Sword of Damocles

Album: Redeemer of Souls (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Damocles was a flatterer in the court of Dionysius II of Syracuse, a 4th-century BC tyrant of Syracuse, Sicily. The courtier exclaimed to the king that, as a great man of power and authority surrounded by magnificence, he was truly extremely fortunate. Damocles was invited by the tyrant to switch places with him during a sumptuous banquet and was seated in Dionysius' throne. The fawning courtier was surrounded by every luxury, but a huge sword was suspended by a horse's hair above the throne. Damocles was afraid to stir and the banquet was a torment to him, as he came to the realization that the king's great fortune and power also came with great peril and anxiety.
  • Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford explained the song's meaning to Classic Rock Revisited: "The story of Damocles goes back a long ways. It's a fable. It talks about a guy who is a king; he's a very powerful dude. He has all this food and all of this wine and women and everything. His buddy comes and visits him and says, 'You've got the best life.' He tells him, 'Look above me.' The guy looks up and sees the sword, which is held together by this little thread. He goes 'That thread could break at any moment, or at any point of my life, and then all of this will be gone.' That is the message that we're trying to relay. You need to live the life you have the best you can every day, as it is all you've got."
  • Judas Priest gave this song its live debut when they played at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland on March 15, 2024 as part of the band's Invincible Shield European tour.

Comments: 1

  • Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcAnother Judas Priest song that deserves more credit than it got.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Chris Isaak

Chris IsaakSongwriter Interviews

Chris tells the story of "Wicked Game," talks milkshakes and moonpies at Sun Records, and explains why women always get their way.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.