The Judas Kiss (song)

Song

Tour Dates

The Judas Kiss is the eighth track on Death Magnetic and Metallica's forty-third single.

About

"The Judas Kiss" refers to the biblical account of Judas Iscariot, an apostle who marked Jesus to the chief priests for a bribe by kissing him on the cheek. This is converted into a metaphor for the darkness in all of man through betrayal. It is particularly stinging toward all religious indoctrination in general, as evidenced by the line "helped your kings abuse their crown" and "in the heart of feeble man, plant the seeds of my own plan, the strong and powerful will fall, find a piece of me in all".

Another point of speculation is a possible reference to the attack on September 11th, which was driven by religious dogma. This can be found in the line, "watched your towers hit the ground".

Live

• "The Judas Kiss" has been performed live 30 times as of January, 2025.
• "The Judas Kiss" was first performed live on February, 25th, 2009, in Nottingham, England, at the Trent FM Arena Nottingham, during the World Magnetic Tour.
• It was last performed live on September 22nd, 2010, in Christchurch, New Zealand, at the CBS Canterbury Arena, during the World Magnetic Tour.

Lyrics

 When the world has turned its back
 When the days have turned pitch black
 When the fear abducts your tongue
 When the fire's dead and gone
 
     So, what now?
     Where go I?
 
 When you think it's all said and done
 When you are the ostracized
 Selfish ridden dead goodbyes
 Twisting on the tourniquet
 When the pieces never fit
 
     So, what now?
     Where go I?
 
 When you think it's all said and done
 
     Bow down
     Sell your soul to me
     I will set you free
     Pacify your demons
 
     Bow down
     Surrender unto me
     Submit infectiously
     Sanctify your demons
 
     Into abyss,
     You don't exist
     Cannot resist,
     The Judas kiss
 
 When the storm has blacked your sky
 Intuition crucify
 When the ego strips your reign
 Assassinate the living flame
 
     So, what now?
     Where go I?
 
 When you think it's all said and done
 
 Venom of a life insane
 Bites into your fragile vein
 Internalize and decimate 
 Patronize and complicate
 
     So, what now?
     Where go I?
 
 When you think it's all said and done
 
     Bow down
     Sell your soul to me
     I will set you free
     Pacify your demons
 
     Bow down
     Surrender unto me
     Submit infectiously
     Sanctify your demons
 
     Into abyss,
     You don't exist
     Cannot resist,
     The Judas kiss
 
 Judas lives, recite this vow
 I've become your new god now
 
 Followed you from dawn of time
 Whispered thoughts into your mind
 Watched your towers hit the ground
 Lured your children never found
 Helped your kings abuse their crown
 
 In the heart of feeble man
 Plant the seed of my own plan
 The strong and powerful will fall
 Find a piece of me in all...
 Inside you all
 
     So, bow down
     Sell your soul to me
     I will set you free
     Pacify your demons
 
     Bow down
     Surrender unto me
     Submit infectiously
     Sanctify your demons
 
     Into abyss,
     You don't exist
     Cannot resist,
     The Judas kiss
 
 Ah Judas