Runaround Sue
Mar 5, 2020 06:42:58 #
I've been listening to this song for almost fifty years, and something occurred to me last night. I was listening to the oldies station, and "Runaround Sue" started playing.
"..then she ran around with every single guy in town." I wondered, does that mean every guy in town, or just those who weren't married?
I'm sure it means every guy, but you can get strange results analyzing English too much.
The story behind the song: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-story-behind-runaround-sue-1452616310
"..then she ran around with every single guy in town." I wondered, does that mean every guy in town, or just those who weren't married?
I'm sure it means every guy, but you can get strange results analyzing English too much.
The story behind the song: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-story-behind-runaround-sue-1452616310
Mar 5, 2020 07:24:33 #
Excellent story! Now I'll be singing that all day!
I think back then, it was probably single guys, as most people had scruples..
BUT, I could be wrong.
I think back then, it was probably single guys, as most people had scruples..
BUT, I could be wrong.
Mar 5, 2020 07:25:49 #
To me, it has always been obvious: every SINGLE guy . . . .
Who knows?
Who knows?
Mar 5, 2020 07:37:06 #
Mar 5, 2020 07:40:52 #
Since the target demographic for pop music in those days was teenagers, we can assume that the song referred the dating (unmarried) population.
Mar 5, 2020 07:42:44 #
MrBumps2U wrote:
Since the target demographic for pop music in those days was teenagers, we can assume that the song referred the dating (unmarried) population.
Mar 5, 2020 07:46:15 #
JeffL
Loc: New Jersey
Back in the day, when “every single” was the adjective modifying a noun, it was all-encompassing. For example, I’ve read every single post on UHH. Took me hours and I never want to see another feather!🤪
Mar 5, 2020 07:49:11 #
Mar 5, 2020 08:02:09 #
Longshadow wrote:
Excellent story! Now I'll be singing that all day!
I think back then, it was probably single guys, as most people had scruples..
BUT, I could be wrong.
I think back then, it was probably single guys, as most people had scruples..
BUT, I could be wrong.
"Free Love" was wafting in the air back then.
Mar 5, 2020 15:09:31 #
Mar 5, 2020 15:47:22 #
jerryc41 wrote:
...
Had to laugh.
I was on my way to Costco and Sirius 60s played it while I was in the car.
Mar 6, 2020 07:42:49 #
This takes me back to my street corner singing days.😊
We tried to do a lot of D&B songs and never gave much thought to the lyrics. As far as “Sue” goes, we just figured he needed a word to keep the rhythm moving. Try singing the song without “single”...it doesn’t work.
Anyway, Dion is still performing and is still great.
We tried to do a lot of D&B songs and never gave much thought to the lyrics. As far as “Sue” goes, we just figured he needed a word to keep the rhythm moving. Try singing the song without “single”...it doesn’t work.
Anyway, Dion is still performing and is still great.
Mar 6, 2020 08:04:48 #
Kmgw9v wrote:
There is little doubt that Sue did every guy.
Not in my neighborhood of The South Bronx. Mostly, we were all first generation. The girls were BIC's.
That means; Bronx...Irish ...Catholic. When I came back I met and married a SIIC. Staten Island, Irish Catholic. That was a little over 50 years ago.
Mar 6, 2020 08:06:36 #
Dannj wrote:
This takes me back to my street corner singing days.😊
We tried to do a lot of D&B songs and never gave much thought to the lyrics. As far as “Sue” goes, we just figured he needed a word to keep the rhythm moving. Try singing the song without “single”...it doesn’t work.
Anyway, Dion is still performing and is still great.
We tried to do a lot of D&B songs and never gave much thought to the lyrics. As far as “Sue” goes, we just figured he needed a word to keep the rhythm moving. Try singing the song without “single”...it doesn’t work.
Anyway, Dion is still performing and is still great.
Single in this case might not mean unmarried.
Ever use the phrase "every single one" meaning ALL inclusive?
Mar 6, 2020 08:09:59 #
The phrase "every single" in those days could have meant "every single one" or "each and every" one of the guys. That would not have excluded married ones. Just a thought
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