Runnin With The Devil Lyrics

The Real Story Behind the Song That Started Van Halen's Career

I spent about three weeks last winter trying to find a transcription of "Runnin' with the Devil" that didn't butcher the guitar parts, and I'm still not entirely happy with what I found online. Most sites get the bridge wrong. Some claim Eddie Van Halen plays a tapping riff there, but he actually picks it clean. Anyway, here's what I know after playing along with the original record on loop for hours. The song was released in 1978 as the opening track on Van Halen's debut album. It runs about three minutes, features a distinctive bass line from Michael Anthony that drives the whole groove, and David Lee Roth's vocals are more aggressive than anything else on that record. The lyrics themselves aren't particularly deep, which is kind of the point. The main character in the song is someone who lives fast and doesn't care about consequences. Lines like "I'm runnin' with the devil" serve as the central hook, and Roth basically repeats this concept throughout. There's a narrator, some references to driving fast cars, and a general sense of rebellion without any real political message behind it. That's normal for hard rock in that era.

Important note about lyrics accuracy: Several lyrics websites have the line wrong. Some say "runnin round the devil" instead of "runnin' with the devil." The correct wording matters if you're trying to look up sheet music or learn the song properly. I ran into this exact problem when a student asked me to play it and we couldn't find consistent chord charts anywhere.

How the Song Actually Works

The guitar part in E major is simpler than it sounds on first listen. Eddie uses a lot of open string voicings and lets the strings ring. The main riff relies on hammer-ons and pull-offs rather than heavy alternate picking. If you're learning it, slow the tempo down to about 80 BPM and practice the transitions between the verse riff and the chorus part separately before combining them. The bass tone is crucial. Anthony uses a pick, and that gives the low end its sharp attacking sound. Without the pick, the groove loses about half its impact. I tried playing along with a bassless version one time, and it felt hollow and disconnected. The bass and drums lock together in a way that defines this track.

Common Misunderstandings

Some people think this song is literally about demonic stuff because of the title. It's not. It's about living recklessly. The "devil" is metaphorical, referring to bad choices and the consequences of a wild lifestyle. Roth has said in interviews that the song came from watching people drive fast cars and push their luck in general. Another frequent error: people assume the solo section uses heavy distortion. It doesn't. Eddie's solo tones on this track are relatively clean, almost like a slightly overdriven amp pushed just past threshold. The distortion comes later in their career. This distinction matters if you're trying to nail the original tone.

Why This Song Still Matters

"Runnin' with the Devil" helped establish hard rock as a commercial force in the late seventies. The Van Halen debut album sold millions, and this track being first on the running order made a statement. It grabbed attention immediately instead of easing the listener in. If you want to study this song, I'd recommend starting with the album version, then comparing it to live performances from the late seventies to hear how Eddie's playing evolved. The studio version is tight and controlled, but live renditions show more improvisation and different phrasing choices. For a download link, check official Van Halen distributors like iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon Music. The track is available on the original album "Van Halen" and should be included on most greatest hits collections.