Did you know Roy Orbison and Joe Melson wrote ‘Running Sacred’ a number one hit in only five minutes without using a single chorus? This musical miracle defied every rule in the book. It is a legendary build up that moves like a tense play.
The song tells a story of a man who is terrified of losing his lady. He is shaking with fear because he thinks her old flame might come back.You have to hear Roy hitting the final high note to believe it. He stands there in his dark glasses and lets his voice do all the heavy lifting.
Watch full video below:
Roy Orbison – Running Scared (Official Live from Black & White Night)
People who hear this today still feel the chills down their spines. One fan mentioned that the date of this chart was exactly when they started listening to the radio at age eleven. Another viewer simply wrote out the final lyric because the melody was stuck in their head.
This soaring climax was not just luck but the result of a magic. While the first performance shows the finished masterpiece, there is more to the story behind the scenes. Seeing how the legacy is preserved helps us understand the man behind the mystery.
Roy Orbison: Black & White Night 30 – Behind The Scenes
The history of this concert involves Roy’s son, Alex, who shares how they kept these recordings alive. You get to see rare moments where the band is working through the songs. It reveals how the shy man with the glasses became a giant of rock and roll.
Roy Orbison was honest about being sad and scared. He did not need to jump around the stage to get your attention. His journey from a small town to the top of the charts is a true American story. Follow Roy Orbison on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. He was truly the only one of his kind.