Runnin' with the Devil

Not to be confused with Running with the Devil.

"Runnin' with the Devil"
Single by Van Halen
from the album Van Halen
B-side	"Eruption"
Released	May 6, 1978 (1978-05-06)[1]
Recorded	1977
Genre	Hard rock[2]
Length	3:34
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Michael Anthony David Lee Roth Alex Van Halen Eddie Van Halen
Producer(s)	Ted Templeman
Van Halen singles chronology
"You Really Got Me" (1978) "Runnin' with the Devil" (1978) "Jamie's Cryin'" (1978)
Music video
"Runnin' with the Devil" on YouTube

"Runnin' with the Devil" is a song by the American hard rock band Van Halen, released as the second single from their eponymous debut album on May 6, 1978. The lyrics were inspired by Ohio Players 1974 song "Runnin' from the Devil".^[3] In 2009, "Runnin' with the Devil" was named the 9th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.^[2] Chuck Klosterman of Vulture ranked it the eighth-best Van Halen song, praising the staccato bass playing as well as David Lee Roth's vocal performance.^[4]

"Runnin' with the Devil" remains a staple track of classic rock radio and Van Halen's discography.^[5][6]

Composition

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 Ted Templeman 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 Gene Simmons-recorded demo of the song, as well as the song "House of Pain" which preceded it on the demo.^[7] A four-measure guitar solo is played after the second and third chorus.^[8]

Initial pressings of the Van Halen compilation Best Of, Vol.1 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 Van Halen.

Background

The song's lyrics have often been misinterpreted as being satanic, 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

Reception

Cash Box said it has "driving guitar work, tough jaunty beat and excellent lead and backing vocals."^[10] Record World said that "The production is extremely hot, with a 'live' quality to it, and sets off the screaming guitars quite well."^[11] In March 2023, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 68 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time" list.^[12]

Personnel

Van Halen

• David Lee Roth – vocals
• Eddie Van Halen – guitar, backing vocals
• Michael Anthony – bass, backing vocals
• Alex Van Halen – drums

Charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100[13]	84

Chart (1980)	Peak position
Belgian VRT Top 30[14]	11
Dutch Mega Charts[15]	2
Dutch Top 40[16]	7
UK Singles Chart[17]	52

Chart (2020)	Peak position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18]	14

1980 year-end chart	Position
Belgian VRT Top 30[19]	76
Dutch Megacharts[20]	30
Dutch Top 40[21]	53

References

1. https://www.rhino.com/article/single-stories-van-halen-runnin-with-the-devil-0
2. "Vh1 Top 100 Hard Rock Songs". Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
3. Van Halen I. Classicvanhalen.com.
4. Klosterman, Chuck (October 6, 2020). "All 131 Van Halen Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best A look back at the band's formidable legacy". Vulture.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
5. Unterberger, Andrew (2020-10-06). "Eddie Van Halen's 15 Best Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
6. "Readers' Poll: The Best Van Halen Songs". Rolling Stone. 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
7. "Runnin' With The Devil". VHND.com. Van Halen News Desk. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
8. Walser, Robert (1 April 2013). Running with the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 9780819574213. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
9. Brackett, Nathan; Howard, Christian David (2004). "The New Rolling Stone Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698. Retrieved 6 October 2014. van halen runnin' with the devil rollingstone.
10. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 15, 1978. p. 46. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
11. "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. April 15, 1978. p. 38. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
12. "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2023-03-13. Archived from the original on 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
13. "Van Halen Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
14. "Radio2 top 30: 8 oktober 2016 | Radio2". Top30-2.radio2.be. Archived from the original on 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
15. Hung, Steffen. "Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
16. "Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil". Top40.nl. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
17. "VAN HALEN | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
18. "Van Halen Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
19. "Lucky's Disco-bar voor wie houdt van feesten". Luckysdb.be. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
20. Hung, Steffen. "Dutch charts portal". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
21. "SINGLE TOP lOO : 1980" (PDF). Top40.nl. Retrieved 2016-10-13.

Further reading

• Van Halen Guitar Anthology. Van Nuys, California: Alfred. 2006. pp. 40–45. ISBN 9780897246729. OCLC 605214049.