The Ripper

Album: Sad Wings Of Destiny (1976)
Play Video
  • In for surprise
    You're in for a shock (ah)
    In London town streets
    When there's darkness and fog
    When you least expect me
    And you turn your back, I'll attack

    I smile when I'm sneaking
    Through shadows by the wall
    I laugh when I'm creeping
    But you won't see me at all

    All hear my warning
    Never turn your back
    On the ripper

    You'll soon shake with fear
    Never knowing if I'm near
    I'm sly and I'm shameless
    Nocturnal and nameless
    Except for "The Ripper"
    Or if you like, "Jack The Knife"

    Any back alley street
    Is where we'll probably meet
    Underneath a gas lamp
    Where the air's cold and damp
    I'm a nasty surprise
    I'm a devil in disguise
    I'm a footstep at night
    I'm a scream of the fright

    All hear my warning
    Never turn your back
    On the ripper
    The ripper
    The ripper

    Ah, ha
    (Thank you) thank you very much, indeed Writer/s: Glenn Tipton
    Publisher: Peermusic Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

  • Dan from UsIdc what anyone says, this was about the Yorkshire ripper... I think Priest disguised it though, I think they even took some criticism for it, due to the serial murders of the time.
  • Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcA very good and dark hard rocking song about serial killer Jack The Ripper with very good guitar riffs and killer guitar leads and very good singing.
  • Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaTo Alex in Cypress, I'd more say that if you have the ability to recognize & appreciate quality & a style that resonates with you, it will become PART of you! When I was a teen stoner(a 1/4oz of high grade buds a day, every day) it was ONLY about rocking out & doing so loudly, because I seriously did not one f--k give, but now I'm all growed up & mature 'n s--t, but I still appreciate good music(form & style) wherever I find it (some classical, some jazz, mostly hasrd rock+metal from '68 to '82 or so; & I'm slowly giving a relisten to the stuff I loved as a teen stoner & Im discovering that I subconsciously recognized & appreciated true quality! (most of my fave metalhead group members were all classically trained, & just happened to find metal & the musical aptitudes they had worked together to express what was inside -- music done for the sake of it, not for the money. . .
  • Genghis from Yuba City, CaRob Halford's Resurrection album (2000) has the "duet" with Bruce Dickinson. The song is titled "One you Love to Hate" and it really rocks.
  • Alex from Paphos, Cyprusand i agree with Luke from manchester It is impossible to be reformed. Metal stays with you untill you rot
  • Alex from Paphos, CyprusIve got no problem with Blaze bayley he was not as good as Dickenson though
  • Luke from Manchester, England1. You cannot be a reformed metalhead, metal never leave you, if it does then you were never into metal in the first place... 2. Blayze was in Maiden for TWO albums, not 1...
  • Ringgo from Montclair, CaAwesome song, and Owens is not that bad of a singer...come on, the rest of Priest picked him for a good reason to replace a legend, just like how Steve Harris had enough faith to pick Bayley Cook (Blaze Bayley) to replace his band's legendary vocalist. BTW, has anyone here heard of the one song Dickinson and Halford did together? i wonder what that sounded like.
  • Will from York, EnglandIf you're referring to maiden's replacement singer Blaze bailey, he wasn't bad actually.
  • Anthony from Parsippany, NjPlease with Ripper Owens...the guy SUCKED. The album he was on was UN-LISTENABLE...just like Maidens replacement for that one album, YIKES!
  • Todd from Denver, CoA sidenote: Steven Tyler supposedly said that "This Is Spinal Tap" hit a little too close to home. Imagine any number of party bands from the early seventies through the release of the movie who can relate. Then the "hair bands" of the eighties continued the tradition. As a reformed metalhead (I still have to admit to occasionally listening to my old CDs-my turntable's been broken for years) I still love the movie.
  • Matt from Charleston, ScWhen Rob Halford left JP, the remaining band members looked for a replacement in the 90's. They found a young halford sound-alike in an American Priest cover band, and promptly renamed him "Ripper" Owens, inspired by his dead-on take on this song. If the story sounds vaguely familiar, its the plot behind the Marky Mark movie "Rock Star" which Priest wouldnt touch with a 99-foot pole.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Butch Vig

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.