no track that I know of like ‘Before They Make Me Run.’ That song, which I sang on that record, was a cry from the heart. But it burned up the personnel like no other. I was in the studio, without leaving, for five days… I had an engineer called Dave Jordan, and I had another engineer, and one of them would flop under the desk and have a few hours’ kip, and I’d put the other one in and keep going. We all had black eyes by the time it was finished… That’s probably the longest I’ve done. There have been others that were close – ‘Can’t Be Seen’ was one – but ‘Before They Make Me Run’ was the marathon.”
Video
Lyrics
Worked the bars and sideshows along the twilight zone
Only a crowd can make you feel so alone
And it really hit home
Booze and pills and powders, you can choose your medicine
Well here’s another goodbye to another good friendAfter all is said and done
Got to move while it’s still fun
Let me walk before they make me run
After all is said and done
I got to move, it’s still fun
I’m going to walk before they make me runWatched the taillights fading, there are not a dry eye in the house
They’re laughing and singing
Started dancing and drinking as I left town
Going to find my way to heaven, because I did my time in hell
I wasn’t looking too good but I was feeling real wellAfter all is said and done
I got to move I had my fun
Let us walk before they make us run
Well, after all is said and done
I did all right, I had my fun
I will walk before they make me run
I will walk before they make me run
I will walk before they make me runSo if it’s all been said and done
I’ve got to move, I’ve had my fun
Well let me walk before they make me run
Oh let me walk before they make me run
I want to walk before they make me runBefore they make me run