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)
You Say Yes
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Paint the town red
Wanna do the hot spots
Get it in the head
You drive me crazy
I know your game
You done it all before
You'll do it all again
You say yes, I say no
My blood's on fire
I grit my teeth
You're nothin' but a teaser
Gimme some relief
I'm lookin' at the bottle
Sinkin' to the floor
I gotta white knuckles
Can't take it anymore
You say yes, I say no
What do you treat me so
What I do, I do for you
The opening lines of Judas Priest's You Say Yes are classic rock and roll, describing the desire to let loose, have fun, and paint the town red. The song seems to be about a relationship that is intense, but ultimately unsustainable for the long term. The lyrics suggest a cycle of behavior that has repeated itself over and over again, with the singer getting hurt every time. The lines "my blood's on fire, I grit my teeth" suggest that the singer is struggling to maintain their composure in the face of the other person's intense behavior.
The chorus, which simply states "you say yes, I say no," sums up the conflict between the two people. The singer seems to be more hesitant, wanting to slow down and consider the consequences of their actions, while the other person is full of energy and constantly pushing for more excitement. The final lines "what do you treat me so, what I do, I do for you" suggest that the singer is willing to put up with this behavior and endure the pain it causes because they care for the other person.
In summary, You Say Yes is a classic rock song about a relationship that is thrilling but ultimately unsustainable, with the two people on opposite sides of a conflict between caution and risk-taking.
Line by Line Meaning
Say you want to rip it up
You express a desire to have a wild time.
Paint the town red
You want to go out and party until dawn.
Wanna do the hot spots
You want to visit popular places and events.
Get it in the head
You want to have fun and enjoy yourself.
You drive me crazy
Your behavior is irrational and makes me feel insane.
I know your game
I am aware of your intentions and strategies.
You done it all before
You have gone through similar experiences in the past.
You'll do it all again
You are likely to repeat the same actions in the future.
You say yes, I say no
We have opposite attitudes and opinions.
My blood's on fire
I am filled with intense passion and excitement.
I grit my teeth
I am trying to control my emotions and not react aggressively.
You're nothin' but a teaser
You intentionally provoke and excite me without giving me satisfaction.
Gimme some relief
I need a break or a release from the stress and tension.
I'm lookin' at the bottle
I turn to alcohol to cope with my problems and emotions.
Sinkin' to the floor
I feel overwhelmed and defeated, collapsing to the ground.
I gotta white knuckles
I am holding onto something tightly, bracing myself for impact.
Can't take it anymore
I am at my limit and cannot tolerate the situation any longer.
What do you treat me so
Why do you behave towards me in this way?
What I do, I do for you
My actions and decisions are based on my love and devotion to you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNETH DOWNING, ROBERT HALFORD, GLENN RAYMOND TIPTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind