Raw Deal – English Lyrics

• By: Judas Priest

Lyrics & Translation

Learning English through Judas Priest's 'Raw Deal' offers a unique opportunity to explore nuanced and coded language. The song's lyrics, which describe the gay scene of the 1970s, provide insight into a specific subculture and the use of language to convey a hidden meaning. It's a special song because it represents a bold act of self-expression by Rob Halford at a time when doing so was risky, making it a significant piece of both music and LGBTQ+ history.

[English]

I made a spike about nine o'clock on a Saturday

All eyes hit me as I walked into the bar

Inside then the guys were fooling in the denim dudes

A couple cards played rough stuff, New York, fire island

I cased the joint, straining at the scenes

I moseyed up to the counter and the tender came a-grinnin'

I snapped the smile off his face and scowled "Give me a bourbon"

The mirror on the wall was collecting and reflecting

All the heavy bodies ducking, stealing eager for some action

The scene screwed me up, I saw some contact

Then the big boys, saw me and knew that

I'd had too much, floating around, statues alive, seconds are hours

Sacks like a hurricane, wrapped in and shattered

I was barely holding on to this flying body symphony

I guess I dream in pictures, not colors

The true free expression I demand is human rights, right

I gave my life, I am immortal

I'm going no loss, I'm going no loss

I'm going no loss, I'm going no loss

Nightmare, just a bunch of goddamn, rotten, steaming, raw deal

...

Key Grammar Structures

• I made a spike about nine o'clock on a Saturday

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The verb 'made' is in the past simple tense, indicating a completed action at a specific time in the past ('nine o'clock on a Saturday').

• All eyes hit me as I walked into the bar

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'as I walked' uses the past continuous tense to describe an action in progress at the moment of another past action ('All eyes hit me').

• I snapped the smile off his face and scowled

  ➔ Past Simple Tense with Phrasal Verb

  ➔ The phrasal verb 'snapped off' is used in the past simple tense to describe a sudden, completed action.

• The mirror on the wall was collecting and reflecting

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense

  ➔ The verbs 'was collecting' and 'reflecting' are in the past continuous tense, indicating ongoing actions in the past.

• I guess I dream in pictures, not colors

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with Modal Verb

  ➔ The modal verb 'guess' is used in the present simple tense to express uncertainty or a supposition.

• I'm going no loss, I'm going no loss

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense for Future

  ➔ The present continuous tense 'I'm going' is used here to indicate a future action or intention.

• Nightmare, just a bunch of goddamn, rotten, steaming, raw deal

  ➔ Appositive and Adjectives

  ➔ The phrase 'just a bunch of goddamn, rotten, steaming, raw deal' uses apposition and multiple adjectives to emphasize the negative qualities of the 'nightmare'.