Fast as a Shark

Accept

About Fast as a Shark

"Fast as a Shark" is a song and single by German heavy metal band Accept from their 1982 album Restless and Wild. Its blazingly fast double bass drumming is recognized today as reaching a new level in the development of the subgenre of speed and power metal. The intro to the track is a snippet from a crackly old children's recording of a traditional German tune titled Ein Heller und ein Batzen (A Farthing and a Penny). The band thought it would make a humorous contrast with their heavy metal sound, and the fact that a young Dieter Dierks (in whose studio the album was recorded) was singing on the recording made it even more of an inside joke. The band soon found themselves in an unintended controversy, however: even though the song dated from 1830, it was a popular marching song during the Nazi era and still held that connotation for many listeners, a fact the band was unaware of at the time. "So out of a funny little idea we created somewhat of a monster," Wolf Hoffmann recalls. "Fast as a Shark" was ranked Number 33 in Martin Popoff's book The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time. 


3:49

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Fog in the streets
A church clock beats
Midnight, darkness all around

You better beware
You better take care
Be prepared for the shock

The time has come
And he's the one
Who's breathing down your neck

Coming from behind
Now it's your time
A loser will die

Fast as a shark he'll cut out of the dark
He's a killer, he'll rip out your heart
On a one way track and you're not coming back
Cause the killer's on the attack

Surprise attack
Coming from the back
An expert of the deadly knack

Just take care
Just beware
Be prepared for the fight

Fast as a shark he'll cut out of the dark
He's a killer, he'll rip out your heart
On a one way track and you're not coming back
Cause the killer's on the attack

Watch out, watch out

Fast as a shark he'll cut out of the dark
He's a killer, he'll rip out your heart
On a one way track and you're not coming back
Cause the killer's on the attack

Fast as a shark he'll cut out of the dark
He's a killer, he'll rip out your heart
On a one way track and you're not coming back
Cause the killer's
Cause the killer's
Cause the killer's on the attack

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Accept

Accept is a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, originally assembled by former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 1960s. The band played an important role in the development of speed metal, being part of the German heavy metal scene, which emerged in the early to mid 1980s. more »

2 fans

Written by: Peter Baltes, Stefan Kaufmann, Udo Dirkschneider, Wolf Hoffman

Lyrics © Royalty Network

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Data
"Fast as a Shark" was released in 1982 as part of the band's album "Restless and Wild."
Song Genre
The song is often classified as speed metal, which is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is characterized by a high tempo and aggressive lyrics.
Significant Influence
"Fast as a Shark" is considered one of the precursors of thrash metal and power metal, distinguishing it as a significant influence within the heavy metal genre.
Band History
"Fast as a Shark" was released when the band "Accept" was still fairly new. The band was formed in 1976 in Germany, and their first studio album was released in 1979.
Song's Opening
Uniquely, the song opens with a German folk tune, playing from an old gramophone. The peaceful tune is suddenly interrupted by the sound of a needle scratching across a record, and then the heavy electric guitar riffs begin.
Controversial Accusations
The song had been associated with controversy in the past. It was wrongly claimed to be a pro-Nazi song due to the opening German folk song, while in fact, the song had no connections to Nazism at all.
Live Performances
"Fast as a Shark" remains a favorite during live performances by Accept, exhibiting its long-standing popularity among fans.
Lyrics Theme
The lyrics of the song depict a merciless hunter, amplifying the menacing and aggressive tone of the song.
Album Success
The "Restless and Wild" album, which included "Fast as a Shark," reached gold status in Germany and charted in multiple other countries.
Critical Reception
The song is viewed as a groundbreaking track in the history of speed metal music, and critics often highlight it as one of Accept's most memorable songs.

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