I am the Law
Anthrax[www.illutrix.com] Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fifteen years in the academy
He was like no cadet they'd ever seen
A man so hard, his veins bleed ice
And when he speaks he never says it twice
They call him judge, his last name is dredd
So break the law, and you wind up dead
Truth and justice are what he's fighting for
Judge dredd the man, he is the law
Drokk it!

With gun and bike he rules the streets
And every perp he meets will taste defeat
Not even death can overcome his might
Cause dredd and anderson, they won the fight
When the sov's started the apocalypse war
Mega-city was bombed to the floor
Dredd resisted, and the judges fought back
Crushed the sov's with their counter-attack
Drokk it!

Respect the badge - he earned it with his blood
Fear the gun - your sentence may be death because

I am the law!
And you won't fuck around no more - I am the law
I judge the rich, I judge the poor - I am the law
Commit a crime I'll lock the door - I am the law
Because in mega-city... I am the law

In the cursed earth where mutants dwell
There is no law, just a living hell
Anarchy and chaos as the blood runs red
But this would change if it was up to dredd
The book of law is the bible to him
And any crime committed is a sin
He keeps the peace with his law-giver
Judge, jury, and executioner
Drokk it!

Crime - the ultimate sin
Your iso-cube is waiting when he brings you in
Law - it's what he stands for
Crime's his only enemy and he's going to war
Lead break crime - the ultimate sin
Your iso-cube is waiting when he brings you in




Law - it's what he stands for
Crime's his only enemy and he's going to war

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Anthrax's "I am the Law" describe the persona of Judge Dredd, a fictional character from the comic book series 2000 AD. The song portrays Dredd as an authoritative figure who enforces the law without fear or favor. The first verse of the song talks about Dredd's training and character, describing him as an exceptional cadet who has earned the name "judge." The following lines depict his no-nonsense approach to crime and punishment, with lines such as "break the law and you wind up dead" and "he is the law." The chorus reiterates Dredd's authority and strictness, reinforcing the idea that he will not tolerate criminality or disobedience.


The second verse of the song focuses on Dredd's role in Mega-City One, a sprawling metropolis where he and other judges maintain law and order. The song references the "apocalypse war" against the Soviet Union, which devastated the city and forced Dredd and his colleagues to fight for survival. The final verse draws a contrast between Mega-City One and the "cursed earth," a lawless wasteland where Dredd's authority does not extend. The song ends with another repetition of the chorus, emphasizing Dredd's power and the consequences of breaking the law in his presence.


Line by Line Meaning

Fifteen years in the academy
The singer has undergone a rigorous training for fifteen years to become a respected judge and enforcer of laws.


He was like no cadet they'd ever seen
The singer stood out amongst his peers during his time at the academy due to his exceptional skills and unwavering dedication to the cause.


A man so hard, his veins bleed ice
The singer is a tough and emotionless individual who always remains calm and unwavering in the face of danger.


And when he speaks he never says it twice
The artist means what he says the first time and will not repeat himself or tolerate any disobedience.


They call him judge, his last name is dredd
The artist's name is Judge Dredd and he is a respected and feared judge who enforces the law with an iron fist.


So break the law, and you wind up dead
Breaking the law in this society results in harsh and deadly punishments from Judge Dredd and his fellow judges.


Truth and justice are what he's fighting for
Judge Dredd is fighting to uphold truth and justice in a society where chaos and anarchy are prevalent, and is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve this goal.


Judge dredd the man, he is the law
Judge Dredd serves as a living embodiment of the law in this society and will stop at nothing to ensure that criminals are brought to justice.


With gun and bike he rules the streets
Judge Dredd patrols the streets on his motorcycle, equipped with his trusty law-giver pistol, to maintain order and enforce the law.


And every perp he meets will taste defeat
Any criminal or wrongdoer who goes up against Judge Dredd will inevitably be defeated and punished to the fullest extent of the law.


Not even death can overcome his might
Judge Dredd is not afraid of death and is willing to face any danger to uphold the law and bring criminals to justice.


Cause dredd and anderson, they won the fight
Judge Dredd and his fellow judge Anderson emerged victorious in a major conflict that threatened to destroy Mega City One.


When the sov's started the apocalypse war
A devastating war broke out when the Sovs (Soviet Union) launched an attack on Mega City One, leading to widespread destruction and chaos.


Mega-city was bombed to the floor
The city was heavily damaged as a result of the Sov's bombing campaign and many lives were lost.


Dredd resisted, and the judges fought back
Judge Dredd and his fellow judges refused to back down in the face of the Sov's attack, and instead fought back to defend their city and its inhabitants.


Crushed the sov's with their counter-attack
The judges ultimately emerged victorious in their battle against the Sovs, crushing their enemy and ensuring their defeat.


Respect the badge - he earned it with his blood
Judge Dredd has gone through great lengths and sacrifices in order to earn the respect and recognition of his peers and citizens.


Fear the gun - your sentence may be death because
The law-giver pistol not only commands fear but also inflicts punishment that may include your life if you choose to break the law.


I am the law!
Judge Dredd is the ultimate authority and enforcer of the law in this society, and his word is final.


And you won't fuck around no more - I am the law
Judge Dredd will not tolerate any disobedience or rebellion, and those who break the law will face the full wrath of his justice system.


I judge the rich, I judge the poor - I am the law
Judge Dredd's judgment is blind to social status or economic standing, and all who break the law will face the same punishment.


Commit a crime I'll lock the door - I am the law
Judge Dredd will not hesitate to arrest and punish anyone who breaks the law, as he is the ultimate authority and enforcer of justice.


Because in mega-city... I am the law
Judge Dredd serves as the ultimate authority figure and enforcer of the law in Mega City One, and his word is final.


In the cursed earth where mutants dwell
The cursed earth is an area outside of Mega City One where mutants and other dangerous creatures reside.


There is no law, just a living hell
The cursed earth is an anarchic and chaotic place, with no true authority or law to maintain order and punish wrongdoers.


Anarchy and chaos as the blood runs red
The cursed earth is a place of violence and mayhem where bloodshed is a common occurrence.


But this would change if it was up to dredd
Judge Dredd is committed to bringing order and justice to the cursed earth, and is willing to take on this daunting task.


The book of law is the bible to him
Judge Dredd views the book of law as his ultimate guide and source of authority, and adheres to its teachings and principles without fail.


And any crime committed is a sin
Judge Dredd sees breaking the law as a grave sin, and is dedicated to ensuring that all wrongdoers are punished accordingly.


He keeps the peace with his law-giver
The law-giver pistol is Judge Dredd's most valuable tool in maintaining order and enforcing the law, and he uses it with great skill and precision.


Judge, jury, and executioner
Judge Dredd serves as all three roles in the justice system, having the authority to determine guilt or innocence, pass judgment, and carry out punishment.


Crime - the ultimate sin
In this society, crime is seen as the worst possible transgression, and must be punished severely.


Your iso-cube is waiting when he brings you in
Criminals who are brought to justice will be imprisoned in an iso-cube, where they face harsh conditions and limited freedoms.


Law - it's what he stands for
Judge Dredd's entire identity and purpose revolve around enforcing the law and bringing criminals to justice.


Crime's his only enemy and he's going to war
Judge Dredd sees crime as the greatest threat to society, and will do whatever it takes to eradicate it and bring peace to Mega City One.


Lead break crime - the ultimate sin
The lead guitar break in the song emphasizes the importance of punishing crime and bringing justice to wrongdoers in this society.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLIE L. BENANTE, DANIEL LILKER, DANIEL ALAN SPITZ, FRANK JOSEPH BELLO, JOSEPH A. BELLARDINI, SCOTT IAN ROSENFELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions