Judas
Malmsteen Yngwie Lyrics


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I cast my pearls before the swine
Sealed and delivered
Then I drink your toast of wine
Though it's bitter sweet
I'm eating from you hand so neat
Pennies from heaven
You say you give
You say you love
But yet you live
Judas...Judas
Sightseeing through the lights
and shades of you mighty colonnades
No I got the picture
of the beauty and the beast
I am the lamb...you are the priest
To crucify me
You say you give
You say you love
But yet you live
Judas...Judas
To make a living...Makes no difference
You are what you do
Some are false and some are true
You haven't got a clue
I'd rather reign in hell some said
Than serve in heaven
You say you give
You say you love




But yet you live
Judas...Judas

Overall Meaning

In Yngwie Malmsteen's song "Judas," the lyrics address themes of betrayal, manipulation, and hypocrisy. The first line, "I cast my pearls before the swine," references a biblical passage from Matthew 7:6, in which Jesus warns against giving valuable things to those who will not appreciate them. The metaphor is used here to describe giving something of value to someone who doesn't deserve it. The second line, "Sealed and delivered," suggests that the singer has already given away what is valuable and cannot take it back.


The next few lines describe drinking a toast of wine that is "bitter sweet," which could represent the mixed feelings of the singer as they interact with the person who betrayed them. The line "eating from your hand so neat" suggests that the singer is being controlled or manipulated by someone more powerful. "Pennies from heaven" is a phrase that refers to receiving unexpected good fortune, but here it feels like the opposite, as though something small and insignificant is given in place of something much greater that was taken away.


The chorus brings in the title of the song, with the repeated refrain of "Judas...Judas." This is an obvious reference to the biblical figure who betrayed Jesus, and suggests that the person the singer is addressing has also betrayed them. The final lines of the song continue to address the theme of betrayal and hypocrisy, suggesting that the person who claims to give and love is actually living a lie. The metaphor of sightseeing through the lights and shades of colonnades suggests a fanciful, empty existence, and the line "I am the lamb...you are the priest" reinforces the sense of power dynamics at play.


Overall, "Judas" is a song that explores the pain and confusion that comes from being betrayed by someone you trusted. It uses powerful Biblical imagery to drive home the idea that some people are false and cannot be trusted, no matter how much they claim to care.


Line by Line Meaning

I cast my pearls before the swine
I gave something valuable to someone who doesn't appreciate it.


Sealed and delivered
I committed and followed through on something promised.


Then I drink your toast of wine
I accepted something from you as a sign of friendship.


Though it's bitter sweet
Despite the mixture of good and bad aspects.


I'm eating from you hand so neat
I am accepting everything you offer, without question.


Pennies from heaven
Something good came unexpectedly, but it's not really valuable.


You say you give
You claim to provide something.


You say you love
You claim to care for someone.


But yet you live
Yet your actions don't match your words.


Judas...Judas
You are betraying me.


Sightseeing through the lights and shades
Examining and analyzing every aspect of something.


Of your mighty colonnades
Of your powerful and impressive structures.


No I got the picture
I understand the situation now.


Of the beauty and the beast
Of the contrast between something good and something bad.


I am the lamb...you are the priest
I am innocent and you are supposed to be guiding me.


To crucify me
To hurt or harm me.


To make a living...Makes no difference
Doing something for money doesn't justify it.


You are what you do
Your actions define who you are.


Some are false and some are true
Some people lie and some people tell the truth.


You haven't got a clue
You don't understand the situation.


I'd rather reign in hell some said
Some people would prefer to have power in bad situations, rather than be powerless in good situations.


Than serve in heaven
Than accept less power in a good situation.


Judas...Judas
You are doing something that hurts me.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GOERAN EDMAN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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