Painkiller Lyrics
Enraged and full of anger, he's half man and half machine
Rides the Metal Monster, breathing smoke and fire
Closing in with vengeance soaring high
This is the Painkiller
A saviour comes from out the skies in answer to their pleas
Through boiling clouds of thunder, blasting bolts of steel
Evil's going under deadly wheels
This is the Painkiller
Louder than an atom bomb
Chromium plated boiling metal
Brighter than a thousand suns
Nevermore encaptured, they've been brought back from the grave
With mankind resurrected, forever to survive
Returns from Armageddon to the skies
This is the Painkiller
Wings of steel Painkiller
Deadly wheels
Painkiller
This is the Painkiller
He is the Painkiller
This is the Painkiller
Pain! Pain! Killer! Killer!
Pain!

This is the best song in the history of metal, this is the essence of metal.

I believe this song is about "The Second Coming"...basically, imagining that Jesus/Mohammed/whoever returns to Earth in a totally unexpected guise, to kick arse and smite evil :o)
Maitryuai is the one who's coming. fuck muhammed he was long since gone. 500bc that is. you're in the AD era and that's the age of Buddha Maitrya; the final one
Maitryuai is the one who's coming. fuck muhammed he was long since gone. 500bc that is. you're in the AD era and that's the age of Buddha Maitrya; the final one
oops. i meant Maitreya. stupid spelling mistakes
oops. i meant Maitreya. stupid spelling mistakes
Sir, you are so misinformed that you say that Muhammad lived in 500 B.C. I don't endorse him but he lived in the late 500's and early 600's A.D. And if you are going by which one was the most recent, Buddhism arose around 500 B.C.
Sir, you are so misinformed that you say that Muhammad lived in 500 B.C. I don't endorse him but he lived in the late 500's and early 600's A.D. And if you are going by which one was the most recent, Buddhism arose around 500 B.C.

Song meaning? Halford is the painkiller, coming back to save metal and the band. They've never been a band for false shyness.
I'd have to agree with swedxsimon, the latter half of the eighties metal really sucked, even Priest put out their worst albums at that time ( Turbo and Ram it Down) Metal needed a resurrection of sorts and Priest had to redeem themselves as well. And what better lyrical metaphor to use then the second coming of Christ. No other anticipated event in history brings as much awe or contempt at the same time. absolutely an awesome song. http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=488
I'd have to agree with swedxsimon, the latter half of the eighties metal really sucked, even Priest put out their worst albums at that time ( Turbo and Ram it Down) Metal needed a resurrection of sorts and Priest had to redeem themselves as well. And what better lyrical metaphor to use then the second coming of Christ. No other anticipated event in history brings as much awe or contempt at the same time. absolutely an awesome song. http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=488

Excellent song to rock out to, and some excellent soling as well! Possibly about the apocalypse, judgement day or Jesus' return, but with a very dark twist. The song structure is very similar to (If not copied from) the opening track of Stained Class, "Exciter".

Great song, i reckon that, like a lot of priest songs (like exciter), its a metaphor for heavy metal, the earth is fucked up... here comes metal to save us all

This Metal Avenging Angel is pictured on both the album "Painkiller" and there best of "Metal Works". Halford sung a lot of lyrics referring to a Metal Creature or sometimes referred to as a Metal God. This song has some of the most insane vocals and duel guitar work ever performed by Judas Priest. -Kevin82abn

This song likens the second coming of Jesus Christ to heavy metal anology and visual metal themes, The story closely matches the actual account, that a terrifying messiah comes back for vengence in bright light at armegeddon. In fact the actual account reveals the sun will go dark and stars fall from sky and that this messiah is wearing a robe entirely covered red in the blood of his enemies. "Planets devastated, mankind's on its knees, A saviour comes from out the skies in answer to their pleas " ...Very similar to "Exciter" on Stain Class - two of priests heaviest and best !

Best metal song ever. Sheer perfection.
Maiden ain't got nothing on this.
do u say iron maiden dont have better song than painkiller?! hahaha u make everyone laugh
do u say iron maiden dont have better song than painkiller?! hahaha u make everyone laugh

I don't know what the hell it means, but it's one of the best songs to rock out to ;)

is it true that you come up with great songs when you're on dope?
No. generally, you come up with really weird shit. You start getting inspired by your footwear and stuff.
No. generally, you come up with really weird shit. You start getting inspired by your footwear and stuff.
actually, i only come up with really nice sounding riffs on my guitar if im stoned
actually, i only come up with really nice sounding riffs on my guitar if im stoned
hey, what dope are you taking? If that can inspire such good songs, I'd like to take some of that stuff
hey, what dope are you taking? If that can inspire such good songs, I'd like to take some of that stuff