"Badlands" tells the story of a man who is down on his luck and angry at the world, yearning for a better life. The song's themes explore the idea that a poor man wants to be rich, a rich man wants to be king, and a king is never satisfied until he rules everything. The artist came up with the title before writing the song, feeling it was a "great title" that needed a worthy song to accompany it. The riff draws inspiration from the Animals' "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," and the song was influenced by the ferocity of punk singles. It plays like an anthem for defiance and ambition.