☝️ Key Points
- The song deals with themes such as trust, infidelity, and dealing with rumors in relationships
- The singer is informed by friends about his partner's alleged infidelity, but decides to trust her
- Despite his trust, the singer makes it clear that he will leave her if he finds out the rumors are true
- He puts pressure on his partner by saying she is 'under the gun' and suggests she should leave if she is guilty
- The overall message of the song is that trust is essential in a relationship and rumors or infidelity can destroy that trust
Interpretation
The song 'Take It on the Run' by
REO Speedwagon is about trust, infidelity, and dealing with rumors in a relationship.
In the song lyrics, the singer hears from friends that his lover may be unfaithful (‘Heard it from a friend who, Heard it from a friend who, Heard it from another you been messin′ around’). Despite the rumors, the singer decides to trust his partner and not believe the rumors (‘But I′m telling you, babe, That I don't think it′s true, babe’).
However, he makes it clear that if those rumors are true and she is indeed unfaithful (‘If that's the way you want it, baby’), he doesn't want her around anymore (‘Then I don′t want you around’).
With the lines ‘You′re under the gun, So you take it on the run’, the singer indicates that if she is guilty, she is under pressure and should leave.
Overall, the song conveys the message that trust is essential in a relationship and that rumors and infidelity can destroy that trust.