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The Judas Kiss Lyrics

When the world has turned its back
When the days have turned pitch black
When the fear abducts your tongue
When the fire's dead and gone

So what now?
Where do I head

When you think it's all said and done
When you are the ostracized
Selfish written, dead goodbyes
Twisting on the tourniquet
When the pieces never fit

So what now?
Where do I head

When you think it's all said and done

Bow down
Sell your soul to me
I will set you free
Pacify your demons

Bow down
Surrender unto me
Submit infectiously
Sanctify your demons
Into abyss
You don't exist
Cannot resist
The Judas Kiss

When the storm has blacked your sky
Intuition crucify
When the ego strips your reign
Assassinate the living flame

So what now?
Where do I head

When you think it's all said and done
Venom of a life insane
Bites into your fragile veins

Eternal life and decimate
Patronize and complicate

So what now?
Where do I head

When you think it's all said and done

Bow down
Sell your soul to me
I will set you free
Pacify your demons

Bow down
Surrender unto me
Submit infectiously
Sanctify your demons
Into abyss
You don't exist
Cannot resist
The Judas Kiss

Judas lives, recite this vow
I've become your new god now

Follow you from dawn of time
Whispered thoughts into your mind

Watched your towers hit the ground
Lured your children never found
Helped your kings abuse their crown

In the heart of feeble man
Plant the seeds of my own plan
The strong and powerful will fall
Find a piece of me in all

Inside you all so bow down
Sell your soul to me
I will set you free
Pacify your demons

Bow down
Surrender unto me
Submit infectiously
Sanctify your demons
Into abyss
You don't exist
Cannot resist
The Judas Kiss
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55 Meanings

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Cover art for The Judas Kiss lyrics by Metallica

I think this song is about addiction, a subject Metallica has made many of their signature songs (Master of Puppets, Sad But True) about. Whenever they do this subject, it is usually from the point of view of the thing you would be addicted to (for this example, lets say alcohol). In the case of MoP, it was from the point of view of alcohol that completely controls a person (obey your Master). In the case of Sad But True, it was from the point of view of alcohol that has become part of this person (Im inside, open your eyes. I'm you.)

In the case of Judas Kiss, this is from the point of view of alcohol tempting a person that hasn't quite gotten all the way into it. This is hinted at by lyrics such as the chorus:

Bow down Sell your soul to me I will set you free

Judging by the whole tense of the song, this hints at the fact that the person hasn't quite given into it yet, but the substance (or whatever it is they would become addicted to) is getting a much stronger pull over this person as they try and fail to deal with their troubles. The lyrics also hint at the fact that the substance or whatever probably does end up taking over

Cannot resist The Judas Kiss and Judas lives, recite this vow I've become your new god now

Both of these lines show that the substance is very controlling and becomes their "new god"

My Interpretation

@SrgSprnkls Master of Puppets is about cocaine, not alcohol. The song that probably speaks the most loudly about James' alcohol addiction is the first track on Death Magnetic, That Was Just Your Life. Judas Kiss is about the devil promising you fame, riches, pleasure, but instead delivering total destruction of your life. And as you pointed out addiction is one of the many tools the devil can use to accomplish this.

Cover art for The Judas Kiss lyrics by Metallica

Huh huh, THE JUDAS KISS!

Man this song is pretty amazing, no wait its not pretty amazing it fucking rocks this is an amazing song WOW. The intensity and power in the instrument is something only Metallica can do and SHAME ON YOU ALL who kept saying Metallica was dead they are still alive and kicking. Who can say this song doesnt kick ass?

I just love this song I think its so cool. Haven't gotten round to the meaning yet I'll post on that later but just had to say how much I love this song

Metallica forever

Cover art for The Judas Kiss lyrics by Metallica

It's about Satan and someone selling their soul to him.

The person in question has given up: " So what now? Where go I?/When you think it's all said and done"

So Satan offers him to sell his soul to him: "When you think it's all said and done Venom of a life insane Bites into your fragile veins"

And then Satan talks about all the evil he has done and how he is everywhere: "Watched your towers hit the ground Lured your children never found Helped your kings abuse their crown

In the heart of feeble man Plant the seeds of my own plan The strong and powerful will fall Find a piece of me in all "

So it's about someone (everyone?) who has or will give up and turn their back on the world will be tempted to betray everyone and everything. And it's more likely to happen than you think.

i think you're spot on. Its all about how the devil comes to people at that precise moment when they have nowhere else to turn, corrupting their minds and promising them what they think they need.

I'd like to add to this though.

In my opinion, what makes this song so great is not just the awesomely expressive lyrics but the way in which the music contributes to the emotion and environment in which such a soul destroying moment must occur. Throughout, the riffs are aggressive and potent like Satan himself and they have this evil aura about them. In...

Not Valid

@mankvill This could be even MORE Elaborated! Directing to your last statement of Betrayal. Seeing as this is a biblical topic and it perhaps being referenced in the title. Judas, One of the twelve original disciples of Christ had betrayed Jesus, he is known for the "Kiss" or betrayal of Christ. So the title itself outright states this.

Cover art for The Judas Kiss lyrics by Metallica

My favorite song on the record. WE LOVE YOU METALLICA

Cover art for The Judas Kiss lyrics by Metallica

Wasn't quite sure about a few of the lyrics in this song...but it's amazing.

Cover art for The Judas Kiss lyrics by Metallica

Great job on the lyrics, I think these are the missing words

When the fear abducts your tongue

Flies into your fragile veins(?)

Eternal life and decimate Patronize and complicate

CORRECTION: Judas lives recite this vow I've become your new god now

Cover art for The Judas Kiss lyrics by Metallica

God this is goooddddd

Cover art for The Judas Kiss lyrics by Metallica

The song is most likely about being betrayed. And how jesus knew that inevitabley he would be betrayed by Judas, whether Judas knew yet or not. It also seems that in some places the story is told from the betrayers point of view and how Judas felt after he sold Jesus out and killed himself as repent. This is a great song and is one of the best on the album. Death Magnetic is a classic, the best thing Metallica's made as a whole since Master of Puppets.

Cover art for The Judas Kiss lyrics by Metallica

Watched your towers hit the ground Lured your children never found Helped your kings abuse their crown

It's no big wonder what this is referring to... Great song!

Cover art for The Judas Kiss lyrics by Metallica

Watched your towers hit the ground Lured your children never found Helped your kings abuse their crown

It's no big wonder what this is referring to... Great song!