Back in 1961, Dion Dimucci, the doo-wop icon, hit number #1 with Runaround Sue. Aparently, it's a funny song, but also pretty harsh towards a girl, calling her out for cheating. Dion is one of the authors and even though it was a different era and mentalities, the lyrics are what we'd now think of as slut-shaming: She took my love, then ran around with every single guy in town.
Years later, he married a woman named Susan. This is such a wild coincidence, however, Dion has always said that the song wasn't about his wife. In 1990, they showed up on Oprah toghether and they finally clarified things.
Here's my story, it's sad but true
It's about a girl that I once knew
She took my love, then ran around
With every single guy in town
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di, hape)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di, hape)
Yeah, I should have known it from the very start
This girl would leave me with a broken heart
Now, listen people what I'm tellin' you
I'd keep away from a Runaround Sue, yeah
I might miss her lips and the smile on her face
The touch of her hand and this girl's warm embrace
So, if you don't wanna cry like I do
I'd keep away from a Runaround Sue
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di)
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di, hape)
(Ahhh)
She likes to travel around, yeah
She'll love you, and she'll put you down
Now, people let me put you wise
Sue goes out with other guys
Here's the moral and the story from the guy who knows
I fell in love and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say
A-keep away from a Runaround Sue
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di) Yeah, keep away from this girl
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di) I know, know what she'll do
(Hape-hape, bum-da-hey-di-hey-di, hape) Keep away from Sue
(Ahhh)
She likes to travel 'round, yeah
She'll love you and she'll put you down
Now, people let me put you wise
She goes out with other guys
Here's the moral and the story from that guy who knows
I fell in love and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say
A-keep away from a Runaround Sue, yeah
Stay away from that girl
Don't you know what she'll do now
Whoa-whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Keep away from that girl
Don't you know