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Breaking the Law
Judas Priest Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

There I was completely wasting, out of work and down
All inside it's so frustrating as I drift from town to town
Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die
So I might as well begin to put some action in my life

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

So much for the golden future, I can't even start
I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart
You don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue
If you did you'd find yourselves doing the same thing too

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

You don't know what it's like

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

Overall Meaning

Judas Priest’s song “Breaking the Law” was released in 1980 and is a classic metal tune that resonates with many listeners. The lyrics depict a feeling of frustration and desperation in the face of a seemingly hopeless situation. The protagonist of the song is out of work and feels like no one cares about him. He’s been let down by broken promises and is now filled with anger. In this state of mind, he decides that breaking the law is the only way to put some action in his life.


The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase “Breaking the law,” creating a sense of urgency and defiance. The lyrics suggest that the protagonist is aware of the consequences of his actions but chooses to break the law anyway. The line “So much for the golden future, I can’t even start” suggests that he feels like he has nothing to look forward to, making breaking the law a viable option.


Line by Line Meaning

There I was completely wasting, out of work and down
I was feeling hopeless and useless as I wandered aimlessly without a job


All inside it's so frustrating as I drift from town to town
My inner turmoil was mounting as I moved from place to place without any direction


Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die
I'm overwhelmed by the feeling of being completely alone and unnoticed by anyone


So I might as well begin to put some action in my life
I decided to take matters into my own hands and create some excitement in my dull existence


Breaking the law, breaking the law
I've decided to engage in illegal activity


So much for the golden future, I can't even start
The bright prospects that once existed now seem utterly unattainable


I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart
People have let me down so many times that I've started to feel bitter and resentful


You don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue
You can't possibly understand what I'm going through


If you did you'd find yourselves doing the same thing too
If you were in my shoes, you would also act in the same way




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glenn Raymond Tipton, Kenneth Downing, Robert Halford

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Santiago Gómez

Lyrics

There I was completely wasting, out of work and down
All inside it's so frustrating as I drift from town to town
Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die
So I might as well begin to put some action in my life
You know what it's called

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

So much for the golden future, I can't even start
I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart
You don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue
If you did you'd find yourselves doing the same thing
You doing to me now

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

You don't know what it's like

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law



LillyRocks

There I was completely wasted, out of work and down
All inside it's so frustrating as I drift from town to town
Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die
So I might as well begin to put some action in my life

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

So much for the golden future I can't even start
I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart
You don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue
If you did you'd find yourselves doing the same thing too

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

You don't know what it's like

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law

Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law



Dr Kuro_Saurio bIG_bLACK_pUP

There I was completely wasting, out of work and down
All inside it's so frustrating as I drift from town to town
Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die
So I might as well begin to put some action in my life
You know what it's called
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
So much for the golden future, I can't even start
I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart
You don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue
If you did you'd find yourselves doing the same thing
You doing to me now
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
You don't know what it's like
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law



juan carlos coral ruano

There I was, completely wasting
Out of work and down
All inside it's so frustrating
As I drift from town to town
Feel as though nobody cares
If I live or die
So I might as well begin
To put some action in my life

Breaking the law, breaking the law

So much for the golden future
I can't even start
I've had every promise broken
And there's anger in my heart
You don't know what it's like
You don't have a clue
If you did you'd find yourselves
Doing the same thing too

Breaking the law, breaking the law

You don't know what it's like



All comments from YouTube:

poopsniffer

The camera man is so brave. He filmed the whole robbery and didn't get killed.

Silva Dos Santos

He was part of it

Nintendo Editor

a true survivor

Andrey Kusanagi

they were there to rob the bank, not to kill the patrons.

Flickan i det krökta rummet

they used the secret weapon heavy metal on him too

DinoRocker 86

@Sean Hauth Yeah I might've heard of that movie in passing before, not really into 80's B-movies, unless ya don't consider any Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sly Stallone, Chuck Norris and Jean Claude Van Damme action movie from this time a B-movie, but yeah, Priest really blew me away when I first heard 'em, funny about what ya said about that film, that's what happened to that bowler wearin' bozo in the video for "You Got Another Thing Coming", so yeah you could say that, yeah the best Heavy Metal (early Saxon, Priest, Motorhead, early Maiden (Di Anno era) had the sound and feel of the action films of the guys I mentioned, full throttle, shoot from the hip, take no prisoners attitude.

40 More Replies...

Vlasis

53yrs old, still getting goosebumps, still feeling like Beavis and Butthead

Mark Spaltholz

😂 Yep awsome time of life. We used to break the law too.

Argento Kaos

@RUTHLESS UK Um, there's this letter between "W" and "Y"... :D :D

Argento Kaos

Cannot upvote this--- and change the number...

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