Kneel down you sinners to streetwise religion
Greed's been crowned the new king
Hollywood dream teens, yesterday's trash queens
Save the blessings for the final ring, amen

Take a ride on the wild side
Wild side

I carry my crucifix under my death list
Forward my mail to me in hell
Liars and the martyrs lost faith in the Father
Long lost is the wishing well

Take a ride on the wild side
Wild side

Fallen angels so fast to kill
Thy Kingdom come on the wild side
Our Father, who ain't in heaven
Be Thy name on the wild side
Holy Mary, Mother, may I
Pray for us on the wild side?
Wild side, wild side

Name dropping no names, glamorize cocaine
Puppets with strings of gold
East LA at midnight, papa won't be home tonight
Found dead with his best friend's wife

Take a ride on the wild side
Wild side
Take a ride on the wild side
Wild side

Gang fights, fatal strikes
We lie on the wild side
No escape, murder rape
Doing time on the wild side
A baby cries, a cop dies
A days pay on the wild side

Wild side, wild side
Tragic life on the wild side
Wild side, wild side
Kicking ass on the wild side
No going back on the wild side


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21, edited by digitalmanMKII

Wild Side Lyrics as written by Tommy Lee Nikki Sixx

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Wild Side song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    Nikki wrote the song to show both sides of his life. the "I carry my crucifix under my deathlist" is not meant to show a world his hopes to rejoin, it's to show the world that he lives in, or did at the time. He's saying and has repeatedly said he's always kept a foot in both worlds, because that's hope, and if you lose hope you have nothing. This song has a major resonance with him because it shows everything that's ugly, ungodly and real, but carries with it religious overtones that show hope that when he's done "doing time on the wild side" he will leave the earthly hell and go on to a better place. He's talked about it in countless articles. Hope this was a good enough reason to disagree.
    wendi1226on July 18, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Very sad song. It's a nice headbanging, rock n roll tune, but it's very deep. If you've lived that life, seen that life, and took a ride on the wild side, it is tragic. Alot of people now a days, especially kids, think it's cool to do drugs, sell drugs, and pretend to be a bad boy, but let me tell you it only leads you down. Jail, drug addiction, broken homes, gangs and murder, it's all very real, and sometimes we can lose sight of God. We make our choices, and we have to live with them, and the wild side is glamorized, but it's really hell. I took a ride on the wild side, and will probably take many more, and a day is pain on the wild side. Tragic life on the wild side.
    abuseforapieon December 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    great song about the city...kinda reminds me of where i live
    gnr4everon June 21, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Yeah, it is about all the crazy shit in L.A. Another great song by one of the all time best rock bands.
    quiffpornon November 02, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Damn straight!
    wiggles_666on November 19, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song is deeper than just being about the fast lanes of LA. It is about that side, but in contrast to the moral, healthy side to society, and how it will be there if anything (really) bad happens. "I carry my crucifix under my deathlist" is a connotation to the idea that Nikki/Vince (whichever one wrote this song) keeps a connection with that world he knows he will rejoin one day - "doing time on the wild side". Maybe. That is my understanding and anyone who disaggrees, say so without degrading me or my opinion. And only disaggree if you have a good reason.
    RomanChristopheron June 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Great song nonetheless.
    TheTriforceon December 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Good music vid,good song,good band,hot singer
    rocker13on April 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this sonr kicks ass. Motley Crue is #1, will always be #1, and i dont care what you think.
    Army123on August 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    From the summer of 2005-early 2006, I was living the rockstar life...I was out everyday at the bar, getting numbed to my emotions...but in early 2006, I began talking to a girl that was in one of my college classes, and she obviously liked me, but because of the way I was living, she said that she would not date me until I really gave up the hard drinking lifestyle...needless to say, I did, and she and I were together for 2 years, but after September 2007...when she turned 21, I kinda fell off the wagon, and was drinking again. Shortly into 2008, we broke up...and I really went off the deep end with my drinking. I struggle with the wild side to this day...lucky for me, I have a great support system.
    CKF929on May 29, 2013   Link

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