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)
Revelations
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I prepare myself to ask
Never knowing what may come
Oh! Oh!
Close the door and turn the key
Breathing in uncertainty
As my heart begins to race
I see all things
From my mind's innocence
When they call me
I hear their prophecy
You say I must
Face my own deliverance
Did you choose me
Have I lost sanity
These eyes can see right through me
I feel your soul inside
What have you waiting for me
I'll do what you decide
And now this possession
Becomes my obsession
Adrift in illusion
I'm sent into confusion
Such torment and sadness
That overwhelms like madness
So fearful and intense
It burns inside
I'll spread the word
Around the world
My name will last
Eternally
I have the power
I have the choice
They'll hear my voice
For centuries
Pandora's Box is opened
Too late no turning round
A paradox has woken
I serve with honor bound
I take this possession
And make it my obsession
Alive in illusion
To make sense from confusion
Come torment come sadness
Give me the joy of madness
This fear and this intent
Runs deep inside
This deepest possession
For my life
I want this obsession
In my life
I claim this possession
Take my life
The song "Revelations" by Judas Priest is about a person who is experiencing a spiritual awakening and is being called upon by a higher power to carry out a mission. The singer is uncertain about what is being asked of them, but they feel compelled to follow these instructions. As the song progresses, they begin to see things more clearly, and they become convinced that they have been chosen for a special purpose. They are willing to give up everything to follow this mission, their sanity, and even their life.
Throughout the song, the singer is struggling with their faith and their beliefs. They are unsure if they are truly being called upon by a higher power or if they are losing their mind. The chorus of the song, "I have the power, I have the choice, they'll hear my voice for centuries," suggests that the singer feels empowered by this calling, even if it is terrifying.
The lyrics to "Revelations" are filled with religious and spiritual symbolism. The line "Pandora's box is opened, too late no turning round," suggests that the singer has opened themselves up to something that they cannot control or undo. The verse "these eyes can see right through me, I feel your soul inside, what have you waiting for me, I'll do what you decide," suggests that the singer is in the presence of a divine being who has chosen them for a special purpose.
Overall, "Revelations" is a song about faith, doubt, and the power of belief. It is a dark and intense song that explores the complexities of spirituality and the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
As the evening comes to pass
As the day turns into night
I prepare myself to ask
I gear myself up to inquire
Never knowing what may come
Without any foresight or certainty
Close the door and turn the key
Lock the door and secure oneself
Breathing in uncertainty
Taking in the feeling of doubt
As my heart begins to race
As my pulse quickens
I see all things
I perceive all that is
From my mind's innocence
With a pure and unbiased perspective
When they call me
When they beckon me
I hear their prophecy
I listen to their foretelling
You say I must
You declare that I am obliged to
Face my own deliverance
Confront my own salvation
Did you choose me
Were you the one who selected me
Have I lost sanity
Is my sanity gone
These eyes can see right through me
These eyes can see my true self
I feel your soul inside
I sense your spirit within
What have you waiting for me
What plans have you in store for me
I'll do what you decide
I'll follow your orders
And now this possession
And now this control
Becomes my obsession
Turns into my fixation
Adrift in illusion
Lost in my delusion
I'm sent into confusion
I'm bewildered and mystified
Such torment and sadness
Excruciating agony and sorrow
That overwhelms like madness
That is intense like insanity
So fearful and intense
So terrifying and powerful
It burns inside
It's smoldering within me
I'll spread the word
I'll disseminate this message
Around the world
Throughout the globe
My name will last
My name will endure
Eternally
Forevermore
I have the power
I possess the ability
I have the choice
I have the freedom to choose
They'll hear my voice
They shall listen to my voice
For centuries
For generations to come
Pandora's Box is opened
The box of troubles has been exposed
Too late no turning round
It's too late to go back now
A paradox has woken
An illogical situation has emerged
I serve with honor bound
I'm dedicated and loyal to the cause
Alive in illusion
Thriving in my fantasy
To make sense from confusion
To derive meaning from chaos
Come torment come sadness
Bring in affliction and grief
Give me the joy of madness
Grant me pleasure from insanity
This fear and this intent
This apprehension and intention
Runs deep inside
Lies rooted in me
This deepest possession
This ultimate hold
For my life
Is critical to my existence
I want this obsession
I desire this fixation
In my life
To be a part of my existence
I claim this possession
I take ownership of this control
Take my life
Take control of my life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GLENN TIPTON, GLENN RAYMOND TIPTON, K.K. DOWNING, KENNETH DOWNING, ROBERT HALFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind