Although their earlier releases contained Satanic themes and imagery, from the third album on, the band's primary subject matter centered around pirates, sailing and other historical events. In 1987, the band released the album Under Jolly Roger, which was a switch to pirate-based and historical themes, creating and influencing the later named pirate metal subgenre of heavy metal in the 2000s in the process. While the historical lyrics were very superficial at first, the lyrics for later albums were intensively researched, by frontman Rolf Kasparek in particular.
After this album, from 1988 to 1992 (for the albums Port Royal, Death or Glory, Blazon Stone and Pile of Skulls), Running Wild mainly wrote historically based lyrics. In addition to lyrics about pirates, the band also addressed subjects like the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Waterloo, or the colonization of the New World by the Conquistadors.
In April 2009, Kasparek announced that Running Wild had split up. Their intended last show was at Wacken Open Air in July that year. It was recorded for CD and DVD release and appeared as The Final Jolly Roger in 2011. The split would prove temporary as they reunited in 2012. Running Wild played live for the Wacken Open Air festival in 2015. As of 2021, the band have released 17 studio albums, with their most recent being Blood on Blood.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_Wild_(band)
Studio albums
Gates to Purgatory (1984)
Branded and Exiled (1985)
Under Jolly Roger (1987)
Port Royal (1988)
Death or Glory (1989)
Blazon Stone (1991)
Pile of Skulls (1992)
Black Hand Inn (1994)
Masquerade (1995)
The Rivalry (1998)
Victory (2000)
The Brotherhood (2002)
Rogues en Vogue (2005)
Shadowmaker (2012)
Resilient (2013)
Rapid Foray (2016)
Blood on Blood (2021)
Live albums
Ready for Boarding (1988)
Death or Glory Tour – Live (1989)
Live (2002)
The Final Jolly Roger (2011)
Compilation albums
The First Years of Piracy (1991)
The Story of Jolly Roger (1998)
The Legendary Tales (2002)
20 Years in History (2003)
Best of Adrian (2006)
Black Demons on Stage (2010)
Greatest Hits (2011)
Riding the Storm: Very Best of the Noise Years 1983-1995 (2016)
Singles and EPs
"Victim of States Power" (1984)
"Bad to the Bone" (1989)
"Wild Animal" (1990)
"Little Big Horn" (1991)
"Lead or Gold" (1992)
"The Privateer" (1994)
"The Rivalry" (1998)
"Revolution" (2000)
"Crossing the Blades" (2019)
Kiss of Death
Running Wild Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's just a waste of time, we see through your lies
You think you've ruled the world, through the endless time
But on your wealth less soul, I wouldn't bet a dime
When the elder drops his arm you're dead and lost
He takes away your breath with the kiss of death
No deal can save your soul, we know your evil name
We see your cloven hoof, we know your evil game
Pre...
You've really passed the point, the point of no return
When your evil soul will melt, the good at heart will yearn
Pre...
The lyrics to Running Wild's song "Kiss of Death" seem to be directed at a man in black who is hiding his true identity. The singer of the song is calling him out, saying that his attempts at disguise are a waste of time because they see through his lies. The man in black is portrayed as someone who thinks he has ruled the world, but the singer wouldn't bet a dime on the state of his soul.
The song takes a darker turn when the singer says that when the elder drops his arm, the man in black will be "dead and lost," and that he will take away his breath with the kiss of death. Despite any deals the man in black may try to make to save his soul, the singer and others know his evil name and see through his game. The lyrics seem to suggest that the man in black has passed the point of no return and that his evil soul will eventually melt, leaving those with good hearts to yearn for something better.
The lyrics to "Kiss of Death" are evocative and intense, painting a vivid picture of a man who has been hiding his true self for too long. It's unclear whether the man in black is meant to be a literal figure or a metaphor for something else, but the message of the song is clear: evil will be revealed and ultimately undone. The chorus of the song is especially powerful, with its repeated refrain of "he takes away your breath with the kiss of death," driving home the idea of the inevitability of death and judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, Mr. Man in black, no more disguise
The singer calls out an anonymous figure who thinks they can hide their true identity, stating that it's pointless as their lies are transparent.
It's just a waste of time, we see through your lies
Continuing the previous line, the singer emphasizes that nobody is fooled by the man's facade.
You think you've ruled the world, through the endless time
The man in black is arrogant and believes he has been in power for an infinite amount of time.
But on your wealth less soul, I wouldn't bet a dime
Despite his wealth and supposed power, the artist suggests that the man's soul is worthless and lacking true value.
When the elder drops his arm you're dead and lost
The 'elder' is a symbol of impending death, and the artist warns the man in black that when the elder's arm drops, he will meet his end.
He takes away your breath with the kiss of death
The 'kiss of death' is a metaphor for dying, specifically by the hand of the elder mentioned earlier.
No deal can save your soul, we know your evil name
The singer insists that the man in black's name has been sullied by his own wrongdoings, and that no amount of bargaining or negotiation can redeem him.
We see your cloven hoof, we know your evil game
The artist accuses the man in black of being evil, and suggests that his true nature is revealed by his physical characteristics (reminiscent of the devil).
You've really passed the point, the point of no return
The man in black has crossed the line of no return, and will soon face his just punishment.
When your evil soul will melt, the good at heart will yearn
The artist suggests that the man in black's corrupt soul will disintegrate, leaving behind a yearning for goodness and righteousness to prevail.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROLF KASPAREK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MinionOfDeth2112
Such a great song.
falcon
Classic Running Wild song.