Studio albums
Saxon (1979)
Wheels of Steel (1980)
Strong Arm of the Law (1980)
Denim and Leather (1981)
Power & the Glory (1983)
Crusader (1984)
Innocence Is No Excuse (1985)
Rock the Nations (1986)
Destiny (1988)
Solid Ball of Rock (1991)
Forever Free (1992)
Dogs of War (1995)
Unleash the Beast (1997)
Metalhead (1999)
Killing Ground (2001)
Lionheart (2004)
The Inner Sanctum (2007)
Into the Labyrinth (2009)
Call to Arms (2011)
Sacrifice (2013)
Battering Ram (2015)
Thunderbolt (2018)
Inspirations (2021)
Carpe Diem (2022)
Sacrifice
Saxon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Worship the sun, the giver of life
Follow the steps that lead you to heaven
Sacrifice waits for your beating heart
Blood on stone
Holy priest
No escape
Sacrifice
Sacrifice
Enter the temple, the altar of stone
Appeasing the gods, you give up your life
Eyes open wide, the priest stands above you
Held in his hands, your still beating heart
Blood on stone
Holy priest
No escape
No release
Sacrifice
Sacrifice
Civilization lost in the jungle
Forgotten in time, the cities of gold
Carved in stone, the stories before you
When sacrifice claimed the still beating heart
Blood on stone
Holy priest
No escape
No release
Sacrifice
Sacrifice
The lyrics of Saxon's song "Sacrifice" speak about the act of offering a sacrifice to the gods in ancient times, and describes the belief that by doing so, one could gain good fortune and a place in heaven. The first verse mentions the worship of the sun, which is seen as the giver of life, and the need to follow the steps that will lead to heaven. The chorus speaks of the inevitability of sacrifice, with the phrase "Sacrifice waits for your beating heart" suggesting that no one can escape their fate. The second verse describes the act of entering the temple and offering oneself as a sacrifice to the gods, with the image of the priest holding a still-beating heart being particularly striking. The final verse describes the lost civilizations of the past, and how they too practiced sacrifice as a means of appeasing the gods and gaining good fortune.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sacrifice" carry a sense of fatalism, suggesting that one's fate is preordained and that the act of sacrifice is both necessary and inevitable. The use of vivid imagery, such as the image of the priest holding a still-beating heart, adds to the song's dark tone and highlights the grimness of the subject matter.
Line by Line Meaning
Hail to the gods, the bringers of fortune
Let us praise and honor the gods who bring us good fortune and prosperity.
Worship the sun, the giver of life
Prostrate yourself before the sun, the force that provides and sustains all life on earth.
Follow the steps that lead you to heaven
Heed the teachings that guide you towards enlightenment and a higher spiritual existence.
Sacrifice waits for your beating heart
Prepare yourself for the ultimate act of devotion, the giving of your own life force in order to please the gods.
Blood on stone
The evidence of your sacrifice, your life force spilled upon the stone altar.
Holy priest
The spiritual leader who will oversee your sacrifice, and who acts as an intermediary between you and the gods.
No escape
Once you have committed yourself to this act of devotion, there is no turning back. You will be held to your word and the blood price must be paid.
No release
Even in death, your soul will be bound to the service of the gods; there is no escape from their will.
Sacrifice
The act of giving your own life force as an offering to the gods.
Sacrifice
The ultimate act of devotion, the giving of one's own life force to please the gods and secure their favor.
Enter the temple, the altar of stone
Approach the holy sanctuary where the altar of sacrifice stands, waiting to receive your offering.
Appeasing the gods, you give up your life
By offering up your life force as a sacrifice, you are seeking to appease and please the gods who demand such offerings.
Eyes open wide, the priest stands above you
As you are offered up as a sacrifice, your eyes gaze up at the holy man who will oversee your offering and help guide your soul to the next life.
Held in his hands, your still beating heart
As your life is drawn to a close, the holy priest takes your still-beating heart in his hands as the ultimate symbol of your devotion.
Civilization lost in the jungle
Once-great cultures now faded into obscurity, their once-great cities swallowed up by the vastness of the jungle.
Forgotten in time, the cities of gold
The magnificent cities that once shone with gold and jewels are now lost to the ravages of time, leaving only rumors and legends to trace their paths.
Carved in stone, the stories before you
The tales and legends of the ancient civilizations live on through the ages, recorded upon the very stones upon which they were built.
When sacrifice claimed the still beating heart
In times long past, the ultimate act of devotion was the offering up of one's own life force to appease the gods and secure their favor, no matter the cost.
Contributed by Molly L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carlos Aguilar
A band that deserves all the honors and respect, a true Metal monster
Roxelle Lamour
Paul Quinn is the best heavy metal guitar player, in my oppinion. This is because he mixes creative solos with unique riffs, besides having a metalic sound.
mortisnoctu
He's amazing. Def one of the most underrated guitarists ever. Such excellent riffs! They just never end! He's a master of riffery.
lucius 666
getting older getting more heavy with age dam these guys fucking nailed this shit
MoonStrikes Back
Biff IS one of the very best singers in Heavy Metal!
NorsemanUSA
As an old guy I have been a huge fan of Saxon since the first album in 1979 but when I heard Wheels Of Steel I knew this band was serious metal. I have all the older stuff on vinyl up until Unleash The Beast.
Back in 83 I was driving down the road in my old 68 GMC pickup and hear this kick-ass tune coming on my Blaupunkt and through my Infinity 6X9's (ha haa) It was The Eagle Has Landed and my first thought was "Cool" Saxon has a new album.
Their sound is instantly recognizable.
Listening to this newer stuff I can honestly say the boys never sounded better. However I like the original guitar players,I felt they had an amazing chemistry.
At 50 there is no getting mellow with age,I am now into Insomnium,Amon Amarth,Solution 45 and Kalmah.
Rock On brothers and sisters.
W-James
Nice to see someone listening to the newer bands. If you're feeling adventurous listen to Opeth. Ablums Still Life - Watershed.
JFPriest
What do you think of "Thunderbolt"?
Mau R
Metal is a bug that when it bites, its forever bro. Respect
lowtaxationworks
Amen to that. Saxon are one of the best metal bands ever.