10) These colours don't run - (A matter of life and death, 2006)
Amazing lyrics against war, a topic often used by the band. I like in particular These colours don't run for being totally straightforward and very clear for everyone.
"For the passion, for the glory
For the memories for the money
You're a soldier, for your country
What's the difference, all the same
For the memories for the money
You're a soldier, for your country
What's the difference, all the same
Far away from the land of our birth
We fly a flag in some foreign earth
We sailed away like our fathers before
These colors don't run, from cold bloody war"
We fly a flag in some foreign earth
We sailed away like our fathers before
These colors don't run, from cold bloody war"
9) Can I play with madness (Seventh son of a seventh son, 1988)
Honestly, I'm not sure of what this song is about but the dialogue on the second verse is so great that I put it in this chart regardless. Sorry.
"I screamed aloud to the old man
I said don't lie, don't say you don't know
I say you'll pay for this mischief
In this world or the next
Oh and then he fixed me with a freezing glance
And the hell fires raged in his eyes
He said you wanna know the truth son?
Lord, I'll tell you the truth
Your soul's gonna burn in a lake of fire"
I said don't lie, don't say you don't know
I say you'll pay for this mischief
In this world or the next
Oh and then he fixed me with a freezing glance
And the hell fires raged in his eyes
He said you wanna know the truth son?
Lord, I'll tell you the truth
Your soul's gonna burn in a lake of fire"
8) Holy Smoke (No prayer for the dying, 1990)
Very funny song (including the semi-amatorial videoclip) against the American preachers asking for money in exchange for faith. The sentences below are very clear.
"Believe in me - send no money
Died on the cross and that ain't funny
But my so called friends are making me a joke
They missed out what I said like I never spoke
They choose what they wanna hear - they don't tell a lie
They just leave out the truth as they're watching you die
Saving your souls by taking your money
Flies round shit, bees around honey."
Died on the cross and that ain't funny
But my so called friends are making me a joke
They missed out what I said like I never spoke
They choose what they wanna hear - they don't tell a lie
They just leave out the truth as they're watching you die
Saving your souls by taking your money
Flies round shit, bees around honey."
7) Alexander the Great (Somewhere in time, 1986)
I really like when Maiden wants to teach us something about literature o history (very helpful for my very limited knowledge of the matter). This is Alexander the Great, ladies and gentlemen, a song famous also because it was never played live, and nobody knows why. It also reminds me of one of my first nights in London, when after several drinks I started singing loud this chorus below without a reason.
"Near to the east
In a part of ancient Greece
In an ancient land called Macedonia
Was born a son
To Philip of Macedon
The legend his name was Alexander"
In a part of ancient Greece
In an ancient land called Macedonia
Was born a son
To Philip of Macedon
The legend his name was Alexander"
6) The clansman (Virtual XI, 1998)
This one is about Scottish independence and William Wallace. Yes, Braveheart. These lyrics, with that "Freedom" placed in the middle, have a very epic feeling. Even with Blaze Bayley, don't be mean.
"Wake alone in the hills
With the wind in your face
It feels good to be proud
And be free and a race
That is part of a clan
And to live on highlands
And the air that you breathe
So pure and so clean"
With the wind in your face
It feels good to be proud
And be free and a race
That is part of a clan
And to live on highlands
And the air that you breathe
So pure and so clean"
5) 22 Acacia avenue (The number of the beast, 1982)
I'm sure you know what this is about. 22 Acacia avenue is the address of this lady Charlotte (The harlot, see the first record of the band), a prostitute "known" by the band. I've never been to this address and I have to do it, one day or another. How old will be Charlotte now? Maybe 70? Also, I seriously doubt she still lives there.
"If you're feeling down depressed and lonely
I know a place where we can go
22 Acacia Avenue meet a lady that I know
So if you're looking for a good time
And you're prepared to pay the price
Fifteen quid is all she asks for
Everybody's got their vice"
I know a place where we can go
22 Acacia Avenue meet a lady that I know
So if you're looking for a good time
And you're prepared to pay the price
Fifteen quid is all she asks for
Everybody's got their vice"
4) Run to the hills (The number of the beast, 1982)
A political song by Iron Maiden, sort of rare. Run to the hills talks about the massacre of Native Americans in favor of a new world. Great song and great lyrics.
"White man came across the sea.
He brought us pain and misery.
He killed our tribes killed our creed.
He took our game for his own need."
3) Dance of death (Dance of death 2003)
Even in Dance of death I don't really know what's happening, exactly or what this song is about but, listening to Bruce Dickinson during the first verse, is like being in Theatre and I can almost feel this Dance of Death. Great atmosphere.
"Feeling scared and I fell to my knees
As something rushed me from the trees
Took me to an unholy place
And that is where I fell from grace
Then they summoned me over to join in with them
To the dance of the dead
Into the circle of fire I followed them
Into the middle I was led"
As something rushed me from the trees
Took me to an unholy place
And that is where I fell from grace
Then they summoned me over to join in with them
To the dance of the dead
Into the circle of fire I followed them
Into the middle I was led"
2) Hallowed be thy name (The number of the beast, 1982)
The lyrics from The number of the beast are great, I noticed compiling this top 10! Hallowed be thy name is the story of a dead man walking. Listening to these lyrics is like being there. Have a look at the words below. Masterpiece.
"When the priest comes to read me the last rites
I take a look through the bars at the last sights
Of a world that has gone very wrong for me
Can it be that there's some sort of error?
Hard to stop the surmounting terror
Is it really the end not some crazy dream?
1) Rime of the ancient mariner (Powerslave - 1984)
Probably Iron Maiden could get me excited about the most boring thing in the world but definitely it's not the case with Rime of the ancient mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I have to be honest, if it wasn't for them I would have not been interested in this. At some point, I wanted to buy the book.
"Day after day, day after day,
we stuck nor breath nor motion
As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean
Water, water everywhere and
all the boards did shrink
Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink."
we stuck nor breath nor motion
As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean
Water, water everywhere and
all the boards did shrink
Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink."