Renegade

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This page was made Song of the Month for March 2019.

Renegade
Song Name	Renegade
Origin	Renegade (single) Pieces of Eight (album)
Performer(s)	Styx
Composer	Tommy Shaw
Lyricist	Tommy Shaw
Type of Song	Independent Song

"Renegade" is a 1979 song performed by the band Styx, written by the lead vocalist Tommy Shaw. The song comes from the perspective of a criminal telling of how the law has finally caught up to him.

Lyrics

Oh, Mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law
Law man has put an end to my running and I'm so far from my home
Oh, Mama I can hear you a-cryin', you're so scared and all alone
Hangman is comin' down from the gallows and I don't have very long

The jig is up, the news is out
They've finally found me
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty

Never more to go astray
This will be the end today
Of the wanted man

Oh, Mama, I've been years on the lam and had a high price on my head
Lawman said, 'Get him dead or alive.' Now it's for sure he'll see me dead
Dear Mama, I can hear you cryin', you're so scared and all alone
Hangman is comin' down from the gallows and I don't have very long

The jig is up, the news is out
They've finally found me
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty

Never more to go astray
The judge will have revenge today
On the wanted man

Oh, Mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law
Hangman is comin' down from the gallows and I don't have very long

The jig is up, the news is out
They've finally found me
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty

Never more to go astray
This will be the end today
Of the wanted man

The wanted man
And I don't wanna go, oh, no
Oh, Mama, don't let them take me
No, no, no, I can't go
Hey, hey

Other Appearances

• The song was featured as a single and on the following albums:
  • Pieces of Eight
  • Gold
  • Greatest Hits
  • 20 #1s: Classic Rock, Vol. 2
  • Soundtrack of Summer
• The song was performed live at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, Tennessee in 2011. This version was featured on the album The Grand Illusion / Pieces of Eight (Live from Orpheum Theater in Memphis, TN, 2011).
• The song appears in the television series Supernatural.
• The song has appeared in a number of video games, including:
  • Rock Band
  • Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
  • Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned
• The song has been used regularly to pump up the Pittsburgh Steelers defense before an important drive at Heinz Field.

Gallery

Image

Single cover

Videos

Styx - Renegade

Styx Renegade 2010 Memphis

Live

Trivia

• When performed live from 1978 to 1983, drummer John Panozzo increased the tempo of the drum pattern during the guitar solo sections. Also, the track would serve as the drum solo spot for Panozzo during that time frame.
• The song reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1979.