Lyrics That Rock: Breaking The Law by Judas Priest – Ep 8
Episode 8 – Breaking The Law by Judas Priest
Show Notes
Breaking The Law
May 30, 1980, English heavy metal band Judas Priest unleashed a song that would go on to become one of their most iconic tracks and one of the most iconic metal tracks of all time. With its instantly recognizable opening guitar riff, Breaking the Law quickly became a fan favorite and a staple of their live performances. Today, you and I will travel back to the 80s to explore the inspiration behind this legendary track and what the lyrics truly mean on this episode of Lyrics That Rock.”
The Lyrics
There I was completely wasting, out of work and down
all inside it’s so frustrating as I drift from town to town
feel as though nobody cares if I live or die
so I might as well begin to put some action in my life
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
So much for the golden future, I can’t even start
I’ve had every promise broken, there’s anger in my heart
you don’t know what it’s like, you don’t have a clue
if you did you’d find yourselves doing the same thing too
About The Song
“Breaking the Law” is one of the most iconic tracks in the heavy metal genre, recorded by the legendary English band Judas Priest. Released in 1980 as part of their groundbreaking album British Steel, the song became a defining moment in the band’s career, marking their transition into a more streamlined, aggressive sound.
In the years leading up to British Steel, Judas Priest had been experimenting with simplifying their music, moving away from complex arrangements and embracing a rawer, more direct approach. With “Breaking the Law,” this vision came to full fruition. The song’s opening riff, a driving and instantly recognizable minor-key melody, sets the tone for the track. Its rhythmic chorus, combined with a distinct instrumental bridge, created an unmistakable blend of hooks that resonated with fans and made it one of their most enduring anthems.
The song’s bridge is particularly memorable. A shift in chord progression leads into a moment of tension, with lead vocalist Rob Halford shouting, “You don’t know what it’s like!” before a sound effect of a police siren cuts through the mix, guiding the track back to its familiar riff. Over time, live renditions of the song have included a short guitar solo from Glenn Tipton, enhancing the intensity of the bridge.
The outro is a powerful conclusion to the song, where the main riff is played repeatedly, as Halford’s vocals belt out the chorus, supported by Downing’s thunderous power chords. This combination of repetition and energy serves to solidify the track as a timeless piece in the heavy metal canon.
Adding to the track’s rawness, “Breaking the Law” incorporates distinctive sound effects, including breaking glass and a police siren. These were no mere studio gimmicks: while recording at Tittenhurst Park—formerly the home of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr—the band creatively used everyday items to capture their sounds. The sound of breaking glass was produced using milk bottles that were delivered by the local milkman, while the police siren was actually the result of guitarist K. K. Downing manipulating the tremolo arm on his guitar.
From its memorable riff to its rebellious spirit, “Breaking the Law” encapsulates the essence of Judas Priest and remains a definitive anthem of the heavy metal genre.
About The Lyrics
In an article Judas Priest’s ‘British Steel’ Track-By-Track from Billboard.com we find that:
The creation of “Breaking the Law” was nothing short of spontaneous brilliance. Glenn Tipton recalls that the song came together in an almost effortless manner.
We used to meet up at various houses to write, and we just broke into that riff one day and the song wrote itself.
In what seemed like no time at all, the band had crafted a classic track, with Rob Halford’s iconic chant of “Breaking the law, breaking the law” coming together as if by magic. But while the music came together quickly, the social climate at the time also played a pivotal role in shaping the song’s message.
Halford recalls that the song’s lyrics were inspired by the intense political unrest in the U.K. during that period.
He said:
It was a time in the U.K. when there was a lot of strife-a lot of government strife, the miners were on strike, the car unions were on strike, there were street riots. It was a terrible time. That was the incentive for me to write a lyric to try to connect with that feeling that was out there. We never went into a room and said, “We’ve got to try and get this punk attitude into our music,” but it certainly seemed to capture some of that anarchy in its projection, musically.
Though the band never consciously set out to embrace a punk attitude, the energy of the moment and the anarchy of the times undoubtedly found their way into the music, blending perfectly with the raw power of their sound.
K.K. Downing also reflects on how “Breaking the Law” resonated with fans, pointing out that the song’s impact extended beyond its musical power.
Downing said:
A lot of people remember that song for the video that we did with Julien Temple all those years ago, which was quite groundbreaking. It was one of the first conceptual videos ever-certainly in metal, at least.
The track, along with its revolutionary video, became a symbol of youthful rebellion and defiance, connecting with audiences on a deeper level.
Encapsulating Social Unrest
“Breaking the Law” stands as one of the defining anthems of Judas Priest’s career, encapsulating both the band’s musical evolution and the social unrest of the time. From its explosive opening riff to its rebellious lyrics, the song captured the frustration and defiance felt by many in the early 1980s. The band’s ability to channel the tumultuous political climate of the U.K. into a song that resonated universally speaks to their mastery of both music and message. Its creation was as organic as it was inspired, with the band crafting the track in a matter of hours, yet the impact of “Breaking the Law” has lasted decades. With its innovative video and timeless sound, it became not just a song but a symbol of youth rebellion and the power of rock music to reflect the world around it. In every sense, “Breaking the Law” is more than just a song—it’s a cornerstone of heavy metal, a piece of cultural history, and a testament to Judas Priest’s place as one of the genre’s greatest pioneers.
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