Roy Orbison - Songs, Spouse & Death

About the Song

Roy Orbison, the undisputed master of dramatic ballads, delivered a heart-wrenching performance of “Running Scared” during his iconic Black and White Night concert. This rendition, surrounded by the show’s ethereal atmosphere and accompanied by a lush orchestral arrangement, elevated the song to new heights of emotional intensity.

Originally released in [Year], “Running Scared” was already a powerful ballad, but Orbison’s signature vocal stylings and the dramatic backdrop of Black and White Night transformed it into a truly unforgettable experience. His voice, rich and resonant, conveyed a deep sense of vulnerability and longing. The lyrics, filled with imagery of fear and uncertainty, painted a poignant picture of a love torn apart by doubt.

The orchestral accompaniment added a layer of grandeur and drama to the song, underscoring the emotional depth of Orbison’s performance. The interplay between the soaring strings and Orbison’s powerful vocals created a sonic landscape that was both haunting and beautiful.

“Running Scared” remains a standout track from Black and White Night, showcasing Orbison’s unparalleled ability to connect with audiences on a profound emotional level. It is a testament to the power of music to evoke deep feelings and create lasting memories.

Roy Orbison - IMDb

Video

Lyrics: Running Scared

Just runnin’ scared each place we go
So afraid that he might show
Yeah, runnin’ scared, what would I do
If he came back and wanted youJust runnin’ scared, feelin’ low
Runnin’ scared, you love him so
Just runnin’ scared, afraid to lose
If he came back which one would you chooseThen all at once he was standing there
So sure of himself, his head in the air
My heart was breaking, which one would it be
You turned around and walked away with me.

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?