Hell & Back – English Lyrics

• By: Judas Priest

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the enduring spirit of heavy metal with Judas Priest's "Hell & Back." This powerful track, steeped in the band's own experiences, offers a direct insight into their journey of overcoming challenges. Learning the lyrics allows you to connect with themes of perseverance and the sheer dedication behind decades of rock and roll, making it a truly special song for understanding the language of metal and its emotional depth.

[English]

I have roamed so far away

I have found there's no turning back

I have seen so many things

I have been to hell and back

Still in the land of the living

Rocking the home of the brave

Staying alive and still kicking

Ain't got no need to be saved

Out of the fire and into the black

We've been through it all

We've been to hell and back

When I was young life was savage

The leather gets scruffed as it's worn

Rolling alone you get damaged

So you grab the bull by the horns

Out of the fire and into the black

We've been through it all

We've been to hell and back

Take it up higher when you're under attack

We've been through it all

We've been to hell and back

We have roamed so far away

We have found there's no turning back

We have seen so many things

We have been to hell and back

Out of the fire and into the black

We've been through it all

We've been to hell and back

Take it up higher when you're under attack

We've been through it all

We've been to hell and back

We've all been under attack

We've all been to hell and back

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
roamed /roʊmd/ B2	verb - to wander or travel without a fixed route
found /faʊnd/ A2	verb - to discover or locate something
seen /siːn/ A2	verb - to perceive with the eyes
hell /hel/ B1	noun - a place of torment or suffering
back /bæk/ A1	noun - the rear surface of something adverb - to a previous or original state
living /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ A2	adjective - still alive
brave /breɪv/ B1	adjective - ready to face and endure danger or pain
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - not dead
fire /faɪər/ A1	noun - the process of combustion
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - the darkest color
savage /ˈsævɪdʒ/ B2	adjective - fierce, violent, or untamed
leather /ˈlɛðər/ B1	noun - animal skin treated for use in clothing, footwear, etc.
worn /wɔːrn/ B1	adjective - damaged or showing signs of use
damaged /ˈdæmɪdʒd/ B1	adjective - physically harmed
horns /hɔːrnz/ B1	noun - hard, pointed projections on the heads of certain animals
attack /əˈtæk/ B1	verb - to make a violent assault

Key Grammar Structures

• I have roamed so far away

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The phrase "have roamed" uses the Present Perfect to describe an action that started in the past and is relevant to the present.

• I have found there's no turning back

  ➔ Present Perfect + 'there's'

  ➔ The combination of Present Perfect with "there's" emphasizes a discovery or realization in the past that remains true in the present.

• Still in the land of the living

  ➔ Adverb of Time (Still)

  ➔ The adverb "still" indicates continuity from the past to the present, emphasizing an ongoing state.

• We've been to hell and back

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ The phrase "We've been" uses the Present Perfect Continuous to emphasize the duration and completion of an action.

• When I was young life was savage

  ➔ Simple Past

  ➔ The Simple Past is used to describe completed actions in the past, like "was young" and "was savage".

• Take it up higher when you're under attack

  ➔ Present Continuous in Conditional Context

  ➔ The phrase "when you're under attack" uses the Present Continuous to describe a temporary situation that triggers an action.

• We've all been under attack

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'all'

  ➔ The use of "all" with the Present Perfect emphasizes that every member of the group has experienced the action.