Conquistadores

Running Wild's song "Conquistadores" delves into the brutal history of the Spanish conquerors who explored and subjugated new lands during the Age of Exploration. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the conquistadors, who were driven by a combination of greed and religious fervor. The song criticizes the violent and oppressive methods they used to achieve their goals, highlighting the hypocrisy and moral corruption that often accompanied their so-called holy missions.

The song opens by describing the conquistadors as troops blessed and sanctified by the church, setting out to conquer new lands. However, the lyrics quickly reveal the dark side of their endeavors, as they fight, kill, rape, and steal under the banner of the Holy Church. This stark contrast between their religious justification and their heinous actions underscores the song's critical stance on the historical events it describes. The repeated refrain of "Conquistadores, hungry for gold" emphasizes their insatiable greed, while the phrase "doing as the religious madman told" points to the manipulation and exploitation of religious beliefs for personal gain.

Throughout the song, Running Wild also addresses the forced conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity, often under the threat of death. The lyrics highlight the arrogance and blindness of the conquistadors, who never questioned the morality of their actions. By portraying the conquistadors as "religion's knights" causing havoc and death out of pride, the song condemns the destructive impact of their conquests on native populations and cultures. The use of strong, evocative language serves to drive home the message that the legacy of the conquistadors is one of violence, greed, and religious hypocrisy.