Don’t.
It took a second OP years after the first, but I got my answer (Tupelo Chain Sex).
There’s always hope!
11 years later … had to create a new account because my old login is long gone …. I FOUND THE VIDEO.
My memory of details is obviously waaayyyy off (also it was 42 years ago, I was 10-11) - I must have dreamed the cottage part - but this is definitely it. I could remember something about “rebel” and Manfred Mann but could only find 70’s songs from them. Searched again last night: it’s “Rebel” by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band 1984.
As soon as I saw the part where she gets the jacket I knew. MYSTERY SOLVED!
I’m glad you finally found it. I’ve got memories like that. Staying up overnight to watch Night Tracks on TBS, and failing to always stay awake means I “saw” many videos that don’t actually exist. Maybe someday I’ll see the real video.
But now that you found the band and video, I must take exception. Manfred Mann (or as we called them in the era of political correctness, Personfred Person) was not an obscure band, nor a one-hit wonder.
I KNOW RIGHT! I thought I was mistaken about the band it was such a vague memory. Especially when I never saw the video again in 40 years. Also in my defence little-kid 1984 me only knew Top 40 & new wave, not 70’s. I’m finding it hilarious how my memory was so off-course.
If you want access to your old account, I can help you. Send an email to EngineerCompGeek@gmail.com and we’ll get you sorted out.
Yeah, they’re famous for recording both the worst Dylan cover AND the worst Springsteen cover.
Yeah, I know. For You is a terrible song, just the worst of early Springsteen rambling on in a nonsensical manner, as he did at the time, that was made infinitely better by having Manfred Mann cover it.
Same with You Angel You, where they took an obscure Dylan B-side filler song, that Dylan didn’t even like, and turned it into a good song.
[Blows raspberry]
This song was in significant rotation on KGGO in Des Moines in the early 1980s. The video is not official.
Looking at your OP, I think you were actually pretty close.
- “Early 80s” - check
- “teenage girl who has a crappy home life and runs away” - partial credit for crappy home life
- “at the very end she’s sitting happily in the cottage with the band while they jam” - mostly correct, except it’s a studio and not a cottage
- “rebel” or “runaway” might be in either the song title" - check
Not too bad for a decades old memory, I’d say!
Well, the OP didn’t say it was a good song.
This puts a big smile on my face. Thank you!