Runnin' with the Devil
Van Halen Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, yeah, ah, yeah
I live my life like there's no tomorrow
And all I've got, I had to steal
Least I don't need to beg or borrow
Yes, I'm livin' at a pace that kills

Ooh, yeah
Ahh (Runnin' with the devil)
Ahh-hah, yeah
Woo-hoo-oo
(Runnin' with the devil)
I'll tell you all about it

I found the simple life ain't so simple
When I jumped out, on that road
I got no love, no love you'd call real
Ain't got nobody, waitin' at home

Ahh, yeah
(Runnin' with the devil)
(God, in the name of the lord of Nazareth, I'm only gon' tell you one time)
Ahh, yeah
(Runnin' with the devil) you bet I am, yeah
Woo
Woo

You know, uh, I found the simple life weren't so simple
When I jumped out, on that road
Got no love, no love you'd call real
Got nobody, waitin' at home

Ha-yeah
(Runnin' with the devil)
Oh God, oh God, I'm runnin', aw yeah
(Runnin' with the devil) uh, uh
Ooh ooh, one more time

(Ha-yeah)
(Runnin' with the devil) (oh, yeah)
(Runnin' with the devil) (woo, woo, woo)




(Runnin' with the devil) (ah-ha, yeah, ah-ha, yeah, ah-hah, yeah)
(Runnin' with the devil) (woo)

Overall Meaning

In Van Halen's song Runnin' With the Devil, the lyrics describe living a fast-paced, reckless lifestyle. The opening lines "I live my life like there's no tomorrow" suggest a lack of foresight and concern for the future, and the lines "all I've got, I had to steal" and "least I don't need to beg or borrow" suggest a disregard for traditional means of acquiring wealth and success. The repeated refrain "runnin' with the devil" suggests a sense of danger or risk-taking, and the lines "I found the simple life ain't so simple" and "got no love, no love you'd call real" suggest a feeling of disillusionment and dissatisfaction with this lifestyle.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, yeah, ah, yeah
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement


I live my life like there's no tomorrow
Living a fast-paced and reckless lifestyle


And all I've got, I had to steal
Revealing a criminal past to achieve wealth


Least I don't need to beg or borrow
Preferring to steal rather than ask for help


Yes, I'm livin' at a pace that kills
Acknowledging the dangers of living recklessly


Ooh, yeah
Expressing excitement and pleasure


Ahh (Runnin' with the devil)
Acknowledging the risks of his lifestyle choice


Ahh-hah, yeah
Feeling invigorated by the thrill of danger


Woo-hoo-oo
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement


(Runnin' with the devil)
Repeating the risks of his lifestyle choice


I'll tell you all about it
Implying a willingness to share his experiences


I found the simple life ain't so simple
Discovering that his fast-paced lifestyle is more exciting than a simple one


When I jumped out, on that road
Leaving behind a traditional lifestyle for a more daring one


I got no love, no love you'd call real
Losing real romantic connections due to his lifestyle


Ain't got nobody, waitin' at home
Living a single life without the stability of a partner


Ahh, yeah
Expressing excitement and pleasure


(Runnin' with the devil)
Acknowledging the risks of his lifestyle choice


(God, in the name of the lord of Nazareth, I'm only gon' tell you one time)
Taking a moment to pray or profess his faith


Ahh, yeah
Feeling invigorated by the thrill of danger


(Runnin' with the devil) you bet I am, yeah
Confirming his lifestyle and all of its risks


Woo
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement


You know, uh, I found the simple life weren't so simple
Recapping the thrill of his decision


When I jumped out, on that road
The moment he decided to leave a traditional lifestyle


Got no love, no love you'd call real
Connecting his lifestyle with a lack of authentic relationships


Got nobody, waitin' at home
Living a single life without the stability of a partner


Ha-yeah
Expressing excitement and pleasure


(Runnin' with the devil)
Acknowledging the risks of his lifestyle choice


Oh God, oh God, I'm runnin', aw yeah
Praying or professing his faith in a moment of danger


(Runnin' with the devil) uh, uh
Repeating the risks of his lifestyle choice


Ooh ooh, one more time
Requesting to repeat the excitement and pleasure


(Ha-yeah)
Expressing excitement and pleasure


(Runnin' with the devil) (oh, yeah)
Acknowledging the risks of his lifestyle choice


(Runnin' with the devil) (woo, woo, woo)
Expressing excitement and pleasure


(Runnin' with the devil) (ah-ha, yeah, ah-ha, yeah, ah-hah, yeah)
Feeling invigorated by the thrill of danger


(Runnin' with the devil) (woo)
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alex Van Halen, Edward Van Halen, David Roth, Michael Anthony

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@masonoen8447

Yeah, yeah, ah, yeah
I live my life like there's no tomorrow
And all I've got, I had to steal
Least I don't need to beg or borrow
Yes I'm livin' at a pace that kills
Ooh, yeah
(Ahh)
Runnin' with the Devil
(Ahh-hah, yeah)
(Woo-hoo-oo)
Runnin' with the Devil
Yes I'm, yeah, hoo
Ooh, you know I
I found the simple life ain't so simple
When I jumped out, on that road
I got no love, no love you'd call real
Ain't got nobody, waitin' at home
Runnin' with the Devil
(Hold on, hold on I'm runnin' ah yeah)
Runnin' with the Devil
(Ooh ooh, one more time)
Runnin' with the Devil
(Oh, yeah, ya-yeah)
Runnin' with the Devil
(Woo, woo)
Runnin' with the Devil
(I'll tell you about it)
I found the simple life, it's so simple
When I jumped out, on that road
I got no love, no love you'd call real
Ain't got nobody, waitin' at home
Runnin' with the Devil
(Oh, yeah)
Runnin' with the Devil
(Ah-ha, yeah, ah-ha, yeah, ah-hah, yeah)
Runnin' with the Devil



All comments from YouTube:

@christinecarlson1935

My high school friend in 1978 said to me check out the new stereo system in my car. I jumped in the car and he blasts this song! I was so blown away. I seen them live in concert in the early 80s twice. I stood right by the stage, Eddie was playing his guitar🎸 right in front of me, it was absolutely amazing!!!

@markiskool

In the 70's, I put a Craig power play under dash in my Triumph Spitfire. This song was awesome.

@carriefox8977

crying bc I’ll never get to experience this

@markiskool

@@carriefox8977 you can come close. A good set of headphones (not earbuds) plugged into your smartphone will get you halfway there

@markiskool

@@carriefox8977 or, better yet, do 1984 Jump with the same rig.

@CaeridLock.

Yall outta luck headphones ain't gonna cut it lmaooo
Reminds me about a story my grandma told me, the day I learned she was punk rock as fuck, 14 and the Beatles come to Toronto, and they're in the crowd of all those other 14 year old girls screaming for those limey gits, it got so crazy gma jumps up and stands on a post box cause the crowd on the street was so overwhelming, so after the mob rolls down the block and she gets down and gets her bearings, heres the play girls, her and here 3 friends try to sneak the fuck into the hotel to get to their spot to try to meet them, and they even got to their floor too, but when the door was surrounded by security, and they have to deliberate the next play, security sees them and nabs them and escorts them out the building
Fuckin punk rock ass hell thought, and it reminds me a true fact of life, unless you go to jail for murder or something stupid like that, you'll never do anything crazier than your parents, who never did anything crazier than their parents, and so on and such

15 More Replies...

@marcelovolcato8892

44 years later and it's still amazing!

@shannobailey2917

I'm still jamming and my neighbor calls the police. Police love it!

@amandal1785

Best album intro

@nathananderson9981

@Amanda L I

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