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)
Desert Plains
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sky is black
I heed your call, I'm coming back
The road is straight cast
Wind's in my eyes
The engine roars between my thighs
From desert plains I bring you love
Wild mountain thunder
Echoes my quest
My body aches but I'll not rest
Quartz light to guide me
Till sunrise leads
My passion screams, my heart, it bleeds
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
Then in the distance
I see you stand
On the horizon you raise your hand
In burning rubber
I end my quest
You fall into my arms at last
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains
I bring you love
From desert plains
I bring you love
The lyrics of Judas Priest's song "Desert Plains" depict a journey of passionate love. The singer is depicted to be driving down a straight road with the engine of his motorcycle roaring and the wind blowing in his eyes, with the full moon rising in the sky. The singer expresses a strong desire to be with their loved one which inspires the long journey across the desert plains. The passion that fuels the singer's journey is so intense that their "passion screams, heart bleeds."
The second stanza further explains the journey and the challenges the singer has to face along the way. The journey is described to echo the singer's quest and the whole endeavor could be seen as a manifestation of their passion. They compare their mental and physical state with the violent mountain thunder and despite their exhaustion and pain, they don't want to rest. At this point, the singer seems to be guided by the quartz light until the sunrise leads the way.
The song reaches its climax as the singer reaches their destination, and they finally see their significant other on the horizon, raising their hand. The singer pushes through the final stretch with burning rubber to finally embrace their loved one as they fall into their arms. The line "From desert plains I bring you love" is repeated throughout the song as a declaration of love from the depths of the desert.
Overall, this song describes the powerful, all-consuming nature of love and how the strong desire for love can make someone go to great lengths to be with the one they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Full moon is rising
The night is dark and the full moon is rising, signifying a new beginning.
The sky is black
The sky is black, ominous and mysterious - just like the journey soon to be undertaken.
I need your call I'm coming back
The singer is answering the call of adventure and is returning to their love with renewed energy and purpose.
The road is straight cast
The road ahead is long and winding, a path that leads to the fulfillment of the artist's quest.
Wind's in my eyes
The wind in the artist's eyes symbolizes the many obstacles and hardships they must face on their journey.
The engine roars between my thighs
The singer's motorcycle is powerful and intimidating, representing their strong will and determination.
From desert plains I bring you love
The singer has returned from the desert with newfound passion and will share that with their love.
Wild mountain thunder
The thunderous sound of the mountains call to the artist in a wild, untamed way.
Echoes my quest
The artist's quest echoes through the mountains as their purpose becomes louder and clearer.
My body aches but I'll not rest
Although the journey is tough, the artist refuses to give up or surrender - they will see it through to the end, no matter the pain.
Quartz light to guide me
The singer has found guidance and clarity, represented by the soft, pure quartz light.
Till sunrise leads
The dawn of a new day signifies a new chance to achieve the artist's goal, and they will not stop until they reach it.
My passion screams, my heart it bleeds
The singer's passion and desire for their love is strong, their heart aches with the intensity of their emotions.
Then in the distance I see you stand
The singer has finally spotted their love on the horizon, a sign that their journey is almost complete.
On the horizon you raise your hand
Their love is waiting and encouraging, shown by their raised hand beckoning the singer forward.
In burning rubber I end my quest
The artist arrives to their love in style and with a sense of finality, as their long quest has come to an end.
You fall into my arms at last
Finally, the artist is reunited with their love and they embrace in a moment of pure joy and relief.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glenn Raymond Tipton, Kenneth Downing, Rob Halford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Morgana Rose
"Desert Plains"
Full moon is rising
The sky is black
I heed your call I'm coming back
The road is straight cast
Wind's in my eyes
The engine roars between my thighs
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
Wild mountain thunder
Echoes my quest
My body aches but I'll not rest
Quartz light to guide me
Till sunrise leads
My passion screams, my heart it bleeds
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
Then in the distance
I see you stand
On the horizon you raise your hand
In burning rubber
I end my quest
You fall into my arms at last
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
ThePHILIPANSELMO
Perfect ‼️
Full moon is rising
The sky is black
I need your call I'm coming back
The road is straight cast
Wind's in my eyes
The engine roars between my thighs
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
Wild mountain thunder
Echoes my quest
My body aches but I'll not rest
Quartz light to guide me
Till sunrise leads
My passion screams, my heart it bleeds
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
Then in the distance
I see you stand
On the horizon you raise your hand
In burning rubber
I end my quest
You fall into my arms at last
From desert plains I bring you love
From desert plains I bring you love
Bryan Thibodeau
Only a true priest fan will love this song
Kevin Mack
Yup.
Nelson Patino
Yes, for sure. I love this song. This is the best Rock/ metal song ever written.
Nelson Patino
Damn Great indeed. These guys kick some serious rock and roll ass indeed.
Chad's older brother brad
I remember when it was released... it's probably my favorite from the album....
vonclod123
Top 10 Priest song!
T Bone
I remember rocking out to this everyday after getting home from high school and being bullied. Cranked it as loud as it would go on my pioneer cabinet speakers... This shit got me through some tough times. Hail Judas Priest!!! 🤘🤘🤘
Charles Hill
Me to. cut down shovel handle cured this problem. Learned at an early age don't take no crap
Charles Hill
Me to cut down shovel handle
Anthony Spitery
This honestly sounds like a Dio song more than a Judas Priest song