Question: Runnin' For The Red Light

evil nickname · 10 Nov 2003, 17:29

I do recall an interview in which Meat said that "Runnin' For The Red Light" was based on an old (blues?) song - and to avoid legal issues he decided to credit the original songwriters too (Harry Vanda / George Young).

So the big question: is there anyone who knows on what song Runnin' For The Red Light is based?

Any help is much appriciated.

W.

Renegade Angel · 10 Nov 2003, 22:48

The song you mean is 'Good Times' which was performed by INXS and Jimmy Barnes (formerly ACDC - I think?)
Anyway the song was included in the soundtrack for The Lost Boys movie and was wriiten by Harry Vanda and George Young.

The reason Meat must have given the writters credit is because Runnin' For The Red Light sounds very similar, especially the "Gonna Have A Good Time Tonight"
I have included the lyrics so that you can see the similarities.

Everybody shake
Everybody groove
Everybody shake

Mary, Mary, you`re on my mind
Folks are gone and
The place will be mine
Aw, Mary, Mary, wanna be with you

And this is what I`m gonna do
I`m gonna put a call to you
Cause I feel good tonight
And everything`s gonna
Be right, right, right, yeah

(CHORUS)
I`m gonna have a good time tonight
Rock and roll music gonna play all night
Come on, baby, it won`t take long
Only take a minute just to sing my song

Boney Maroney`s gonna be with him
I said long tall Sally gonna be with Slim
Short fat Fanny`s is gonna
Gonna be there too

And this is what I`m gonna do
I`ve got to put a call to you
Cause I feel good tonight
And everything`s gonna
Be right, right, right

(CHORUS)

I gotta talk to you

Boney Maroney`s gonna be with Jimmy
Wow, long tall Sally gonna be with him
Short fat Fanny`s gonna be there too

And this is what I`m gonna do
I`ve got to put a call to you
Cause I feel good tonight
And everything`s gonna
Be right, right, right

(CHORUS) 2X

Listen, waaaah

(CHORUS) 3X

evil nickname · 10 Nov 2003, 22:56

Thanks for the info!

dottie · 11 Nov 2003, 11:31

Renegade Angel is that the australian Jimmy Barnes?

Renegade Angel · 11 Nov 2003, 11:33

Yes it is the Australian Jimmy Barnes - I don't know much about him but when I was out in Australia last year, a lot of people were telling me how good he is.

Bohemian · 11 Nov 2003, 11:45

Oh I knew it!!!!

Jimmy Barnes is formerly of Cold Chisel. Cold Chisel nowadays periodically get together and tour the country and they made a "reunion" album a few years back. Umm... I might inadvertently be spouting crap here cause i ain't that big a fan of their stuff

but I think that's right. Jimmy Barnes has had a solo career for qwuite some time now in any case.

And I always always always was bugged by this correlation between the two songs. And whenever I hear 'Good Times' on the radio I go "man they were lucky not to get busted over Runnin' For The Red Light"

.

It is really really similar. As renegade Angel says the "Gonna have A Good Time Tonight" line is basically exactly the same.

but runnin' for the red light is a much better song to me. It's melody is a hell of a lot easier to catch on to.

Bohemian

Renegade Angel · 11 Nov 2003, 12:03

Hey Bohemian - how's Brisbane? - I was there last year and it's a great place although I spent a lot of money in 'Showgirls' but that's another story!

Beer-man · 11 Nov 2003, 12:45

ahhhh Cold Chisel in Brisbane December 5.......they rock, and I'll be there in the front row

When I heard the song I checked the CD cover and was confused by the different name...

But anyway, anyone else going to see Chisel in the round?

Bohemian · 12 Nov 2003, 08:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renegade Angel

Hey Bohemian - how's Brisbane? - I was there last year and it's a great place although I spent a lot of money in 'Showgirls' but that's another story!

Oh yeah realy is a lovely place isn't it. Yeah - I walk past Showgirls alot cause you pass it on the way from Queen Street Mall (where I've invariably just spent a small fortune at HMV) to JBs HI FI (where I proceed to spend the budget of a small nation all over again). Oh god I am adicted to Music!!!)

You know another thing - while talking of Jimmy Barnes:

When I read what songs would be on Couldn't Have Said It Better (well actually it was a while ago so i would have actually been reading what songs are to be on the album "Testify"

) I saw the title "Tear me Down".

Now, not being familiar with the musical it is adapted from and not being overly familiar with the work of Jimmy Barnes I got all excited for a small while thinking that it might have been the song that Barnesy does - the one where the chorus is "Don't Tear Me Down"... it has a great tune and rocks hard. I rather like hearing that song on the radio so the thought of Meat doing that one (and I can most definitely hear it suiting Meat's voice and style well) got me rather excited. Then I finally got around to listening to the original clip of the song from the Musical Hedwig and the Angry Itch and thought... "Oh..."

Of course the song it ended up being rocks too!

Still, would love to hear meat do the other one, whatever it is called. Beer - man, do you know which one I'm talkin about?

Bohemian

Beer-man · 13 Nov 2003, 01:36

more information please......i cant work out what one your thinking of.....I've eliminated 'working class man' and 'Driving Wheels' but just can't work out what song your talking about

Bohemian · 13 Nov 2003, 08:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beer-man

more information please......i cant work out what one your thinking of.....I've eliminated 'working class man' and 'Driving Wheels' but just can't work out what song your talking about

Oh I just asked my brother: the song I am thinking of is called "Tucker's Daughter" by Ian Moss.

(For those form out of town Ian Moss = another member in Cold Chisel).

I really like that song. I got real psyched up about the possibility of Meat doing that one. I would love for that to happen.

Bohemian

10 Nov 2003, 17:29	#1
evil nickname Guest Join Date: 19.04.2003 Posts: 2,238	Question: Runnin' For The Red Light I do recall an interview in which Meat said that "Runnin' For The Red Light" was based on an old (blues?) song - and to avoid legal issues he decided to credit the original songwriters too (Harry Vanda / George Young). So the big question: is there anyone who knows on what song Runnin' For The Red Light is based? Any help is much appriciated. W.

10 Nov 2003, 22:48	#2
Renegade Angel Super Loafer Join Date: 20.04.2003 Location: UK Posts: 551	The song you mean is 'Good Times' which was performed by INXS and Jimmy Barnes (formerly ACDC - I think?) Anyway the song was included in the soundtrack for The Lost Boys movie and was wriiten by Harry Vanda and George Young. The reason Meat must have given the writters credit is because Runnin' For The Red Light sounds very similar, especially the "Gonna Have A Good Time Tonight" I have included the lyrics so that you can see the similarities. Everybody shake Everybody groove Everybody shake Mary, Mary, you`re on my mind Folks are gone and The place will be mine Aw, Mary, Mary, wanna be with you And this is what I`m gonna do I`m gonna put a call to you Cause I feel good tonight And everything`s gonna Be right, right, right, yeah (CHORUS) I`m gonna have a good time tonight Rock and roll music gonna play all night Come on, baby, it won`t take long Only take a minute just to sing my song Boney Maroney`s gonna be with him I said long tall Sally gonna be with Slim Short fat Fanny`s is gonna Gonna be there too And this is what I`m gonna do I`ve got to put a call to you Cause I feel good tonight And everything`s gonna Be right, right, right (CHORUS) I gotta talk to you Boney Maroney`s gonna be with Jimmy Wow, long tall Sally gonna be with him Short fat Fanny`s gonna be there too And this is what I`m gonna do I`ve got to put a call to you Cause I feel good tonight And everything`s gonna Be right, right, right (CHORUS) 2X Listen, waaaah (CHORUS) 3X

10 Nov 2003, 22:56	#3
evil nickname Guest Join Date: 19.04.2003 Posts: 2,238	Thanks for the info!

11 Nov 2003, 11:31	#4
dottie queen post- whore extraordinaire Join Date: 29.01.2003 Location: Still Rockin' at "72" Posts: 13,181	Renegade Angel is that the australian Jimmy Barnes?

11 Nov 2003, 11:33	#5
Renegade Angel Super Loafer Join Date: 20.04.2003 Location: UK Posts: 551	Yes it is the Australian Jimmy Barnes - I don't know much about him but when I was out in Australia last year, a lot of people were telling me how good he is.

11 Nov 2003, 11:45	#6
Bohemian Super Loafer Join Date: 14.11.2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 496	Oh I knew it!!!! Jimmy Barnes is formerly of Cold Chisel. Cold Chisel nowadays periodically get together and tour the country and they made a "reunion" album a few years back. Umm... I might inadvertently be spouting crap here cause i ain't that big a fan of their stuff but I think that's right. Jimmy Barnes has had a solo career for qwuite some time now in any case. And I always always always was bugged by this correlation between the two songs. And whenever I hear 'Good Times' on the radio I go "man they were lucky not to get busted over Runnin' For The Red Light" . It is really really similar. As renegade Angel says the "Gonna have A Good Time Tonight" line is basically exactly the same. but runnin' for the red light is a much better song to me. It's melody is a hell of a lot easier to catch on to. Bohemian

11 Nov 2003, 12:03	#7
Renegade Angel Super Loafer Join Date: 20.04.2003 Location: UK Posts: 551	Hey Bohemian - how's Brisbane? - I was there last year and it's a great place although I spent a lot of money in 'Showgirls' but that's another story!

11 Nov 2003, 12:45	#8
Beer-man Junior Loafer Join Date: 03.10.2003 Location: Queensland Australia Posts: 33	ahhhh Cold Chisel in Brisbane December 5.......they rock, and I'll be there in the front row When I heard the song I checked the CD cover and was confused by the different name... But anyway, anyone else going to see Chisel in the round?

13 Nov 2003, 01:36	#10
Beer-man Junior Loafer Join Date: 03.10.2003 Location: Queensland Australia Posts: 33	more information please......i cant work out what one your thinking of.....I've eliminated 'working class man' and 'Driving Wheels' but just can't work out what song your talking about