Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 19… Read Full Bio ↴Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy (particularly sword and sorcery) and mythology (particularly Norse mythology and Greco-Roman mythology), as well as numerous songs celebrating the genre and its core audience. The band is also known for a loud and emphatic sound. In an interview for MTV in February 2007, bassist Joey DeMaio lamented that "these days, there's a real lack of big, epic metal that is drenched with crushing guitars and choirs and orchestras... so it's nice to be one of the few bands that's actually doing that". In 1984, the band was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for delivering the loudest performance, a record which they have since broken on two occasions. They also hold the world record for the longest heavy metal concert after playing for five hours and 1 minute in Bulgaria (at Kavarna Rock Fest) in 2008. They also have been known for their slogan "Death to false metal". The band maintains a strong cult following.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manowar

Studio albums
Battle Hymns (1982)
Into Glory Ride (1983)
Hail to England (1984)
Sign of the Hammer (1984)
Fighting the World (1987)
Kings of Metal (1988)
The Triumph of Steel (1992)
Louder Than Hell (1996)
Warriors of the World (2002)
Gods of War (2007)
Battle Hymns MMXI (2010)
The Lord of Steel (2012)
Kings of Metal MMXIV (2014)

Death Tone
Manowar Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Original Lyrics

Ridin' on two wheels
Chains hooked on my heels
Sittin' on leather
Ridin' on steel

Put my shades on

Hair blows in the wind
I give some square the finger
Now he won't look again, no he won't

Now, you were sittin' home
And I got sent to Nam
I went to the big house
You just worked at job

Hear me calling can't you hear my death tone
Hear me calling can't you hear my death tone
Hear me ride on into the night pull along side
If you're looking for a fight

My social worker's got me on a chain
Keeps me out of jail so the paper prints his name
Yes it does, and he likes it

Unemployment checks run out next week
It won't be very long 'til I'm back on the streets again

Overall Meaning

The song "Death Tone" by Manowar is a hard-hitting tribute to rebellion, freedom, and the heavy metal lifestyle. The lyrics describe the experience of riding a motorcycle with reckless abandon, defying social norms, and thumbing one's nose at authority. The singer proudly proclaims his outlaw status, challenging anyone who would challenge him to a fight. He contrasts his life of danger and excitement with that of a more conventional, "square" person who chose a more mundane path in life, even as he ruminates on the dangers he faces as a social misfit. The singer exults in his freedom to choose his own destiny, even as he acknowledges that his choices may lead to early death.

The song embodies the spirit of rebelliousness that is central to the heavy metal ethos. By emphasizing the thrill of danger, the joy of breaking societal conventions, and the refusal to conform to mainstream expectations, it speaks to the aspirations of young people who crave excitement, adventure, and a sense of belonging beyond the constraints of the traditional norms. The lyrics also reflect on the cost of this freedom, acknowledging that the singer may pay for his choices with his life, but emphasizing that he would rather live free and wild than live a life of safety and predictability.

Line by Line Meaning

Ridin' on two wheels
Traveling on a motorcycle

Chains hooked on my heels
Wearing boots with chains

Sittin' on leather
Sitting on a leather motorcycle seat

Ridin' on steel
Riding a steel-framed motorcycle

Put my shades on
Putting on sunglasses

Hair blows in the wind
Feeling the wind blowing through one's hair while riding a motorcycle

I give some square the finger
Making an offensive hand gesture to someone

Now he won't look again, no he won't
The person who was offended won't look at the artist again

Now, you were sittin' home
Addressing someone who was not in the military

And I got sent to Nam
Referring to the Vietnam War and how the artist was drafted

I went to the big house
The singer was arrested and put in jail

You just worked at job
The person being addressed had a regular job

Hear me calling can't you hear my death tone
Asking the listener if they can hear the singer's dangerous intentions

Hear me ride on into the night pull along side
Inviting someone to ride next to the singer

If you're looking for a fight
Suggesting that the ride will end in a physical confrontation

My social worker's got me on a chain
The artist is being closely monitored by their social worker

Keeps me out of jail so the paper prints his name
The social worker is using the artist's situation to promote themselves

Yes it does, and he likes it
The social worker enjoys the attention and job security the singer brings them

Unemployment checks run out next week
The singer is currently receiving unemployment benefits

It won't be very long 'til I'm back on the streets again
The artist predicts that they will not be able to find gainful employment and will soon be homeless

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOEY DEMAIO, JOSEPH DE MAIO, ROSS H. FRIEDMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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