Judas Priest – Beyond The Realms Of Death

He's had enough
He couldn't take anymore
He found a place in his mind
And slammed the door
No matter how they tried
They couldn't understand
They washed and dressed him
Fed him by hand

Yeah! I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you

Withdrawn he sat there
Staring into space
No sign of life
Would flicker on his face
Until one day he smiled
It seemed as though with pride
The wind kissed him goodbye
And then he died

Yeah I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you

Keep the world with all its sin
It's not fit for livin' in
Yeah I will start again
It can take forever, and ever whatever, whenever, but I'll still win

How many like him
Are they still
Who to us all
Seem to have lost the will
They lie in thousands
Lank and lost
Is knowledge worth this bitter cost

Yeah I've left the world behind
I'm safe here in my mind
I'm free to speak with my own kind
This is my life, this is my life
I'll decide not you

Keep the world with all its sin
It's not fit for living in
Beyond the realms of death


Lyrics submitted by hcphatm

"Beyond The Realms Of Death" as written by Robert John Arthur Halford Leslie James Binks

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Beyond The Realms Of Death song meanings
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38 Comments

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  • +4
    General CommentBeautiful song. One of Priest's best. This song is about a person who is tired of life and the world around him. He goes in to a sort of coma "Withdrawn he'd sit there, stare blank into space, no sign of life would flicker on his face". No one can reach him, no one can save him, he is in his own world, where he is safe.

    If I remember correctly, back in the 80's two kids in Reno attempted suicide and the one that lived said something about this song inspiring them to do it. I think there was even a court case involving Judas Priest.
    Ratman_84on April 02, 2003   Link
    • 3 Replies
  • +1
    General CommentHello friends,
    This is not the song that dragged Priest into the suicide controversy; that is Better by you, better than me from the Stained Class album
    samirkagon January 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentbackmaskonline.com/…

    There's the site that has what you are talking about.
    TheCzaron April 16, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song brung me to tears the first time I heard, it, its such a beutiful song, the guitar solo is one of the best ive heard.

    And yeah its about suicide.
    Ben2k9on September 26, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWell idk about the song making me cry but it is a bad ass song. Judas Priest is one of the best bands that was in there time.
    pimpologyon October 03, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is one of JPs controversial suicide songs, a haunting and relevant debate about the right to choose whether to live or die. I too really love the guitar solo and the gorgeous lyrics. Still one of my faves!
    michellew2kon October 04, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentExcellent song; to my mind at least, it may well be the inspiration for "One" by Metallica, both lyrically and musically.
    Dreamer Deceiveron December 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentBeautiful, and haunting. It's pretty straight forward in it's meaning, an apperently ill person is tired of life and just gives up(possibly kills himself). The guitar solo speaks volumes, and is one of the all time great solos.
    Muzzyon May 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is just such an amazing song. It is like, Judas Priest's stairway to heaven and i can't believe there are this few comments. Rob Halford has such a briliant voice and the solo is great.

    And, if you play it, it is very similar to Metallica's "One". It must have een the inspiration for "One", they are very similar guitar parts.
    dfolon August 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is about a person who is tired of the screwed up society we've created on Earth. He decides not to function in it anymore.

    "Keep the world with all its sin
    It's not fit for livin' in
    Yeah! I will start again
    It can take forever, and ever, and ever
    And ever, but I'll still win."

    The movie "Brazil" with Jonathan Pryce ends on a very similar note as the hero refuses to be conquered by the Secret Police and instead creates his own "reality" inside his head.

    Awesome, epic song. Priest is the best and this song makes it obvious why.
    rightfaceon February 18, 2006   Link
    • 1 Reply

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