Walk Away Renée

Album

Single

Label

Smash Records

Genre

Baroque pop

Media Type

45s

Duration

2:43

Composer(s)

Michael Brown;Bob Calilli;Tony Sansone

Entered Chart

Sep 10, 1966

Peak Date

Oct 29, 1966

Released

July 1966

Recorded

March 1966[2]Studio World United, New York City

Catalog #

Smash 2041

B-Side

I Haven't Got The Nerve

This was written by band member Michael Brown, who was 16 at the time, with help from his friends Bob Calilli and Tony Sansone. Brown wrote it after meeting Renee Fladen, the girlfriend of the band's bass player. Renee Fladen was in the control room when Michael Brown tried to record his harpsichord part. He later said in an interview that he was so nervous trying to play with the beautiful Renee present that his hands were shaking. In the end he gave up and returned later when he recorded it without any problem. The line "Just walk away Renee" is often misinterpreted as "Don't walk away Renee." The singer has decided that Renee will never return his affections and is better off with her out of his life. The idea of using a girl's name in the title was inspired by The Beatles "Michelle." This was the first hit for The Left Banke. They had another a year later with "Pretty Ballerina," which was also inspired by Renee. In 1969, this was a #3 UK hit for The Four Tops. The Left Banke's original version never charted in England.

And when I see the sign that points one way
The lot we used to pass by every day

Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same
You're not to blame

From deep inside the tears that I'm forced to cry
From deep inside the pain that I chose to hide

Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
Now as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
For me it cries

Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
Now as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
For me it cries

Your name and mine inside a heart upon a wall
Still finds a way to haunt me, though they're so small

Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same
You're not to blame