Some Heads Are Gonna Roll – English Lyrics

• By: Judas Priest

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the powerful message behind Judas Priest's "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll." Penned by an outside writer, this head-banging track delivers a potent warning about unchecked power and potential global catastrophe, offering a chance to delve into the song's metaphorical lyrics and enduring relevance.

[English]

You can look to the left and look to the right

But you will live in danger tonite

When the enemy comes he will never be heard

He'll blow your mind and not say a word

Blinding lights-flashing colors

Sleepless nights

If the man with the power

Can't keep it under control

Some heads are gonna roll

Some heads are gonna roll

Some heads are gonna roll

Some heads are gonna roll

The power-mad freaks who are

Ruling the earth

Will show little they think you're worth

With animal lust they'll devour your life

And slice your word to bits like a knife

One last day burning hell fire

You're blown away

If the man with the power

Can't keep it under control

Some heads are gonna roll

Some heads are gonna roll

Some heads are gonna roll

Some heads are gonna roll

Know what it's like

When you're taken for granted

there goes your life

It's so underhanded

...

If the man with the power

...

Can't keep it under control

Some heads are gonna roll

Some heads are gonna roll

Some heads are gonna roll

...

Oh-no!

Some Heads are gonna roll

Oh-no! (Some heads are gonna roll)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
roll /rəʊl/ A1	verb - to move in a circular motion
danger /ˈdeɪnʤər/ A2	noun - risk of harm or injury
enemy /ˈɛnəmi/ A2	noun - a person who hates or opposes another
blow /bləʊ/ A2	verb - to move air with force verb - to destroy or damage suddenly
blinding /ˈblaɪndɪŋ/ B1	adjective - extremely bright, causing inability to see
devour /dɪˈvaʊər/ B1	verb - to eat something eagerly and quickly
slice /slaɪs/ B1	verb - to cut into parts
underhanded /ˌʌndərˈhændɪd/ B2	adjective - dishonest or sneaky
power-mad /ˈpaʊər mæd/ B2	adjective - obsessed with power and control
lust /lʌst/ B2	noun - strong desire or urge
granted /ˈɡræntɪd/ B1	adjective - given or allowed
worth /wɜːrθ/ A2	noun - the value or importance of something
animal /ˈænɪməl/ A1	noun - a non-human living organism
control /kənˈtroʊl/ A2	noun - the power to influence or direct verb - to exercise restraint or direction over
freaks /friks/ B1	noun - a person who is unusually strange

Key Grammar Structures

• You can look to the left and look to the right

  ➔ Modal 'can' + base verb to express ability/possibility

  ➔ The modal verb "can" expresses ability; it is followed by the base verb.

• When the enemy comes he will never be heard

  ➔ When + present simple in the dependent clause; will in the main clause; 'be heard' is passive

  ➔ Time clause uses the present simple after 'When' and the main clause uses the future 'will'.

• If the man with the power

  ➔ Conditional clause introduced by 'If' (real condition; incomplete line context)

  ➔ An introductory conditional clause using "If" to set a possible condition that would lead to a consequence.

• Some heads are gonna roll

  ➔ Informal future form: 'be going to' expressed as 'gonna' (colloquial)

  ➔ The line uses the colloquial reduction "gonna" for "going to" to express near future.

• The power-mad freaks who are ruling the earth

  ➔ Noun + relative clause: 'who are ruling' uses present continuous to describe ongoing action

  ➔ The relative clause introduced by "who" describes the noun with a present continuous verb.

• Will show little they think you're worth

  ➔ Complex object clause: 'they think you're worth' is a content clause (embedded clause) after 'will show'

  ➔ The clause "they think you're worth" is a content clause acting as the object of 'will show'.

• With animal lust they'll devour your life

  ➔ Subject + 'they'll' (they will) + verb; contraction shows future with 'will'

  ➔ The contraction "they'll" marks the future meaning of "they will".

• You're blown away

  ➔ Passive voice: subject receives the action; 'blown away' is past participle used with 'are'

  ➔ The structure is passive: you are the receiver of the action described by 'blow away'.

• Some Heads are gonna roll

  ➔ Repetition of the informal future: 'gonna' = 'going to'

  ➔ The line uses the informal future form "gonna" to express a near-future action.