Labeled as one of the "big six" of the 1980s Bay Area thrash metal scene (along with Exodus, Death Angel, Lååz Rockit, Forbidden and Vio-lence), Testament is often credited as one of the most popular and influential bands of the thrash metal scene, as well as one of the leaders of the second wave of the genre in the late 1980s. They have also been referred to as one of the "big eight" of thrash metal, along with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Overkill and Death Angel. The band has sold over 1.4 million albums in the United States since the beginning of the SoundScan era and over 14 million copies worldwide. To date, Testament has released thirteen studio albums (one of which is a collection of re-recorded songs), four live albums, five compilation albums, twelve singles and three DVDs.
After signing to Atlantic Records in 1986, and changing its name from Legacy to Testament, the band released their debut album The Legacy in 1987, followed a year later by The New Order (1988); both albums were acclaimed by critics and the press, including heavy metal-related publications. The band achieved mainstream popularity with its third album Practice What You Preach (1989), which was Testament's first album to climb up the Top 100 on the Billboard 200 chart. A string of more successful albums were released during the early-to-mid-1990s, including Souls of Black (1990), The Ritual (1992) and Low (1994), with the first two also entering the Top 100 on the Billboard 200 chart. After Atlantic dropped the band in 1995, Testament (who had at this point had begun to experiment with a death metal-influenced sound) continued to record and perform until their temporary hiatus in 2001, when Billy was diagnosed with cancer. By 2005, his cancer was in remission and Testament had resumed activity, which saw a brief reunion of The Legacy lineup, resulting in the live album Live in London. Since then, Testament has experienced a resurgence of popularity, with four of their studio albums—The Formation of Damnation (2008), Dark Roots of Earth (2012), Brotherhood of the Snake (2016) and Titans of Creation (2020)—all entering the Top 100 on the Billboard 200, and they have continued to tour consistently.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testament_(band)
Studio albums
The Legacy (1987)
The New Order (1988)
Practice What You Preach (1989)
Souls of Black (1990)
The Ritual (1992)
Low (1994)
Demonic (1997)
The Gathering (1999)
First Strike Still Deadly (2001)
The Formation of Damnation (2008)
Dark Roots of Earth (2012)
Brotherhood of the Snake (2016)
Titans of Creation (2020)
Tears
Testament Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life is of the broken ones
Some will stray as time will come
Al their lives, the live it well
Red man proud and giving hell
Some stand and shining tall
Can you hear them call?
See the sun as it's setting still
Tears fall from a warrior
Damn those who I feel
Set a trail to the promised land
Mother and child holding hand in hand
Through the snow or through the sands
All across the land
Full moon's rising from the sky, a warrior's riding
Ride with the wind
So far away, the spirits will guide you
No more sorrow
Don't look back, your freedom will follow
Flying so free
Can't you see, on the trail of tears
Full moon's rising from the sky, a warrior's riding
Ride with the wind
So far away, the spirits will guide you
No more sorrow
Don't look back, your freedom will follow
Flying so free
Can't you see, on the trail of tears
The lyrics to Testament's song "Trail of Tears" tell a story of Native American resilience and bravery through difficult circumstances. The song opens with a reference to the setting sun and brokenness of life, acknowledging that some will fall away in the face of challenging times. However, the chorus asks the listener to hear the call of those who still stand strong and proud, exemplified by the "red man" who "gives hell" but "lives it well." The verse continues with a reference to tears falling from a warrior, highlighting the emotional toll that fighting for one's people can take. The bridge of the song describes the journey toward a promised land, where a mother and child walk hand in hand, undeterred by sand or snow. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the idea that those who have persevered through hardship and heartbreak will find freedom in the end. The song ends with a reference to a full moon-edged sky and a warrior riding toward it, free at last.
The lyrics of "Trail of Tears" highlight several themes that are significant in Native American cultures, such as resilience, courage, and the importance of community and family. Throughout the song, the imagery of tears, snow, and sand suggests the difficulty of traversing a challenging terrain. At the same time, the recurring references to warriors and the full moon suggest that the journey toward freedom is marked by bravery and inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
See the sun as the day is done
Observing the sunset, the end of the day
Life is of the broken ones
Life is full of hardships and challenges
Some will stray as time will come
Some people may lose their way in life as time goes by
All their lives, they live it well
Despite hardships, people try to lead a good life
Red man proud and giving hell
Native Americans are proud and resilient, despite facing discrimination and injustices
Some stand and shining tall
Some individuals are strong and stand up for themselves and others
Can you hear them call?
Are you able to hear the voices of those who stand up for their rights and fight for justice?
Tears fall from a warrior
Even strong and brave individuals may have moments of sadness and grief
Damn those who I feel
Expressing anger and frustration towards those who have caused harm or injustice
Set a trail to the promised land
Working towards a better future and overcoming obstacles to achieve one's goals
Mother and child holding hand in hand
Families supporting each other and going through hardships together
Through the snow or through the sands
Overcoming any type of obstacle, no matter how challenging it may be
All across the land
This is a universal experience that affects people everywhere
Full moon's rising from the sky, a warrior's riding
A powerful and symbolic image of a Native American warrior riding under the full moon
Ride with the wind
Moving swiftly and courageously towards one's goal
So far away, the spirits will guide you
Belief in spiritual guidance and support during difficult times
No more sorrow
Hope for a future without pain and suffering
Don't look back, your freedom will follow
Looking towards the future and moving on from past hardships to achieve freedom
Flying so free
Feeling liberated and empowered after overcoming challenges
Can't you see, on the trail of tears
Referencing the historical Trail of Tears, where many Native Americans were forced to walk from their ancestral lands and reflecting on that pain and sacrifice
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES BILLY, ERIC STANLEY PETERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arvind Shastry
See the sun as the day is done
Life is of the broken ones
Some will stray as time will come
Al their lives, the live it well
Red man proud and giving hell
Some stand and shining tall
Can you hear them call?
See the sun as it's setting still
Tears fall from a warrior
Damn those who I feel
Set a trail to the promised land
Mother and child holding hand in hand
Through the snow or through the sands
All across the land...
Full moon's rising from the sky, a warrior's riding
Ride with the wind
So far away, the spirits will guide you
No more sorrow
Don't look back, your freedom will follow
Flying so free
Can't you see... on the trail of tears
Full moon's rising from the sky, a warrior's riding
Ride with the wind
So far away, the spirits will guide you
No more sorrow
Don't look back, your freedom will follow
Flying so free
Can't you see... on the trail of tears
Headbangers Ball
Уходит солнце, как и день минувший, тлея.
Жизнь сломленных:
Одни собьются, как придёт их время.
Всю свою жизнь лишь удовольствием живя,
Горды мы были, в ад пути кроя.
Иные же над всеми воссияют.
Ты слышишь, к нам они взывают...
Но солнце замерло на лобном месте.
Заплачет воин:
Проклинаю тех, кому я был известен.
Мне укажите путь к земле обетованной.
Мать и дитя, рука об руку, тот путь звал их
Через снега, через пески,
Через весь мир безудержной тоски...
Он оседлает диск луны, взошедший в небе.
Попутный ветер:
Путь далёк, лишь духи проведут туда, никто где не был.
Нет больше места горю,
Но не смотри назад, тогда последует свобода за тобою.
Полёт - свобода так глупа.
Неужто ты не видишь...это слёз тропа.
Dave Shredder
Testament is one of the few bands that can rip off your head from headbanging and make you drop a tears from powerful ballads at the same time. Best band EVER! FUCKING HAIL TESTAMENT!!!
shred94
Like metallica
Giovanni
lml
Hisham Saada
Testament has some of the best metal ballads ever
George Noble
They have three ballads only but yeah decent for sure for thrash.
Олександр Чепрасов
1000% TRUE best solo ever James my MAN
Наруто Узумаки
Annihilator has
Luiz De-Rossi
This is probably the best one...
Fábio Corrêa Gomes
Indeed my friend
Pocahontabeauty
I love this song and the melody. I take great pride in this song since I just learned my great, great gandfather and great grandfather had walked the trail of tears from Mississippi to Oklahoma. Now that's an honorable piece of heritage to know...so blessed to be a native american women.