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)
Diamonds & Rust
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full
And you decided to call
And here I sit, hand on the telephone
Hearing the voice I'd known
A couple of light years ago
But we both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Yes we both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Now I see you standing with brown leaves all around and snow in your hair
Now we're smiling out the window of the crummy hotel over Washington square
Our breath comes in white clouds, mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me we both could've died then and there
Now you're telling me you're not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it
You were so good with words
And at keeping things vague
Cause I need some of that vagueness now
It's all come back too clearly, yes, I love you dearly
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust, I've already paid
But we both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Yes we both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
The song "Diamonds & Rust" by Judas Priest is a complex and emotional track that examines the power of memories and the lingering effects of past relationships. The lyrics, "I'll be damned, here comes your ghost again, but that's not unusual," set the tone for the rest of the song, suggesting that the singer has a long history with this person and their presence is not unexpected. The use of the full moon as a metaphor for the haunting nature of these memories further reinforces this idea.
The singer reflects on a past relationship and the emotions that it still stirs up. The line, "We both know what memories can bring, they bring diamonds and rust," suggests that even though the good memories are like diamonds, they are still covered in rust and damaged by time. The second verse paints a vivid picture of a memory that the singer shares with the person they are speaking to, further driving home the message that memories are powerful and can transport us to another time and place.
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges that they still have strong feelings for this person, despite the fact that the relationship ended long ago. The request for "vagueness" suggests that the singer is struggling with their emotions and needs time to process them. The final repetition of "Diamonds, diamonds and rust" serves as a reminder that the past cannot be undone, and that even the most idyllic memories are still rusted by the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be damned, here comes your ghost again
I am surprised to see you again, as if you are a haunting ghost from my past.
But that's not unusual
However, this is a common occurrence between us.
It's just that the moon is full
The current state of full moon could be a catalyst for this event.
And you decided to call
You have chosen to contact me right now.
And here I sit, hand on the telephone
Now I am waiting, holding my phone.
Hearing the voice I'd known
Hearing your familiar voice from the past.
A couple of light years ago
Although it feels like ages ago.
Headed straight for a fall
Our relationship was destined for failure and problems.
But we both know what memories can bring
We know that memories can bring both good and bad.
They bring diamonds and rust
Those memories can be either beautiful and valuable, or painful and intrinsically worthless.
Now I see you standing with brown leaves all around and snow in your hair
I picture you standing surrounded by a wintery landscape of dead leaves and snow.
Now we're smiling out the window of the crummy hotel over Washington square
Now I envision us smiling through a crummy hotel's window in Washington square.
Our breath comes in white clouds, mingles and hangs in the air
We are breathing out white vapor that hangs in the cold air and combines together.
Speaking strictly for me we both could've died then and there
In that moment, we both felt chained by our intense thoughts and feelings.
Now you're telling me you're not nostalgic
You are trying to convey that you don't feel any strong sentimental feelings right now.
Then give me another word for it
But you are challenged to find another word to replace it with.
You were so good with words
You had a skill for articulating emotions.
And at keeping things vague
And being ambiguous about your true intentions and feelings.
Cause I need some of that vagueness now
I feel like I need that ambiguity and haziness in this current situation.
It's all come back too clearly, yes, I love you dearly
Because all of my memories with you have returned so vividly and I still have great affection for you.
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust, I've already paid
If you are suggesting that there could be a future between us, I've already suffered enough in our past relationship.
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Memories have the power to evoke either treasured memories or painful ones.
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Memories have the power to evoke either treasured memories or painful ones.
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Memories have the power to evoke either treasured memories or painful ones.
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Memories have the power to evoke either treasured memories or painful ones.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Void
I'll be damned, here comes your ghost again
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full
And you decided to call
And here I sit, hand on the telephone
Hearing the voice I'd known
A couple of light years ago
Headed straight for a fall
But we both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Yes we both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Now I see you standing with brown leaves all around and snow in your hair
Now we're smiling out the window of the crummy hotel over Washington Square
Our breath comes in white clouds, mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me we both could've died then and there
Now you're telling me you're not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it
You were so good with words
And at keeping things vague
'Cause I need some of that vagueness now
It's all come back too clearly, yes, I love you dearly
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust, I've already paid
But we both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Yes we both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Diamonds, diamonds and rust
Banana
This version of the song can be the saddest song ever if you’re feeling down, and the most beautiful song ever if you’re feeling good.
Γιώτα Μαμαλίκου
So true.
G
Definitely not the saddest song ever. Try DSBM.
Banana
@G please, DSBM’s sadness is almost always contrived and pretentious. Don’t get me wrong; Black Cilice, Austere, even the bigger bands like Xasthur and Silencer are all good, but Diamonds And Rust is pure melancholy without any of the edginess or bloated songwriting.
Gary Alva
@Banana y2l
L
P
Gary Alva
@Γιώτα Μαμαλίκου p)
Jesús Súnico
En el 93 estaba en un reformatorio era un delincuente juvenil tenia 14 años me refugiaba en el metal para huir del dolor hoy en dia rehice mi vida entre otras cosas gracias al metal💪🏻🤟🏻
Lester Salvador
Honestly, this version hits me deep where I live--in painful, conflicted and difficult ways. If you lived with and loved self-destructive people on any level...you will hear this version with profound poignance. I am grateful for Judas Priest doing this version to help us make sense of and navigate the darkness. <3 They took it to places beyond the parameters and tribal boundaries of the original. I appreciate this more than I can say.
flower of life z
Resonate from the heart!!!
Andrew Given
Amen.... Diamonds=the good, Rust=The terribly awful. The diamonds are never worth the fucking rust. And it's so painful to say you don't want one because you can't take anymore of the other. This song chokes me up every-time. <3