Following the quarrelsome “Stand Back” is the conciliatory “I Will Run to You,” a duet with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Back to back, the two songs complement each other well, fitting the pensive mood of the second half of the album. Written by Tom Petty, “I Will Run to You” has a melodic chorus and bears some resemblance to the song “You Got Lucky” from Tom’s 1982 album Long After Dark.
As an album cut, “I Will Run to You reached No. 35 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. On September 13, 1983, Stevie and Tom performed “I Will Run to You” (and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around) live during Stevie’s Wild Heart tour at Radio City Music Hall in New York, where Tom was a special guest.
‘Something really pretty’
“I don’t really know why Tom wrote this song for me,” Stevie recalls, “because it’s not like he had to, or not like I called him up and asked him to do it. But for some reason, he wanted to write me something really pretty, and he did, and we worked real hard. We recorded in New York, and we didn’t get it. Then we went to Caribou and recorded but still came back without what we thought was a real lead vocal from either of us. Finally, we did it in L.A.
Tom and I love to sing together, and we’ve really developed this relationship, and I’m not really very interested in developing relationships with other men singers, because this is just perfect: we sing well, we have a great time, we complement each other. I love his songwriting, perfect, why bother? Whatever the hassles that be that make it difficult — and believe you me the hassles that be are everywhere to stop Tom and I from ever doing anything together — my relationship with him is more important.
Anyway, the song’s fabulous. It’s beautiful, and I’m very honored that he even cared enough to write it for me.”
Musicians
Guitar: Michael Campbell
Bass: Howie Epstein
Drums: Stan Lynch
Guitar, vocals: Tom Petty
Keyboards: Benmont Tench
Produced by Jimmy Iovine. Recorded at The Hit Factory, New York.
Billboard charts
Mainstream Rock: 35 (July 23, 1983)
Lyrics
One so young, so changed
Should not be left alone
Two in love should confess
And not be left alone
And, I will run to you
Down whatever road you choose
Yes, I will follow you down
I will run to you
You’ve had time, come around
Will you please make up your mind
I stand accused on trial
Will you please make up your mind
And, I will run to you
Down whatever road you choose
Yes, I will follow you down
I will run to you
Make it easy for me
I been lonely, baby
Show some mercy, honey
I was nothing
All those lonely nights
Showed me something
If you need me
I’ll come runnin’
I will run to you
Down whatever road you choose
I will follow you down
I will run…
I will run to you
Down whatever road you choose
Yes, I will follow you down
I will run to you
(Tom Petty)
© 1983 Gone Gator Music (ASCAP)
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References
Modern Records. (1983). Stevie Nicks: The Wild Heart [Press release].
Whitburn, J. (2008). Joel Whitburn presents rock tracks 1981-2008. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, Inc.