Heading Out to the Highway – English Lyrics

• By: Judas Priest
• Album: Turbo

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the electrifying energy and empowering message of Judas Priest's "Heading Out to the Highway." This heavy metal anthem celebrates freedom and self-determination, offering a thrilling musical experience while inspiring listeners to take control and confidently navigate their own life's journey.

[English]

(upbeat rock music)

- Hit 'em, boys!

♪ Well, I've said it before, and I'll say it again ♪

♪ You get nothing for nothing: expect it when ♪

♪ You're backseat driving, and your hands ain't on the wheel ♪

♪ It's easy to go along with the crowd ♪

♪ And find later on that your say ain't allowed ♪

♪ Oh, that's the way to find what you've been missing ♪

♪ So I'm heading out to the highway ♪

♪ I got nothing to lose at all ♪

♪ I'm gonna do it my way ♪

♪ Take a chance before I fall ♪

♪ A chance before I fall ♪

♪ You can hang in a left or hang in a right ♪

♪ The choice it is yours to do as you might ♪

♪ The road is open wide to place your bidding ♪

♪ Now, wherever you turn, wherever you go ♪

♪ If you get it wrong, at least you can know ♪

♪ There's miles and miles to put it back together ♪

♪ And I'm heading out to the highway ♪

♪ I got nothing to lose at all ♪

♪ I'm gonna do it my way ♪

♪ Take a chance before I fall ♪

♪ A chance before I fall ♪

♪ On the highway, on the highway ♪

♪ Making a curve or taking the strain ♪

♪ On the decline, or ut on the wain ♪

♪ Oh, everybody breaks down sooner or later ♪

♪ We'll put it to rights, we'll square up and mend ♪

♪ Back on your feet to take the next bend ♪

♪ You weather every storm that's coming at ya ♪

♪ And I'm heading out to the highway ♪

♪ I got nothin' to lose at all ♪

♪ I'm gonna do it my way ♪

♪ Take a chance before I fall ♪

♪ Yes, I'm heading out to the highway ♪

♪ I got nothing to lose at all ♪

♪ I got nothing to lose at all ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
highway /ˈhaɪˌweɪ/ B2	noun - a main road especially for high‑speed traffic
chance /tʃæns/ B1	noun - an opportunity or possibility of something happening
fall /fɔːl/ B1	verb - to drop down to a lower position
lose /luːz/ A2	verb - to fail to keep or maintain possession
heading /ˈhɛdɪŋ/ B1	verb - to move toward a particular direction
road /roʊd/ A2	noun - a paved way for vehicles
open /ˈoʊpən/ B1	adjective - not closed; accessible
wide /waɪd/ B2	adjective - broad; extending a great distance from side to side
choice /tʃɔɪs/ B2	noun - the act of selecting among alternatives
right /raɪt/ B1	noun - the direction opposite of left; also a moral or legal entitlement
left /lɛft/ A2	noun - the direction opposite of right
bend /bɛnd/ B2	noun - a curve in a road or path verb - to curve or cause to curve
storm /stɔːrm/ B1	noun - a violent weather condition with strong wind and rain
break /breɪk/ B1	verb - to separate into pieces or cause to separate
mend /mɛnd/ B2	verb - to repair something that is broken
miles /maɪlz/ B1	noun - units of distance equal to 1,609 metres each
crowd /kraʊd/ B1	noun - a large number of people gathered together
strain /streɪn/ B2	noun - a force that stretches or pulls something tight
decline /dɪˈklaɪn/ B2	verb - to become smaller, fewer, or less strong

Key Grammar Structures

• It's easy to go along with the crowd

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose after the adjective 'easy'

  ➔ The phrase "to go" shows the purpose of being "easy".

• I'm heading out to the highway

  ➔ Present continuous for a planned future action

  ➔ The verb ""heading"" signals an action that will happen soon.

• I'm gonna do it my way

  ➔ "Going to" future for intention

  ➔ ""gonna"" is the informal contraction of "going to".

• Take a chance before I fall

  ➔ Imperative sentence + time clause with present simple

  ➔ ""Take"" is a direct command to the listener.

• You can hang in a left or hang in a right

  ➔ Modal verb "can" for ability/possibility, coordination with "or"

  ➔ ""can"" expresses that the listener has the ability to choose.

• If you get it wrong, at least you can know

  ➔ First conditional (if + present simple) + modal "can"

  ➔ ""If"" introduces a real condition in the present.

• There's miles and miles to put it back together

  ➔ Existential there is/are + infinitive of purpose

  ➔ ""There’s"" introduces the existence of something.

• We'll put it to rights, we'll square up and mend

  ➔ Future simple with "will" + parallel verb structures

  ➔ ""We'll"" shows a future action that the speaker intends to do.