The time has finally come you get a mouth full
You only act on greed and by your actions this is proof
And can't you see the flowers dying all around you
Got your hands in the devils pockets
Got everything to lose

And so you lash out
To crush the ones below
Cuz they are the ones that you fear most
And you call this crowd control well let me break it down for you

[Chorus]
The fire in your veins
is just a joke you tell yourself
Another way to cut the cost
To hide your face from all the guilt

And it's a shame to have to say
You had to kill to gain control again
But at least you made some money
Hey, let the good times roll

And it's your dream to be the king of all creation
As far as I'm concerned you've hung your shadow on the wall
And though your fingers never really pulled the trigger
Your hands are just as guilty, you're the one who bought the blood

Again you lash out
To hush the ones who know
Cuz they are the ones that you fear most
And it's called crowd control
Well let me break it down for you

[Chorus]

Oh my the greed has now consumed you
Your eyes fade as you fall into the ocean
You move fast to feed your lust for money
You dive down now your caught in the commotion
All this and you trade it in for nothing
A cheap lie you put it in your pocket
All this and you trade it in for nothing
Oh my I can see your heart has met it's end

Say hello to Judas



Lyrics submitted by boy_named_david

Track duration: 03:27

"Judas" as written by Matt Shultz, Brad Shultz, Jared Champion, Daniel Tichenor, Lincoln Parish

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Judas song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I'm probably very wrong here, but I listened to this song after reading an "A Song of Ice and Fire" book, and I think it could be about one of the characters in Game of Thrones. The unseen character known as "the mad king" (no spoilers), who had a bunch of people tortured and killed for little/no reason, causing him to be overthrown in a rebellion. He is eventually killed by the leader of his own city watch. Notice that the song is talking in the second person to somebody, but the final line is "Say hello to Judas", suggesting that "Judas" is not the person that the songwriter is talking to. "Judas" is Jaime Lannister who betrays the mad king.

    This came to me when I heard the line "the fire in your veins...". The mad king was a Targaryen, and they are represented by a dragon. It is often said that Targaryens have fire in their blood.

    Nothing I've said is a spoiler, in case you're worried. Everything I talked about happens before the events in the book/tv show.
    Flag FeelTheFunkBlaston January 08, 2013   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:The shadow on the wall line isn't referring to Judas hanging himself, per se. Your "shadow on the wall" is an allegorical way of saying that you can't hide from what you've done, or who you are... your guilt/your past follows you around, just as your shadow follows you around.

    I don't think this song is specifically intended to be about government. I think it's written in a way which allows it to be interpreted differently by different people. Bob Dylan always talked about writing his songs to be open for interpretation, that he didn't "mean" anything by his lyrics (although we can be sure he did, he just preferred to leave interpretation to the listener). I think that's what they've done here as well. In fact, that quality seems to me to be the most artistic way to write lyrics.

    I like to think the references to money aren't necessarily literal. "Money" could stand for whatever goal you had in mind when you decided to act as you did. "Money" is the reward, and although it could be literal if you so interpret it, it doesn't have to be. "But at least you made some money" could easily be "But at least you got what you wanted." This idea is similar to "you had to kill to gain control again" -- this could be interpreted to be saying "you had to destroy [something] to gain control again." It doesn't have to mean you actually killed someone, ya know?

    In any case, the simple fact that we're discussing it and people are coming up with their own interpretations means the lyrics are intelligently and artistically written. Go read the lyrics to a Lady Gaga song and see if you can say the same...

    *WARNING: completely off topic*
    Lady Gaga's SongMeanings page: "I turned off my cell phone cause I'M IN THE CLUB!"
    Song interpretation by fLyGuRl69: "some b*tch wuz prob givin a ho tha runround, so iTz lk b*tch get ya aZZ to tha CLUB n let dat sh*t go on tha danzflo lulz,,, newayz dats wut it ment to me n mah grlz PEACE"
    Flag offleon August 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The Judas part is more of an "Title" as some would say, as the song talks about Greed and corruption.

    In the bible, Judas betrayed Jesus, for silver coins, and then he threw them away and hanged himself.

    So the song is more about how we strive for more money, doing whatever it takes. And in the end the money will do us no good, but our actions will.
    Flag Chernobylon July 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I feel that this song is about the biblical story of judas but when i listen to it, it reminds me of a metaphor for the government (if it wasn't obvious) but i feel it is more of how the government does not fear its people and how its greedy. I think they are trying to say how the government is crooked in many ways.

    And so you lash out
    To crush the ones below
    All the ones that you fear most
    And you call this crowd control well let me break it down for you

    This segment out of the song i feel is talking about how the government trys to silence the people opinion when it is not in their favor. This exert also talks about how the government/power should fear its people. All though it may have control over some, together the people can have control over the government/power.
    Well so that is my interpretation of it asides from telling the biblical story i believe it ties into any struggle for power or any person with power. So if you agree or disagree please tell me your opinion! i would love to hear!
    :)
    Flag robsmagicon July 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with cageTE17 he may have went kinda deep but it sounds kinda right
    Flag GibsonGoldTopon June 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:IMO he's talking about the warmongers currently alive. Like George W. Bush. I just realized their name is politically influenced. Slaughter the poor to feed the rich. Indeed!
    Flag JohnRShawon May 17, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:I think that this is talking about any higherarchy(If im using that right) or higher power acting out of fear, killing people to save themselves and feeding their greed with the reward from those that are dead and if this is found out they will loose everything, so they kill the ones that they think will let out the seceret

    You only act on greed and by your actions this is proof
    And can't you see the flowers dying all around you
    Got your hands in the devils pockets
    Got everything to lose-The reference to the devils pockets is because of the fact that they kill for money and they are close to being with the devil-the first part is abviouse

    And so you lash out
    To crush the ones below
    All the ones that you fear most
    And you call this crowd control well let me break it down for you
    -the second line represents the killing of the ones who are not as powerful as him or her though they can ruin his life by telling one little seceret, they consider it crowd control but, no its murder.

    The fire in your veins
    is just a joke you tell yourself
    Another way to cut the cost
    To hide your face from all the guilt
    -the fire in the veins is meaning how great the higher people think they are, the cut the cost part may be doing things that are most likely illegal or bad to make more money


    Again you lash out
    To hush the ones who know
    All the ones that you fear most
    And it's called crowd control
    Well let me break it down for you

    the ones who know is even more revealing to the fact of people knowing about the things, killing, stealing or whatever that person has done.

    And it's your dream to be the king of all creation-them thinking their the most powerful and smartest known
    As far as I'm concerned you've hung your shadow on the wall-ignoring the fact of the illegal things they have done
    And though your fingers never really pulled the trigger
    Your hands are just as guilty, you're the one who bought the blood
    -they command but don't do, so they can get the money and not get caught

    the rest you can probly figure, but the reference to judas is probly just the name givin to the evil person due to what Judas in the bible did

    Flag CageTE17on April 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:"I vote that in the second bridge where it is written;
    Again you lash out
    To hush the ones who know
    All the ones that you fear most
    And it's called crowd control
    Well let me break it down for you

    that the third line be changed to;
    And it's called damage control"



    Great song, probably my second favorite off of the album after "Lotus". I'd say it's written about lairs and deceitful people. Not specifically in the government, but just in general.
    Flag BootHimselfon January 28, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:well judas in the bible sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver but then hung himself because of the guilt. there are a few references to this like "hey at least you made some money" and then "you've hung your shadow on the wall."
    Flag Drummytaron January 18, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yeah, I hope it has more to do with everyday people than with world leaders. If not, I'll lose more respect for the band. It's a great band, and an excellent song, but I'm tired of all this political agenda bull in music.
    Flag GreedyTrooperon January 13, 2010   Link

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