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)
LONE WOLF
Running Wild Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They call him a wilfull gambler who's going astray
Looking for a grain of fortune for feeling alive
But the know-all and riff-raff never dies
The law demands it's order
He's bored with all their lies
He can't take it any longer,
He's a lone wolf, furious and castaway
Yes, he's a lone wolf
And he's on the prowl again
He's totally disobedient and he's strong
They disparage and revile him,
Saying that he is wrong
Unmercifully accused of living free
But the denial of the truth is not a spree
The law demands it's order
He's bored with all their lies
He can't take it any longer,
His anger will arise
He's a lone wolf, furious and castaway
Yes, he's a lone wolf and he's on the prowl again
He's a lone wolf, furious and castaway
Yes, he's a lone wolf and he's on the prowl again
Yes, he's a lone wolf
Yes, he's a lone wolf
A lone wolf on the prowl again
The wrath and the revolution
Are rising on and on
The youth stands strong and tight
Until the " War " is won
Politicians and the church are running down the youth
They're trying oh, so hard to twist the truth
The law demands it's order
He's bored with all their lies
He can't take it any longer,
His anger will arise
He's a lone wolf, furious and castaway
Yes, he's a lone wolf and he's on the prowl again
He's a lone wolf, furious and castaway
Yes, he's a lone wolf and he's on the prowl again
The lyrics to Running Wild's song "Lone Wolf" center around a rebellious outsider who lives by his own code and is tired of being told what to do by authorities who he perceives as corrupt and insincere. Clad in denim, studs, and leather, this "willful gambler" is constantly searching for his slice of good fortune in order to feel truly alive. However, he is constantly at odds with "the know-all and riff-raff" who try to drag him down and convince him that he is wasting his time.
Despite the pressures put upon him to conform, the lone wolf refuses to bend to the will of his detractors. Instead, he is "totally disobedient and strong" and is not swayed by their attempts to convince him that he is living life incorrectly. The song's chorus emphasizes the wolf's status as an outsider who is always on the prowl, and the final verse speaks to the larger societal conflicts that are taking place. The "youth stands strong and tight" against politicians and the church, who are trying to manipulate the situation to their advantage.
Overall, "Lone Wolf" is a powerful and poignant song about the struggles of keeping one's individuality in a world that often tries to rob us of it. The wolf's fierce determination and unwavering spirit make him a symbol for all who refuse to be crushed by the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Denim, studs and leather all the way
He dresses in a particular manner which is denim, studs, and leather which is indicative of his personality.
They call him a willful gambler who's going astray
People label him as someone recklessly taking risks and straying from the norm.
Looking for a grain of fortune for feeling alive
He's seeking adventure and excitement in life and is pursuing them with high hopes.
But the know-all and riff-raff never dies
Despite his desire to move past them, he's consistently encountering people who try to bring him down with their negative commentary.
He's totally disobedient and he's strong
He's fiercely independent and enduring and will not bow down to anyone.
They disparage and revile him, saying that he is wrong
People mock and criticize him, while trying to convince him that his choices and actions are incorrect.
Unmercifully accused of living free
He's unjustly blamed and condemned for his desire and ability to lead a free and nonconformist lifestyle.
But the denial of the truth is not a spree
There's no point in denying or hiding the truth behind his motives and ambitions. It will only prolong the inevitable clash between him and his critics.
The wrath and the revolution are rising on and on
His anger and passion for change are continually growing, making him more determined than ever to stand up for his beliefs.
The youth stands strong and tight until the 'War' is won
He's not alone in his fight against societal norms and expectations. There are others who share his beliefs and are standing strong with him until they achieve their goals.
Politicians and the church are running down the youth
He's not only facing criticism from individuals but also from institutions that are in authority such as the government and religious establishments.
They're trying oh, so hard to twist the truth
These institutions are portraying their own distorted and biased version of the truth in order to hold power and control over the youth.
He's a lone wolf, furious and castaway
He's metaphorically a lone wolf, fiercely independent and castaway from those who cannot understand his views and choices.
Yes, he's a lone wolf and he's on the prowl again
Despite facing challenges and criticism, he's still relentless and hunting for his goals and desires.
The law demands it's order
There are societal rules and regulations to which people are required to conform.
He's bored with all their lies
He's become fed up with the lies and deceit propagated by many individuals and institutions within society.
He can't take it any longer, his anger will arise
His patience is running out, and he is getting angry with the unjust and unfair challenges he's facing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind