353:, yet the band members have never revealed the full meaning of the song. It is usually interpreted as being about the life of a touring young band. The song's verses deal with an individual's experience, including learning that a "simple" lifestyle is not as simple as it appears. The lyrics "Runnin' with the devil" are usually interpreted as being a reference to freedom. In the song freedom is portrayed as a lack of social ties and living in the present. The song's meaning has also been interpreted as being an attempt to convince a person that the theme of a simple life is not wrong as it appears. Therefore, the lyrics of "Runnin' with the devil" would not be serious.
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contained an alternate edit of "Runnin' with the Devil" where the verses, chorus and solos were arranged in a different order than that of the original album version. It was reported that this was accidental and subsequent pressings have replaced this version with the one found on
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The song begins with a collection of car horns sounding. The horns were taken from the band's own cars and mounted in a box and powered by two car batteries, with a foot switch. Producer
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said that "The production is extremely hot, with a 'live' quality to it, and sets off the screaming guitars quite well." In March 2023,
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slowed the horns down before adding them to the track. This same idea was first used during the band's club sets and appeared on the
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1974 song "Runnin' from the Devil". In 2009, "Runnin' with the Devil" was named the 9th greatest hard rock song of all time by
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said it has "driving guitar work, tough jaunty beat and excellent lead and backing vocals."
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ranked the song at number 68 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time" list.
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ranked it the eighth-best Van Halen song, praising the staccato bass playing as well as
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Running with the Devil: Power, Gender, and
Madness in Heavy Metal Music
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1002:"Van Halen Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)"
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The song's lyrics have often been misinterpreted as being
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861:"The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time"
330:Initial pressings of the Van Halen compilation
1021:"Lucky's Disco-bar voor wie houdt van feesten"
792:van halen runnin' with the devil rollingstone.
652:"Eddie Van Halen's 15 Best Songs: Staff Picks"
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910:"Radio2 top 30: 8 oktober 2016 | Radio2"
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1867:Songs written by Michael Anthony (musician)
282:in April 1978. The lyrics were inspired by
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622:Klosterman, Chuck (October 6, 2020).
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961:"Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil"
940:"Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil"
1438:Where Have All the Good Times Gone!
891:"Van Halen Chart History (Hot 100)"
766:"The New Rolling Stone Album Guide"
1720:For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Tour
650:Unterberger, Andrew (2020-10-06).
14:
707:. Van Halen News Desk. 6 May 2013
1882:Songs written by Eddie Van Halen
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1543:Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)
511:Hot Rock & Alternative Songs
1877:Songs written by Alex Van Halen
1872:Songs written by David Lee Roth
873:from the original on 2023-03-13
729:Walser, Robert (1 April 2013).
1750:A Different Kind of Truth Tour
1010:. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
1:
1265:For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
735:. Wesleyan University Press.
582:"Vh1 Top 100 Hard Rock Songs"
311:and Van Halen's discography.
1578:Can't Get This Stuff No More
1064:"SINGLE TOP lOO : 1980"
899:. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
842:. April 15, 1978. p. 38
814:. April 15, 1978. p. 46
266:" is a song by the American
1656:Live: Right Here, Right Now
1403:And the Cradle Will Rock...
1329:Live: Right Here, Right Now
833:"Record World Single Picks"
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1808:Sammy Hagar and the Circle
1336:Tokyo Dome Live in Concert
1095:Van Halen Guitar Anthology
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1725:Right Here Right Now Tour
1286:A Different Kind of Truth
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982:"VAN HALEN | Artist"
805:"CashBox Singles Reviews"
274:, released as the second
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1389:Somebody Get Me a Doctor
1375:Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love
1223:Women and Children First
701:"Runnin' With The Devil"
401:– guitar, backing vocals
246:"Runnin' with the Devil"
29:"Runnin' with the Devil"
23:1978 single by Van Halen
16:Not to be confused with
1745:North America 2007–2008
1311:The Best of Both Worlds
1892:Warner Records singles
1782:Guitar Hero: Van Halen
1624:Everybody Wants Some!!
1515:Finish What Ya Started
1473:Why Can't This Be Love
1361:Runnin' with the Devil
773:. Simon and Schuster.
407:– bass, backing vocals
304:'s vocal performance.
264:Runnin' with the Devil
213:Runnin' with the Devil
18:Running with the Devil
1550:Can't Stop Lovin' You
1431:Dancing in the Street
1043:"Dutch charts portal"
280:eponymous debut album
1700:Hide Your Sheep Tour
1382:Dance the Night Away
611:Classicvanhalen.com.
531:1980 year-end chart
1690:World Invasion Tour
1685:World Vacation Tour
1663:Video Hits Volume I
1494:Best of Both Worlds
539:Belgian VRT Top 30
463:Belgian VRT Top 30
1755:North America 2015
1649:Live Without a Net
1304:Best Of – Volume I
1296:Compilation albums
1192:Wolfgang Van Halen
471:Dutch Mega Charts
309:classic rock radio
193:singles chronology
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1695:Fair Warning Tour
1424:(Oh) Pretty Woman
1354:You Really Got Me
984:. Official Charts
914:Top30-2.radio2.be
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1803:Chickenfoot
1771:Discography
1641:Videography
1609:Other songs
1585:Without You
1321:Live albums
1182:Sammy Hagar
629:Vulture.com
607:Van Halen I
315:Composition
278:from their
239:Music video
178:Producer(s)
1857:1977 songs
1846:Categories
1715:OU812 Tour
1237:Diver Down
1076:2016-10-13
1049:2013-12-09
1027:2013-12-09
988:2013-12-09
967:2013-12-09
963:. Top40.nl
946:2013-12-09
924:2016-10-13
877:2023-03-13
846:2023-02-15
818:2022-01-01
686:2023-10-18
661:2023-10-18
635:October 9,
565:References
345:Background
1798:Planet Us
1710:5150 Tour
1705:1984 Tour
1557:Amsterdam
1536:Right Now
1522:Poundcake
1452:I'll Wait
1417:Unchained
1209:Van Halen
1151:Van Halen
1113:605214049
1007:Billboard
896:Billboard
786:6 October
748:6 October
711:6 October
656:Billboard
534:Position
516:Billboard
504:position
458:position
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430:position
387:Van Halen
382:Personnel
357:Reception
339:Van Halen
272:Van Halen
268:hard rock
191:Van Halen
109:Hard rock
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48:Van Halen
1831:Category
1735:III Tour
1617:Eruption
1071:Top40.nl
871:Archived
812:Cash Box
705:VHND.com
395:– vocals
363:Cash Box
95:Recorded
80:Released
73:Eruption
1764:Related
1346:Singles
1272:Balance
440:Hot 100
413:– drums
351:satanic
297:Vulture
251:YouTube
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1776:Awards
1592:Tattoo
1480:Dreams
1459:Panama
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276:single
115:Length
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1673:Tours
1258:OU812
1067:(PDF)
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270:band
132:Label
104:Genre
1445:Jump
1251:5150
1244:1984
1109:OCLC
1099:ISBN
788:2014
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