Balls To The Wall

Album: Balls To The Wall (1983)
Play Video
  • Lyrics currently unavailable Writer/s: Gaby Hoffmann, Peter Baltes, Stefan Kaufmann, Udo Dirkschneider, Wolf Hoffman
    Publisher: BAILER MUSIC PUBLISHING, Cloud9, Downtown Music Publishing, Royalty Network, Sentric Music, SMV Schacht Musikverlage GmbH & Co. KG, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group

Comments: 14

  • Tormentor666 from IndiaI think its about the oppression of society's rules and the fanaticism of those very rules, the damned might mean the people who dont follow society, as they re scorned everywhere and have no place welcomed to them, they re abandoned or considered bad for society and society sees them as either a liability or something dangerous and shows no love for them, people arent acceptable towards them and make them social paraiahs, and that this song is kind of an anthem for those people, thats what i can comprehend. Could be about punks, alternative culture, people who arent religious, people who re in the fringes of society, or simply anyone whos been cast out. We re all somewhat slaves our society in one way or the other, that too could be what they re trying to portray, and we got our balls to the wall by the people who re controlling the society's rules or are listneed to. People are killing themselves and going insane part, well that part, migh talk about the society's conduct that has made people desperate to end their suffering or are haunted by the misconduct of the society. And that fighting against the very grain might make it worse for em and they ll have nowhere to go. Hope this makes sense.
  • Jackpain from Europe/swedenAs Austpig writes. The expression means no way out. You got your balls to the wall (facing the wall) and whoever is chasing you closing in from behind. I've heard variations of it in several languages, often used when some one is described to get what's coming to them. Balls to the wall and a bullet in the back of the head. Fitting as the song is about the oppressed rising up to take revenge on their oppressors. The gay thing about the record that people talk about, was not about this song. It was about London Leatherboys (which is about bikers) and Lovechild (which is about comming to terms with someone close, coming out as gay). With those two songs, the album cover and the title of the record, there was homophobic panic in 1983-84 USA. But they used to panic about anything that wasn't Psalms or kidsongs back in the 80s. Just read up about Tipper Gore and friends during that time.

    When some one says heavy-metal guitar sound, the intro to Balls to the wall, is the one that first plays in my head. Today most go for too much lows in their guitar sound. Metal guitar, should be most in the midrange like this. Drums and baseguitar should take care of the low. Why else even have a baseplayer.

    Michael from Santa Cruz, Ca, don't you mean Brian Johnson the second singer of AC/DC?
    Fun fact: the Accept song I'm a Rebel, probably should sound even more like early acdc to listeners, but that's because it was originally writen for AC/DC, by the oldest Young brother Alex Young.
  • Austpig from Europe UkBalls to the Wall. No way out. Fight for your life .
  • Babbling Babette from Tulsa OkWell two years ago me & my BF, Catfish, found this record in my Dad's record collection in the attic. We got Mom's old record player and played it over and over. What a bizarre song! Catfish loves it though. He claimed the phrase "balls to the wall" is about boys in the lockerroom showing off their tools. I asked Dad and he said that's ridiculous and wrong. Dad claims it's an old line from airline pilots shoving the hand-controls (with the round balls on top of the levers) all the way to the wall to elevate the airplane. But I prefer Catfish's explanation cause it's raunchier and funnier. Yeahhh! Let 'em all hang out!
  • Lionel Ulloa from Panama, PanamaWikipedia, now day has been explained the obscure reality and controversy on the title track for this album. I knew this from the beginning, the title track and other hitmakers from the same vinyl slab as "London Leatherboys" and the obvious "Lovechild" are renderers of gay themes in amidst of media expectations back in the day. check these following links:

    http://www.metallian.com/accept.php

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balls_to_the_Wall

    American homophobe ostracized media make a scandal of this, explained the guitarist and twin guitar ethos Wolf Hoffmann.
  • Dave from Salem, MeI agree with Michael in Santa Cruz, CA. That was their BEST Album. I figured it was foreign, just didn't know it was Germany they were from. After Russian Roulete. I figured them from Russia, or around abouts. Kiss-asss...guitars....Guitars... and his voice was what was left. PPPPppppppeeeerrrreccccffftttt!
  • Seth from Ingleside, Txto Michael: Lemmy is the bassist and lead singer for the band Motorhead.
  • Michael from Santa Cruz, CaTo Budoshi:Who is Lemmy you refer to?
  • Michael from Santa Cruz, CaUdo Dirkenschneider may not be the prettiest lead singer of all,but he gave Accept their distinct sound.Almost sounds like Bon Scott of AC/DC.Best album to me is "Metal Heart".Krautmetal is awesome!!
  • Budoshi from Sandnessjøen, Norwayf--king Aye, Jason. That's f--king true.. Just listen to Lemmy.. He ain't pretty, but he kicks ass..:D
  • Jason from Denver, CoTo jeff in Boulder,CO. REAL metal singers are not supposed to be or sound pretty!
  • Jeff from Boulder, CoThis song may be a candidate for the Worst Song in Metal History, and the lead singer looked like a 5' down sydrome child.
  • Kodi from Sydney, CanadaI thought that it was like about the military or like going to jail... You know like when you go to jail and you get checked for weapons, your have to get your balls on the wall there don't you ?
  • Don from San Antonio, TxI like the two white flying V's in the video!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.