The band's membership has seen much turnover, including a revolving cast of drummers in the 1970s and the departure of singer Rob Halford in 1992. Tim "Ripper" Owens, formerly of Winter's Bane, replaced Halford in 1996 and recorded two albums with Judas Priest, before Halford returned to the band in 2003. The current line-up consists of Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis. The band's best-selling album is 1982's Screaming for Vengeance, with their most commercially successful line-up featuring Ian Hill, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, guitarist K. K. Downing, and drummer Dave Holland. Tipton and Hill are the only two members of the band to appear on every album.
Halford's operatic vocal style and the twin guitar sound of Downing and Tipton have been a major influence on heavy metal bands. Judas Priest's image of leather, spikes, and other taboo articles of clothing were widely influential during the glam metal era of the 1980s. The Guardian referred to British Steel as the record that defines heavy metal. Despite a decline in exposure during the mid-1990s, the band has once again seen a resurgence, including worldwide tours, being inaugural inductees into the VH1 Rock Honors in 2006, receiving a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2010, and having their songs featured in video games such as Guitar Hero and the Rock Band series. In 2022, Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Priest
Studio albums
Rocka Rolla (1974)
Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
Sin After Sin (1977)
Stained Class (1978)
Killing Machine (1978)
British Steel (1980)
Point of Entry (1981)
Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
Defenders of the Faith (1984)
Turbo (1986)
Ram It Down (1988)
Painkiller (1990)
Jugulator (1997)
Demolition (2001)
Angel of Retribution (2005)
Nostradamus (2008)
Redeemer of Souls (2014)
Firepower (2018)
Invincible Shield (2024)
Blood Red Skies
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keeping to the shadows
Life hangs by a thread
And I've heard it said
That I'll not see tomorrow
If that's my destiny, it'll have to be
So I'll face the future
I'm on the line
But I'll go down fighting
Felt the hand of justice
Telling wrong from right
Threw me out upon the street in the middle of the night
Cybernetic heartbeat
Digital, precise
Pneumatic fingers nearly had me in their vice
Not begging you
I'm telling you
You won't break me
You won't make me
You won't take me under blood red skies
You won't break me
You won't take me
I'll fight you under blood red skies
Through a shattered city, watched by laser eyes
Overhead the night squad glides
The decaying paradise
Automatic sniper
With computer sights
Scans the bleak horizon for its victim of the night
They're closing in
They'll never win
You won't break me
You won't take me
You won't make me under blood red skies
You won't break me
You won't take me
I'll fight you under blood red skies
As the end is drawing near
Standing proud, I won't give in to fear
As I die, a legend will be born
I will stand, I will fight
You'll never take me alive
I'll stand my ground
I won't go down
You won't break me
You won't take me
'Cause I'll fight you under blood red skies
You won't break me
You won't take me
'Cause I'll face you under blood red skies
You'll never take me alive
I'm telling you
Hands of justice
I will stand, I will fight
Never surrender (never surrender)
I still stand, I stand
The lyrics to Judas Priest's "Blood Red Skies" describe the singer's defiance and determination to fight and resist against a bleak, dystopian society that seeks to oppress and control him. In the first stanza, the singer acknowledges his precarious situation, living on borrowed time, and how he must fight until the end. The second verse highlights the singer's confrontation with the forces of oppression and how their technology is used to subjugate him. Despite the overwhelming odds against him, the singer asserts his will to resist and not be broken.
The final verse is a triumphant declaration of the singer's resilience and strength in the face of death. He promises to stand his ground and fight until the very end, even if it means being remembered as a legend. The repeated chorus emphasizes the singer's resolve to resist, declaring that he will not be defeated or taken alive. Overall, the lyrics to "Blood Red Skies" are a powerful expression of defiance and strength, highlighting the human spirit's ability to resist even in the most challenging circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
As the sun goes down, I move around
As the day ends, I become more cautious and careful in my movements
Keeping to the shadows
I try to stay hidden and out of sight
Life, hangs by a thread
My life is in danger and could end at any moment
And I've heard it said, that I'll not see tomorrow
People have warned me that I might not survive this dangerous situation
If that's my destiny, it'll have to be
If my fate is to die, then so be it
So I'll face the future
I am determined to confront whatever comes next
Running out of time
I am running out of options and opportunities
I'm on the line
I am in a precarious and risky situation
But I'll go down fighting
I will resist and fight back, even if it means my death
Felt the hand of justice
I have faced the consequences of my actions and been punished accordingly
Telling wrong from right
I have learned to distinguish between good and evil
Threw me out upon the street in the middle of the night
I was abandoned and left to fend for myself in a dangerous situation
Cybernetic heartbeat
A machine or device with a mechanical pulse or rhythm
Digital precise
Exact and technical, based on computer calculations
Pneumatic fingers nearly had me in their vice
Mechanical hands almost caught and trapped me
Not begging you
I am not pleading or groveling for mercy
I'm telling you
I am making a statement or declaration
You won't break me
I am strong and resilient, and you cannot defeat me
You won't make me
You cannot force me to do something against my will or beliefs
You won't take me
You cannot capture or control me
Under blood red skies
In a violent and dangerous environment
I'll fight you under
I will resist and rebel against your authority or power
Through a shattered city, watched by laser eyes
I am navigating a ruined urban environment, under intense surveillance
Overhead the night squad glides
A group of enforcers or soldiers are patrolling the area from above
The decaying paradise
The once-beautiful city has fallen into ruin and disrepair
Automatic sniper
A robotic or computerized weapon that can shoot and kill from a distance
With computer sights
Using technology to aim and target its victims
Scans the bleak horizon for its victim of the night
The weapon is searching for someone to kill, in a grim and desolate setting
They're closing in
My enemies are getting closer and closer to capturing me
They'll never win
I am determined to outlast and defeat my enemies, no matter what
As the end is drawing near
My life is coming to a close, and my time is running out
Standing proud, I won't give in to fear
I am determined to face death with courage and bravery
As I die a legend will be born
I will be remembered and admired for my bravery and resistance
I will stand. I will fight
I am committed to fighting back against my oppressors, even if it costs me my life
You'll never take me alive
I am willing to die rather than be captured or controlled by my enemies
I'll stand my ground
I will not run away or back down from my enemies
I won't go down
I will resist and fight back against my enemies, even if the odds are against me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kenneth Downing, Robert Halford, Glenn Raymond Tipton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@azwris
Blood Red Skies has always been one of the best Priest songs. "You'll never take me alive.."
@missbrokendreams
The* best, you mean
@rogerstedina2202
This song takes me to a different world! Priest is a priest!!!
@matthiasausfrankfurt
@The Bored AF Guitarist metal as ** even though it contains mountains of keyboard sounds!
@lonewolfgrey5913
had nodular cancer in '05...was told to not make any long term plans anymore....this song....kept me going when i was down......kept me fighting on....and here i am ;....16 years later long time afterwards...still listening...still going on...still ready to fight till the very end (and beyond)....never give up, never give in, never surrender...make your final stand and fight till death
@BohemianStix
@@lonewolfgrey5913 glad you got through it pal! Music is so emotive and inspiring 🙌
@devincomiskey3482
This moment was one of the greatest in the band's history. This song. That voice. Epic. Absolutely, fucking EPIC. Gives me chills, still.
@rockenOne
Would a relief to get that final scream done, such a risky song to sing live.
@rofl0rblades
I am crying.
@francoisyogesh
💖💖💖Judas is eternal the most amazing metal band ever