Before The Dawn

Album: Hell Bent For Leather (1978)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford came out as gay in 1998. Speaking to the Metal Hammer Magazine Show in 2015, Halford revealed that he wrote this ballad about his very first heartbreak. "It may not be in true essence, but there's definitely some truth to the fact that that was relative to that incident," he said.
  • This is a track on Judas Priest's fifth album, which they titled Killing Machine, but was released in America as Hell Bent For Leather because of sensitivity to a recent school shooting. The group was a swirl of activity at the time, pounding it out on the road, making TV and radio appearances, and hitting the studio with any time they had left. They were big, but got even bigger - especially in America - with their next album, British Steel.

Comments: 2

  • Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcA very nice beautiful and super cool ballad with a short electric guitar lead and very nice talented vocals.
  • Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcA very beautiful acoustic ballad with a small electric guitar lead and very cool singing.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.