Running Free

Running Free is Iron Maiden's first single, off of their debut album. It was initially released as the A-side to Sanctuary, which wasn't included on the original track listing for Iron Maiden. (But later released on a remastered version of the album in 1998.)

Iron Maiden made history by performing this song on Top of the Pops. They were the first group since The Who, six years earlier, to choose not to mimic (pretend to play) their performance. Most bands tend to do that on promotional videos.

Paul Di'Anno wrote the lyrics, explaing the song as ''"a very autobiographical song, though of course I never spent the night in an LA jail. It's about being 16 and, like it says, running wild and running free. It comes from my days as a skinhead." ''

Iron Maiden typically performs this as the last song in their encore live.

Lyrics:

Just sixteen, a pick-up truck, out of money, out of luck.

Got no place, to call my own, hit the gas, and here I go!

[chorus]

I'm running free yeah, I'm running free

I'm running free yeah, oh I'm running free

Spend the night in an L.A. Jail, listen to, the sirens wail.

But they ain't got a thing on me, I'm running wild, I'm running free!

[chorus]

I'm running free yeah, I'm running free

I'm running free yeah, oh I'm running free

(Get out a' my way!)

''Pulled her at the bottle top, whiskey dancing, disco hop. ''

Now all the boys are after me, and that's the way it's gonna be!

&nbsp [chorus]

I'm running free yeah, I'm running free!

I'm running free yeah, I'm running free!

''I'm running free (I'm running!) yeah, I'm (running!) free! ''

''I'm running free (I'm running!) yeah, I'm (running!) free! ''