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)
Troubleshooter
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My little troubleshooter
I need it, you feed it
My hunger drives me to ya
You bring me round with your velvet hands
You're gettin' new life to me
You put me back into promised land
Just where you know I should be
You can take me
You can shake me
You can break me down
You're givin', I'm gettin'
I'm gettin' satisfaction
You're makin', I'm takin'
I want some heavy action
You're bendin' and I'm mendin'
Getting back together
You really got, got, got what it takes
To make a bad man better
You can take me (take me)
You can shake me (oh)
You can break me down (right down)
Right down, right down, right down
Right down, down, down, down, down
You can take me (oh yeah)
You can shake me (yeah)
You can break me down
You've got it, I want it
My little troubleshooter
I need it and you'll feed it
My hunger drives me to ya
You're bendin' and I'm a mendin'
Getting back together
You really got, got, got what it takes
To make a bad man better, better, better
You can take me
You can shake me
You can break me down (oh, I said)
You can take me (you can take me)
You can shake me (and you can shake me)
You can break me down (down, down, down, break me down)
You can take me (oh yeah)
You can shake me (shake me babe)
You can break me down
The lyrics of Judas Priest's "Troubleshooter" describe a relationship in terms of addiction and dependency. The singer is addicted to his love interest, calling her his "little troubleshooter" who satisfies his hunger and brings him back to his "promised land". He is willing to let her take, shake, and break him down, as long as he gets satisfaction and heavy action in return. The chorus repeats this sentiment, emphasizing his willingness to give up control for the pleasure she provides.
The lyrics can be interpreted in a few different ways. On one hand, it could be seen as a steamy, passionate love song, with the singer willing to do anything for the object of his affection. However, the language of addiction and dependency also suggests a darker side to the relationship, with the singer feeling like he needs her in order to function properly. The line "you really got what it takes to make a bad man better" could be seen as ironic, implying that the singer is not actually being "made better" by the relationship.
Overall, "Troubleshooter" is a hard-hitting, electrifying rock song with a heavy emphasis on power dynamics in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got it, I want it
I desire something that you possess
My little troubleshooter
A person who helps me out of my problems
I need it, you feed it
I require it, and you provide it
My hunger drives me to ya
My craving impels me towards you
You bring me round with your velvet hands
You revive me with your gentle touch
You're getting new life to me
You're revitalizing me
You put me back into promised land
You restore me to a state of happiness and security
Just where you know I should be
Exactly where you believe I belong
You can take me
You have the power to accept me
You can shake me
You can jolt me emotionally
You can break me down
You can crush my spirit
You're giving, I'm getting
You're providing, and I'm receiving
I'm getting satisfaction
I'm finding fulfillment
You're making, I'm taking
You're producing it, and I'm obtaining it
I want some heavy action
I desire thrilling experiences
You're bending and I'm mending
You're accommodating, and I'm repairing my flaws
Getting back together
Reconciling after a conflict
You really got, got, got what it takes
You genuinely possess the necessary qualities
To make a bad man better
To convert a bad person into a good one
You can take me (take me)
You have the ability to accept me
You can shake me (oh)
You can rattle me emotionally
You can break me down (right down)
You can destroy my self-confidence, completely
Right down, right down, right down
To emphasize the point
Right down, down, down, down, down
To emphasize the point
You can take me (oh yeah)
You can approve me
You can shake me (yeah)
You can shake me emotionally
You can break me down
You have the power to tear down my spirit
You're bending and I'm a mending
You're accommodating, and I'm fixing my flaws
You really got, got, got what it takes
You genuinely have the necessary qualities
To make a bad man better, better, better
To transform a bad person into a good person
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glenn Raymond Tipton, Kenneth Downing, Rob Halford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind