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)
Breaking the law ~3582~E1324~1317324818
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics to Judas Priest's song "Breaking the Law" tell the story of a person who is fed up with their life and sees no hope for a better future. The first verse describes the singer's feelings of frustration and hopelessness as they move from town to town, unable to find work or purpose. The chorus, with its repetition of the phrase "breaking the law," suggests that the singer is turning to illegal activities as a way to feel alive and take control of their situation. The second verse reveals a deeper layer of anger and resentment towards those who have made promises that they were unable to keep, leaving the singer feeling betrayed and bitter.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person who is at the end of their rope and sees no way out. The repetition of the chorus serves to reinforce the message that the singer is breaking the law as a way of asserting their agency and taking a stand against the forces that have held them down. However, the song's ultimate message is ambiguous. While it expresses sympathy for the singer, it also suggests that their actions may be misguided and ultimately self-destructive.
Line by Line Meaning
There I was completely wasted, out of work and down
I was in a bad place in my life, struggling with unemployment and feeling hopeless
All inside it's so frustrating as I drift from town to town
I feel lost and purposeless, with no clear direction or stability
Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die
I feel like I have no value, and that even my existence is insignificant
So I might as well begin to put some action in my life
I decide that I need to take control of my situation and make something happen
Breaking the law, breaking the law
I start by doing something drastic and illegal, in order to feel like I have power and control
So much for the golden future I can't even start
I had hoped for a better life, but it seems like that's never going to happen
I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart
I've been let down so many times that I'm filled with frustration and resentment
You don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue
Others can't understand what I'm going through unless they've experienced it themselves
If you did you'd find yourselves doing the same thing too
I believe that if others were in my situation, they would also resort to extreme measures
Breaking the law, breaking the law
I continue to act out in defiance of the society and authority figures that have let me down
You don't know what it's like
The cycle of feeling hopeless and acting out continues
Breaking the law, breaking the law
My actions become a form of rebellion against a world that seems determined to keep me down
Breaking the law, breaking the law
I continue to act out, despite the risks and consequences that come with it
Breaking the law, breaking the law
This pattern of behavior becomes a way for me to cope with my feelings of powerlessness and frustration
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Ultimately, I am left with nothing but my defiance and my anger
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GLENN RAYMOND TIPTON, KENNETH DOWNING, ROBERT HALFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SlashORC
They made it in the style of Battle Song, can't complain as it sounds great 🤘
Gonçalo Vidigal
It's amazing how Ensiferum can make this cover and still make it look like an Ensiferum song!
Kevin
I saw them play this song in concert, they all switched instruments and Netta was singing, it was awesome
Justin LaFleur
As a devout Priest fan, I am strangely comfortable with this cover version.
Gus Mulder
That scream at 1:51 \m/
Chhavimani Choubey
that's why it's awesome
Владимир
ахуенно!
M T
I want a Japanese version : Bleaking the Raw
Adventurer 5000
And sang by typical anime girl's voice? XD
Lucas Rocca
I love the horse instead of the siren hahah