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)
The Privateer
Running Wild Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roaring winds are blowing, a flag appears out of the night
Guns are spitting fire, the cannonball tears up the rail
The vessel's changing course, the thunderstorm blows up the sail
A furious fight is raging, red-hot cannon's shooting hard
Iron balls are flying, tearing all the planks apart
No mariner has the slightest chance to flee
His crystal-ball's revealing where he has to steer
He fights the covered evil without fear
Oh, the privateer
The sea-dog's reaimed in legends, it said he had the second sight
His assignment must be holy, he fought the fight with power and pride
The key to ancient wisdom, the power to have seen the truth
He'll return to holy ground, where his tortured soul had died in youth
His all seeing spy-glass is aiming at the sea
No mariner has the slightest chance to flee
His crystal-ball's revealing where he has to steer
He fights the covered evil without fear
Oh, the privateer
His all seeing spy-glass is aiming at the sea
No mariner has the slightest chance to flee
His crystal-ball's revealing where he has to steer
He fights the covered evil without fear
Oh, the privateer
The lyrics to Running Wild's song "The Privateer" describe a pirate or privateer in action on the high seas. The song starts with the privateer keeping watch on the deck of his ship, waiting for his prey to emerge. The moonlight provides the only illumination as the wind roars and a flag appears out of the night. Guns thunder and cannonballs tear through the ship's railings as the target ship changes course, trying to outrun its pursuer. A fierce battle ensues, with iron balls flying and tearing apart the planks of the ships.
The privateer is described as having an all-seeing spyglass, allowing him to aim his cannons with deadly accuracy. No mariner has a chance to escape, as the privateer's crystal ball reveals where he needs to steer his ship. The privateer is fearless in his pursuit of treasures, fighting against the evil forces that seek to thwart him.
The lyrics suggest that the privateer may have a special power, perhaps the "second sight" mentioned in the song. There is also a suggestion that his mission is holy and that he has the key to ancient wisdom. However, the privateer's story ends with the suggestion that he died young, tortured by his demons. Overall, "The Privateer" is an exciting and action-packed song that tells the story of a pirate seeking riches and fighting against all odds.
Line by Line Meaning
The privateer is watching, the moon provides the only light
The privateer is attentively observing the sea, with the moon giving the only source of light out in the dark waters.
Roaring winds are blowing, a flag appears out of the night
Strong winds are gusting, and a flag emerges from the dark of the night.
Guns are spitting fire, the cannonball tears up the rail
The privateer's guns are firing, and the cannonball violently damages the ship's rails.
The vessel's changing course, the thunderstorm blows up the sail
The ship alters its direction, while a thunderstorm suddenly amplifies the wind needed to catch its sails.
A furious fight is raging, red-hot cannon's shooting hard
A fierce battle is taking place, with red-hot shots being fired from the cannons.
Iron balls are flying, tearing all the planks apart
Iron balls are whizzing through the air, destroying the planks that make up the ship's hull.
His all seeing spy-glass is aiming at the sea
The privateer's telescope is pointed towards the ocean, searching for any incoming ships.
No mariner has the slightest chance to flee
Any sailor in the path of the privateer has no opportunity to escape.
His crystal-ball's revealing where he has to steer
The privateer's mystical intuition guides him through rough seas, straight towards his target.
He fights the covered evil without fear
The privateer combats hidden threats bravely and without hesitation.
The sea-dog's reaimed in legends, it said he had the second sight
The privateer has become a legendary figure, possessing seemingly supernatural abilities.
His assignment must be holy, he fought the fight with power and pride
The privateer's mission is pure and sacred, and he defends it with strength and dignity.
The key to ancient wisdom, the power to have seen the truth
The privateer holds the secret to ancient knowledge, and has gained deep insight into life's mysteries.
He'll return to holy ground, where his tortured soul had died in youth
The privateer will come back to a sacred place, where he once suffered greatly as a young man.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ROLF KASPAREK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brudda sperglord
i'm so proud of this band...forever running forever wild forever running wild
Comrade Hellas
One of the best metal bands
Claudia Martins
One the best songs of Running Wild...The Privateer and Souless the best of this album.
SETUM
@SunShine cheerz =))
SunShine
Great pick! :) cheerz
SETUM
@SunShine Yeap, but I mean Phatom Of Black Hand Hill =)
SunShine
@SETUM Oh I did not mean it like that. I just got curious which of the songs you mean :) Both are effing great btw haha.
SETUM
@SunShine sorry
roar340
He is actually a riff master!! evry song he makes... They are always amazing!!
Leandro Alves
Melhor metal alemão 🤘🤘🤘🤘😎