I think I wrote this song in 2015 or so. It’s a story about running away from home in second grade because I wanted to be a werewolf after watching Teen Wolf starring Michael J Fox. I invited my friend Brandon Kite to join me at 4am in the morning. We made it all the way to the outskirts of Visalia before we were picked up a by a Police officer. I was trying to head to Sequoia National Park because I was under the impression there were wolves there, and if I were to drink the water from a wolves’ footprint, it would turn me into a werewolf (that was info from a Scholastic Magazine).

For the record, I tried drinking the water from a dog’s footprint, first: didn’t work. At any rate, this was my Christmas gift to my mom and dad, because I never bothered explaining this story to them, when I was brought back home by the police. Not their fault. Some kids want red fire trucks. I wanted to be a werewolf (or an astronaut... or a park ranger); what can I say? This is available to watch in my IGTV and you can find on Youtube as well. There is a link in my profile for the song with my friends Frank, Tom, and Brad playing on it. I used this song to raise a little bit of money for the Michael J Fox Parkinson’s research foundation.

Running Away From Home
Words and Music: Mike Vitale

watching the movie Teen Wolf put the notion in my head
that being human's boring and I'd rather be a werewolf instead
but knowing getting bit by one could be a difficult proposition
I reckoned that the wilderness would improve this disposition

so we lit out at dawn for the mountains in the distance
my best friend Brandon along in tow no doubt from my insistence
1985 was the year of our independence
two empty seats in a second grade class while the teachers calling attendance

but there's no need to worry
I've got everything I need
a sandwich and a blanket
and the will to succeed
I'm heading towards the hills
where all the lone wolves roam
so long momma, I'm running away from home

in order to ensure a proper werewolf transformation
my days before departure were spent researching Scholastic publication
and according to my sources folklore lent it several options
all of which I applied myself to their immediate adoption

one of which involved drinking water from a werewolf footprint
but since that wasn't handy I felt a dog's would be sufficient
and when the full-moon changing never came I was left with one volition
to pursue a pack of wolves to bring my dreams into fruition

but there's no need to worry
I've got everything I need
I would have asked for your approval
but I knew you'd never agree
I'm heading towards the hills
where all the lone wolves roam
so long momma, I'm running away from home

and getting to the foothills would be a days worth of travel
but getting spotted by adults would make my well-laid plans unravel
and knowing we wouldn't make it far walking streets in broad daylight
we walked the inner parts of canals to keep us out of sight

the sun was near to setting and my plan was sitting pretty
Brandon and I had one street left to reach the outskirts of the city
yet one small problem remained and left Brandon and I debating
the portal that would lead us beneath the street was covered by metal grating

but there's no need to worry
we've got everything we need
we can climb this chainlink fence
and then you and I will be home free
we're heading towards the hills
where all the lone wolves roam
so long momma, I'm running away from home

and just as we reached the top of the fence a squad car changed the setting
the officer rolled down his window and asked where we were heading
we pointed towards the mountains and he got a twinkle in his eye
he said, "man, that's a long ways away boys, hop in, I'll give you a ride."

but there's no need to worry
I've got everything I need
a sandwich and a blanket
and the will to succeed
I'm heading towards the hills
where all the lone wolves roam
so long momma, I'm running away from home