United

Album: British Steel (1980)
Charted: 26
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Judas Priest lead singer Rob Halford calls this song "an us-against-the-world anthem." It was inspired by the unpopularity of the Conservative government in the UK at the beginning of the 1980s. Halford explained to Billboard magazine: "There was a feeling of the vast population of the British public being united against a government we felt was uncaring. It was also a kind of kickback to the way we were being ignored by various elements of the press in our home country because the punk movement was dominating everything. We wanted to send a rallying call out to the metalheads, not only in the UK but everywhere."
  • This was the third single from the British heavy metal band Judas Priest's sixth album, British Steel. The album was a leap forward for the band, who became headlining arena-fillers for the first time after its release. It was their first album to make the Top 10 in the UK (#4), and their first to sell a million copies in America.

    One key change in the songwriting: All the tracks were written as a team by Halford, K.K. Downing, and Glenn Tipton. They recorded it at Tittenhurst Park, where John Lennon lived and worked. The room where Lennon wrote "Imagine" was their primary work area.

Comments: 1

  • Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcA perfect song about unity which the world really needs right now.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

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.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.