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)
Tsar
Running Wild Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He sank down in deepest despair
Hundreds of Russians were dying
By rapture, the sun and its glare
After several years of waiting
He came, the heir to the throne
Their son was born as a bleeder
The tsarina felt what was coming
A vision that darkened her soul
The tsar was given a warning
Intrigues so darkened and cold
Destiny called, the empire fell
The two-headed eagle that died
Bullets of hate were erasing their lifes
No prayer and nobody cried
In their darkest hour the "staretz" appeared
He saved Aleksej from death
Rasputins' power, a dissolute life
Sentenced to take his last breath
The world was on war, drowning in flames
Gasbombs, horror and death
The reds brought on revolution
He decided to take his discharge
But they placed him under detention
The red star, its idols should march
The Romanows took up their cross
The desaster was to foresee
On the 16th July 1918
They were slaughtered, a whole dynasty
The lyrics to Running Wild's song "Tsar" tell the story of the tragic downfall of the Romanov dynasty, the last imperial family to rule Russia. The song begins with the coronation of the young Tsar, who is overcome with despair as he watches his countrymen suffer under the intense heat of the sun. The Tsar's parents, who had waited years for an heir, are distraught when their son is born with hemophilia, a genetic disorder that prevents blood from clotting properly. The Tsarina, sensing impending doom, has a premonition of the dark forces that will soon bring the Romanovs to their downfall.
As the years pass, the Russian people become increasingly discontent with the Tsar's rule. Revolution is in the air, and even the powerful mystic Rasputin cannot save the Romanovs from their fate. The Tsar is eventually detained by the communist authorities, and he and his family are executed in 1918. The song ends with the haunting image of a "whole dynasty" being slaughtered, a tragic end to a once-great empire.
The lyrics to "Tsar" are a powerful reminder of the human cost of political revolutions, and the tragic consequences of unchecked power. The song is also notable for blending elements of historical storytelling with heavy metal music, creating a unique and memorable experience for listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
At the day of his coronation
On the day of his coronation as tsar of Russia
He sank down in deepest despair
He became overwhelmed with sadness and hopelessness
Hundreds of Russians were dying
Many Russians were losing their lives
By rapture, the sun and its glare
The intense heat of the sun was contributing to their deaths
After several years of waiting
Following a period of waiting that lasted years
He came, the heir to the throne
The heir to the Russian throne arrived
Their son was born as a bleeder
Their son was born with a bleeding disorder
His parents so sad and alone
His parents were deeply saddened and felt isolated
The tsarina felt what was coming
The tsar's wife had a premonition about what was to come
A vision that darkened her soul
The vision she had filled her with dread and despair
The tsar was given a warning
The tsar was warned of impending danger
Intrigues so darkened and cold
The plots against him were sinister and ruthless
Destiny called, the empire fell
The Russian empire fell in accordance with destiny or fate
The two-headed eagle that died
The symbol of the Russian tsardom, the two-headed eagle, was no more
Bullets of hate were erasing their lifes
The tsar and his family were being murdered out of hate
No prayer and nobody cried
There was no one to pray for them or mourn their deaths
In their darkest hour the "staretz" appeared
In the tsar's darkest hour, a charismatic holy man appeared
He saved Aleksej from death
He prevented the tsar's son from being killed
Rasputins' power, a dissolute life
The influence of Rasputin, a controversial figure with a debauched lifestyle
Sentenced to take his last breath
He was condemned to die
The world was on war, drowning in flames
The world was engulfed in a global conflict and suffering immense destruction
Gasbombs, horror and death
People were being killed by poison gas, and the situation was horrific
The reds brought on revolution
The Communists overthrew the government in the Russian Revolution
He decided to take his discharge
He chose to abdicate his throne
But they placed him under detention
He was subsequently arrested and held in custody
The red star, its idols should march
The new Communist regime promoted their emblem, the red star, and their ideology
The Romanows took up their cross
The Romanov family accepted their fate and prepared to die
The desaster was to foresee
The disaster that befell the Romanovs was predictable
On the 16th July 1918
On July 16, 1918
They were slaughtered, a whole dynasty
The entire Romanov dynasty was murdered in cold blood
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROLF KASPAREK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roman Roman
At the day of his coronation
He sank down in deepest despair
Hundreds of Russians were dying
By rapture, the sun and its glare
After several years of waiting
He came, the heir to the throne
Their son was born as a bleeder
His parents so sad and alone
The tsarina felt what was coming
A vision that darkened her soul
The tsar was given a warning
Intrigues so darkened and cold
Destiny called, the empire fell
The two-headed eagle that died
Bullets of hate were erasing their lifes
No prayer and nobody cried
In their darkest hour the "staretz" appeared
He saved Aleksej from death
Rasputins' power, a dissolute life
Sentenced to take his last breath
The world was on war, drowning in flames
Gasbombs, horror and death
The reds brought on revolution
He decided to take his discharge
But they placed him under detention
The red star, its idols should march
The Romanows took up their cross
The desaster was to foresee
On the 16th July 1918
They were slaughtered, a whole dynasty
Roman Roman
At the day of his coronation
He sank down in deepest despair
Hundreds of Russians were dying
By rapture, the sun and its glare
After several years of waiting
He came, the heir to the throne
Their son was born as a bleeder
His parents so sad and alone
The tsarina felt what was coming
A vision that darkened her soul
The tsar was given a warning
Intrigues so darkened and cold
Destiny called, the empire fell
The two-headed eagle that died
Bullets of hate were erasing their lifes
No prayer and nobody cried
In their darkest hour the "staretz" appeared
He saved Aleksej from death
Rasputins' power, a dissolute life
Sentenced to take his last breath
The world was on war, drowning in flames
Gasbombs, horror and death
The reds brought on revolution
He decided to take his discharge
But they placed him under detention
The red star, its idols should march
The Romanows took up their cross
The desaster was to foresee
On the 16th July 1918
They were slaughtered, a whole dynasty
KnightOnE5Square
I have listened this about 10 years ago.Best power metal song ever in my opinion.It's sad that many youngs don't know about this just because it doesn't have views in youtube like some garbage out there
Zakazana Wiedza
Helloween
Annete Bailey
RW knows exactly how to rock a
Speed metal song. Incredable band of talent
wumpscut1
10 years old now, crank it driving weekly - Tribute to ROLF and RW \m/
Metallic Marco
Rock N' Rolf is a Tsar of heavy Metal !!!!
si lafuyang
ЦАР
Z Anthony
+Metallic Marco Lex Steele is Tsar of Movies
TAURNIL AR FENIEL
power metal!!!!!
wumpscut1
The disaster was to foresee On the 16th July 1918 They were slaughtered, a whole dynasty