Living Bad Dreams – English Lyrics

• By: Judas Priest
• Album: Painkiller Sessions 1990

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the heavy metal depth of Judas Priest with "Living Bad Dreams." This powerful track, though initially a bonus cut, demonstrates the band's versatility with its potent ballad structure. Listening to it can help you appreciate the nuanced musicianship and powerful emotion that lies beyond their speed-metal anthems.

[English]

I'm hypnotised

And helpless

Beneath the pale

Full moon

My body is your sacrifice

You spirit's coming soon

I stare up at a

Squalid night

It's been so cold

And smooth

Turns tender kisses

Into bites

As you begin to move

You look so weak

And fragile

You seem to drip

And sway

But you swept me up into

Your arms

And carried me away

I'm living bad dreams

I can't run from you

I'm living bad dreams

This nightmare's

Coming true

You led me to temptation

Delivered me to pain

I walked upon you

Hallowed ground

My soul is yours to gain

Your passion drains

My energy

Fear starts running deep

I'm falling in

Slow motion

Into eternal sleep

I'm living bad dreams

I can't run from you

I'm living bad dreams

This nightmare's

Coming true

Your passion drains

My energy

Fear starts running deep

I'm falling in

Slow motion

Into eternal sleep

I'm living bad dreams

I can't run from you

I'm living bad dreams

There's nothing

I can do

I'm living bad dreams

I can't run from you

I'm living bad dreams

This nightmare's

Coming true

I'm living bad dreams

Ohh ohh

I don't want bad dreams

Living bad dreams

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hypnotised /ˈhɪpnətaɪzd/ B2	verb - to put someone into a state of sleep or altered consciousness
sacrifice /ˈsækrifaɪs/ B1	noun - an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else.
squalid /ˈskwɒlɪd/ C1	adjective - extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect.
tender /ˈtendə/ B1	adjective - showing gentleness and concern or sympathy.
fragile /ˈfrædʒaɪl/ B1	adjective - easily broken or damaged.
drains /dreɪnz/ B1	verb - to take away gradually.
temptation /tempˈteɪʃən/ B2	noun - the quality or act of tempting someone to do something.
hallowed /ˈhæləʊd/ C1	adjective - regarded as holy.
eternal /ɪˈtɜːnəl/ B2	adjective - lasting or existing forever; without end.
nightmare /ˈnaɪtmɛə/ B1	noun - a disturbing dream.
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A2	verb - moving rapidly on foot.
passion /ˈpæʃən/ B1	noun - strong and barely controllable emotion.
motion /ˈməʊʃən/ B1	noun - the action or process of moving.
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being.
gain /ɡeɪn/ A2	verb - obtain or achieve something.
sleep /sliːp/ A1	noun - a natural state of rest for the body and mind.

Key Grammar Structures

• My body is your sacrifice

  ➔ Present Simple (stative verb), possessive pronoun

  ➔ The verb 'is' describes a state of being, not an action. 'Your' indicates possession – the body belongs to the other person for the purpose of sacrifice. The sentence uses a stative verb to express a permanent or long-lasting state.

• You led me to temptation

  ➔ Past Simple, infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The verb 'led' is in the past simple, indicating a completed action. 'To temptation' is an infinitive phrase acting as an adverbial of purpose, explaining *why* you led me.

• You seem to drip and sway

  ➔ Present Continuous (with 'seem'), infinitive verbs

  ➔ 'Seem' introduces a perception or impression. 'To drip and sway' are infinitives describing actions happening simultaneously, creating a vivid image.

• I'm falling in slow motion

  ➔ Present Continuous (describing a developing situation), adverb of manner

  ➔ The present continuous emphasizes the ongoing nature of the falling. 'Slow motion' is an adverbial phrase modifying 'falling', describing *how* the action is happening.