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)
Epitaph
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every now and then he'll take a look around
And his eyes reflect the memory-pain of years gone by
He can't regain nostalgic dreams he'll never see again
With trembling hands, he wipes a tear
Many fall like rain, there's one for every year
And his life laid out so clearly now, life that's brought death
But spare a thought as you pass him by
Take a closer look and you'll say
He's our tomorrow, just as much as we are his yesterday
A lonely grave, and soon forgot
Only wind and leaves lament his mournful song
Yet they shout his epitaph out clear
For anyone who's passing near
It names the person lying here as you
And you, and you, and you
The song Epitaph by Judas Priest is a poignant ode to the inevitability of life's end. The lyrics speak of an elderly man, sitting alone and reflecting on his memories. His eyes reflect the pain of years gone by, and he can't regain the nostalgic dreams he once had. With trembling hands, he wipes away his tears, and the many he has fall like rain, one for every year that's gone by.
The man's life is laid out before him, his past and present intertwined. In his final moments, he clings to the life that's brought him to this point, but in the end, he must let go. The chorus of the song implores listeners to spare a thought for the old man as they pass him by, for he is our tomorrow, just as much as we are his yesterday. The song reminds us that we are all mortal, and our time will come to an end. The final lines of the song are haunting, as they shout out the epitaph of the person lying there, naming all who will one day share the same fate.
Overall, Epitaph is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the beauty and fragility of life. It encourages listeners to reflect on their own mortality and the importance of cherishing the moments we have.
Line by Line Meaning
The old man's sitting there, his head bowed down
An elderly man is sitting with his head lowered.
Every now and then he'll take a look around
Occasionally, he glances around his surroundings.
And his eyes reflect the memory-pain of years gone by
His eyes show the pain caused by reminiscing about his past.
He can't regain nostalgic dreams he'll never see again
He can't relive the moments he treasures because they are in the past.
With trembling hands, he wipes a tear
He wipes his eyes with shaking hands, trying to hide his tears.
Many fall like rain, there's one for every year
He sheds numerous tears, one for each year of his life.
And his life laid out so clearly now, life that's brought death
Death draws near, and the man sees his life as if it was laid out for inspection.
So nearly now life once he clung to dearly now lets go
He realizes that life, once he cherished it, is now slipping away.
But spare a thought as you pass him by
As you walk past him, think about his situation.
Take a closer look and you'll say
Observe him more carefully and realize
He's our tomorrow, just as much as we are his yesterday
He represents future generations similarly to how we represent past ones.
A lonely grave, and soon forgot
When he dies, he will be buried in a solitary grave and eventually forgotten.
Only wind and leaves lament his mournful song
The wind and leaves are the only things that mourn him after his passing.
Yet they shout his epitaph out clear
Despite nobody's attention, the wind and leaves repeat his epitaph distinctly.
For anyone who's passing near
To be heard by anyone who happens to be in the vicinity.
It names the person lying here as you
It refers to the person buried there as you.
And you, and you, and you
And also, you, you, and you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GLENN TIPTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind