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)
Dying to Meet You
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quite open minded but still quite aware
Followed the sunrise right through from dawning
Picking out landmarks that said I was there
Led to positions by stern faced leaders
Who never let one smile depart from their face
Then with an arm raise the slaughter is started
Selfishness breeds in this cesspool of sorrow
Every few moments I see I friend die
Synchronized watches flash in the sunlight
As into the battle we are all led
Killer, killer, keep your thoughts at bay
Maiming, destroying, every single day
Is this the way that you get your fun
Slaying, waylaying, in the heat of the midday sun
Get out, get out, go and do your job
Rape and pillage, squander all and rob
You make me sick, getting paid for murder
You wouldn't lay a finger on your mother, oh no
You never ever dream to hurt her
Hero, hero, you have done so well
So sit back and lick your wounds, cause you won't go to hell
Take your medal, wear it now with pride
Consolation for the pain and sin you feel inside
The song "Dying to Meet You" by Judas Priest seems to be a commentary on the horrors of war and the effects it can have on those who are involved. The lyrics describe a situation where the singer finds themselves in a warzone, with "stern faced leaders" leading them into battle. The scene is chaotic and violent, with friends dying around them and synchronized watches flashing in the sunlight.
The lyrics seem to criticize the idea of killing for sport or pleasure, as the line "Is this the way that you get your fun" suggests. The singer expresses disgust towards those who are "getting paid for murder" and contrasts that with the idea of never wanting to harm their own mother. The final lines of the song seem to condemn the idea of giving out medals for acts of violence and suggest that the emotional pain and guilt of taking another human life cannot be erased by awards or recognition.
Overall, the song seems to be a powerful commentary on the brutality and senselessness of war and the toll it takes on those who are involved. It is a poignant reminder of the horrors of war and the need for peace and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Came in this morning high on a bird's wing
I woke up feeling euphoric and carefree
Quite open minded but still quite aware
I am accepting of new experiences but still conscious of reality
Followed the sunrise right through from dawning
I watched the sunrise from beginning to end
Picking out landmarks that said I was there
I looked for identifying features that confirmed my location
Led to positions by stern faced leaders
I was directed to designated areas by emotionless authority figures
Who never let one smile depart from their face
The leaders maintained a constant poker face and never showed any emotion
Then with an arm raise the slaughter is started
The killing began with a simple signal from the leaders
One or two crack up and start to cry
A couple of people broke down emotionally and started crying
Selfishness breeds in this cesspool of sorrow
The environment promotes the growth of self-centeredness and misery
Every few moments I see a friend die
I witness the death of a comrade on a regular basis
Synchronized watches flash in the sunlight
Our watches are all set to the same time and reflect the sunlight
As into the battle we are all led
We are all led into combat together
Killer, killer, keep your thoughts at bay
Suppress your emotions and focus on killing
Maiming, destroying, every single day
The act of causing harm and destruction is a daily occurrence
Is this the way that you get your fun
Is committing violence and murder your source of enjoyment
Slaying, waylaying, in the heat of the midday sun
Killing and attacking under the scorching sun
Get out, get out, go and do your job
Leave and carry out your assigned duty
Rape and pillage, squander all and rob
Engage in looting, pillaging and sexual violence
You make me sick, getting paid for murder
I find it nauseating that you are compensated for killing
You wouldn't lay a finger on your mother, oh no
You would never hurt your own mother
You never ever dream to hurt her
It is unimaginable for you to cause harm to your mother
Hero, hero, you have done so well
Congratulations, you have performed admirably
So sit back and lick your wounds, cause you won't go to hell
Relax and recover from your injuries because you will not be punished in the afterlife
Take your medal, wear it now with pride
Accept your award and display it as a source of honor
Consolation for the pain and sin you feel inside
The medal is a form of comfort for the guilt and suffering you experience internally
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: KENNETH DOWNING, ROBERT HALFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RikeoVega Murphy
Dang it took so long to find this closing
Song !!!
Thank You for your
Support , Comments
& Love you have made a difference in us , it's almost overwellming , But it's
💯 % Magical & 💯 %
Good !!! With that we say THANK YOU FOR
TUNEING IN TO
RADIOVEGA
WORLDWIDE
THE
PEOPLES
NETWORK
🙂
THAM
Came in this morning high on a bird's wing
Quite open minded but still quite aware
Followed the sunrise right through from dawning
Picking out landmarks that said I was there
Led to positions by stern faced leaders
Who never let one smile depart from their face
Then with an arm raise the slaughter is started
One or two crack up and start to cry
Selfishness breeds in this cesspool of sorrow
Every few moments I see I friend die
Synchronized watches flash in the sunlight
As into the battle we are all led
Killer, killer, keep your thoughts at bay
Maiming, destroying, every single day
Is this the way that you get your fun
Slaying, waylaying, in the heat of the midday sun
Get out, get out, go and do your job
Rape and pillage, squander all and rob
You make me sick, getting paid for murder
You wouldn't lay a finger on your mother, oh no
You never ever dream to hurt her
Hero, hero, you have done so well
So sit back and lick your wounds, cause you won't go to hell
Take your medal, wear it now with pride
Consolation for the pain and sin you feel inside
David Etchells Etchells
This song is the epitomy of both vocal control and guitar, notice how the guitar is kept just under the edge of uncontolled feedback giving it that gritty growling singing sustain, robs vocal control is un parelelled and his 3 octave range is in absolute tune at all times making this song a joy to listen to even though the lyrics are extremly dark. But i guess thats always been the genious behind Judas Priest, they craft songs in many parts with brilliant transitions taking the listener on an epic journey every song. That is why they are one of the biggest influences in modern metal✊⚡⚡⚡🥇
Doug Carson
Very well said! I agree heartily!!
yudha Sibarani
Rob Halford is the Mike Patton of 70s.a chameleon in vocals
Bradley Mann
@yudha Sibarani Mike who??
net-rioter
He had a 6 octave voice until the 2000's..not 3
David Etchells Etchells
@net-rioter ok😂😂
Javier Mozos
Rocka rolla is such an underated masterpiece. Dying to meet you, run of the mill, rocka rolla... Many brillant songs. Judas Priest imo is the best and most magical band ever besides Black Sabbath.
Johan Rehnstrom
I concur. Their material from the 70s and 80s are pure magic.
Conde Bathory
I totally agree my friend. My absolute favorite band of all times is Judas Priest. Second fav goes to Black Sabbath.
Javier Mozos
@Conde Bathory In my personal opinion, my fav is Sabbath and Judas is the second 😌