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)
Thunder Road
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm coming home tonight
Burning the freeway
Out of control
Red light, dead lines
We streak from town to town
I's too much, I need your touch
Out again upon the thunder road
Driving back to you where I belong
I've had enough
Dreams can wait
I'm coming home
Spotlights, wild nights
I know it wrong from right
Places, the faces
All look the same
Hot wired, so tired
Living from song to song
The madness, the badness
It's just a game
Watch the sunrise
From coast to coast
That's when I need your loving
Oh! That's when I need it most
Can't explain, it's something in the blood
Wouldn't change it even if I could
The lyrics to Judas Priest's Thunder Road captures the spirit of a rockstar traveling across the country, indulging in the dangerous and wild lifestyle that comes with it. The first verse talks about how the singer is "burning the freeway, out of control," moving between red lights and green lights, and trying to get home after being away for too long. The second verse talks about the whirlwind of experiences that come with touring, including "spotlights, wild nights," and living "from song to song."
The chorus states that the singer is "driving back to you where I belong," indicating that the frenzied lifestyle of rock stardom is not where he truly feels at home. He sings about how he wants to be with his lover, and how her touch is the only thing that can calm him down. The bridge of the song expresses the feeling of euphoria that comes from watching the sunrise and being with the one you love.
Overall, Thunder Road is a reflection of the fleeting nature of fame and the longing for stability and love that comes with it. The song captures the struggle between the wild, almost addictive lifestyle of a rockstar and the desire for a simpler, more grounded life.
Line by Line Meaning
Red light, green light
Going through traffic signals at high speeds while driving home
I'm coming home tonight
Returning home after being away for a long time
Burning the freeway
Driving at high speeds on the highway
Out of control
Feeling untamed and reckless, adrenaline pumping
Red light, dead lines
Pressures of continuous tour schedule and travel between cities
We streak from town to town
Moving quickly from one venue to another
I's too much, I need your touch
Feeling overwhelmed and craving comfort and familiarity
I've been away too long
Realizing that being away from home for extended periods of time is difficult
Out again upon the thunder road
Returning to the open road with excitement and anticipation
Driving back to you where I belong
Returning to a place of familiarity and emotional connection
I've had enough
Feeling tired of the touring lifestyle and longing for a break
Dreams can wait
Putting career aspirations on hold for the sake of personal happiness
I'm coming home
Returning to a place of comfort and belonging
Spotlights, wild nights
Performing under the bright lights of the stage and experiencing crazy nights
I know it wrong from right
Maintaining moral values even in the midst of temptation
Places, the faces
The faces and places encountered during touring can start to blend together
All look the same
Everything can start to feel monotonous and uninspiring
Hot wired, so tired
Feeling exhausted and drained from constant movement and stimulation
Living from song to song
Life on tour revolves around performing music
The madness, the badness
The negative aspects of the touring lifestyle
It's just a game
Recognizing that the chaotic tour lifestyle is fleeting and not the reality of everyday life
Watch the sunrise
Experiencing the beauty of a new day after a long night of work
From coast to coast
Travelling across the entire country to reach the next performance venue
That's when I need your loving
Feeling a deep need for emotional support and a sense of home
Oh! That's when I need it most
Realizing that the need for emotional support is strongest during periods of exhaustion and stress
Can't explain, it's something in the blood
Feeling that the desire for performing music and touring is an integral part of their identity
Wouldn't change it even if I could
Feeling that the highs and lows of touring are all part of the experience and wouldn't want to change it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gabby Gustafsson
I'm Still Listening 2022
ThunderRoad Rocks
I Remember ThunderRoad Being Released As A Bonus For Point Of Entry .
I Thought ThunderRoad Should Have Been Included On The Studio Album
Point Of Entry From The Beginning .
ThunderRoad Sounds Like Rolling Thunder On My
Bose 901 Speakers
In Your Face Heavy Metal .
I Always Think Of My Husband & I Riding The Harley Around Lake Superior
Listening To ThunderRoad 😀
Cacques
Underrated song that needs to be recognised more.
Antakaran
Could easy be on firepower, timeless masterpiece
Captnegris
My old lovely neighbors who introduced me to priest didn't even know this existed. And they've seen the priest live too many times to count 🤣 Was a bonus on my CD. Easily one of my new favorites.
bmjv77
I've been a metal head for decades. How this song slipped past me for so long, I'll never know.
Brian Sauer
Shelved and only on reissue of Point Of Entry. Just discovered it in 2020. Pissed my pants when I first hear it hear on Youtube as a "suggestion". Must have played it 100 times or more in the last year or two!
MetalHeart8787
it's a left over & wasn't on Ram it down. I was Looking at the list of Videos on this & was wondering why all these newbies
used the Point of entry LP cover for this song? THEN i see it's also on the "official Judas priest" YT channel.
Making a Judas priest Video & going over some songs & Lyrics to talk about.
rutgerhauer666
You’ve found it, that’s all that matters.
Cory Alphin
The solo is epic!
Easy Duzit
Halfords voice is always amazingng...but something about how he sings this song brings it to another level
Brian Sauer
Higher pitch. I LOVE it but played it for my Brother In Law and he was turned off by the high pitch.