You're in for surprise
You're in for a shock (ah)
In London town streets
When there's darkness and fog (fog, fog, fog)
When you least expect me
And you turn your back
I'll attack (attack, attack, attack)

I smile when I'm sneaking
Through shadows by the wall
I laugh when I'm creeping
But you won't hear me at all

All hear my warning
Never turn your back
On the ripper

You'll soon shake with fear
Never knowing if I'm near
I'm sly and I'm shameless
Nocturnal and nameless
Except for "The Ripper"
Or if you like, "Jack The Knife"

Any back alley street
Is where we'll probably meet
Underneath a gas lamp
Where the air's cold and damp
I'm a nasty surprise
I'm a devil in disguise
I'm a footstep at night
I'm a scream of the fright

All hear my warning
Never turn your back
On the ripper
The ripper
The ripper


Lyrics submitted by Idan

The Ripper Lyrics as written by Glenn Tipton

Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing

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The Ripper song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment
    Great song, obviously about Jack the Ripper. I know Halford has an AMAZING range, but I kinda wonder if the scream at the beginning and end were completely natural. That almost sounds too high to believe.
    Muzzyon April 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Heh. vedi gud song. Very good.
    Mokushion October 25, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Great song about Jack the Ripper. Priest ruled the heavy metal scene for such a long time. Great band...music still rocks today.
    hellfirecanon January 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i had the same thought as Muzzy... this is just "too high to believe" :-O
    savetheworld-killmeon March 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I think the first scream in the song is a mix of Rob and a guitar
    MetalKing00on March 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    "I think the first scream in the song is a mix of Rob and a guitar" I think so to
    Metal Militiaon August 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This short song does more than almost any other to display Rob's amazing range. Truly the Metal God! I remember in high school I used a sound effects record to create a mix of this with running footsteps, panting, a woman's scream and then the guitar kicks in. Great song!
    rightfaceon February 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    The scream has a guitar I think. I love how it sound like he reading a newspaper.
    LordOfLighton March 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    ^^yes, its a combination And this is such a great song,, I always sing along with it
    sugar magnoliaon September 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    which album is this song from? I hadn't heard it before I found it on youtube, and it's pretty good.
    havana4saleon March 02, 2008   Link

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