The mighty Iron Maiden are nothing less than a British institution.
They’ve been rocking their millions of fans for nearly 40 years, since forming in East London in 1975. They’ve travelled the world (sometimes flown by the band’s own Bruce Dickinson), gaining a reputation as one of the greatest live bands ever, redefined the world of heavy metal, and released an enormous 15 studio albums.
We’ve scoured the band’s lyrics for 40 pieces of unmissable wisdom: read on and learn the way of the Maiden.
(Images: Rex)
Remember Tomorrow
Album:Iron Maiden (1980)
"Out in the madness, the all-seeing eye,
Flickers above us, to light up the sky"
Phantom of the Opera
Album:Iron Maiden (1980)
"Keep your distance, walk away, don't take his bait.
Don't you stray, don't fade away.
Watch your step, he's out to get you, come what may.
Don't you stray, from the narrow way"
Iron Maiden
Album: Iron Maiden (1980)
"Oh well, wherever, wherever you are,
Iron Maiden's gonna get you, no matter how far."
Invaders
Album:The Number Of The Beast (1982)
"Call to arms: defend yourselves,
Get ready to stand and fight for your lives,
Judgement day has come around,
So be prepared, don't run - stand your ground"
The Prisoner
Album:The Number Of The Beast (1982)
"I'm not a number, I'm a free man.
Live my life where I want to"
Number Of The Beast
Album:Number Of The Beast (1982)
"Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast;
For it is a human number.
Its number is six hundred and sixty six."
Run To The Hills
Album:The Number Of The Beast (1982)
"Run to the hills, run for your lives"
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Album:The Number Of The Beast (1982)
"As the guards march me out to the courtyard,
Someone calls from a cell "God be with you"
If there's a God then why has he let me die?"
The Trooper
Album:Piece Of Mind (1983)
"So when you're waiting for the next attack
You'd better stand: there's no turning back"
Where Eagles Dare
Album:Where Eagles Dare (1983)
"Into the night they fall through the sky
No one should fly where eagles dare."
Die With Your Boots On
Album:Piece of Mind (1983)
"If you're gonna die, die with your boots on,
If you're gonna try, well stick around"
Sun and Steel
Album:Piece Of Mind (1983)
"Sunlight, falling on your steel,
Death in life is your ideal,
Life is like a wheel rolling on and on"
Aces High
Album:Powerslave (1984)
"Run, live to fly, fly to live, do or die,
Run, live to fly, fly to live, Aces high"
Back In The Village
Album:Powerslave (1984)
"Questions are a burden,
And answers are a prison for oneself"
Wasted Years
Album:Somewhere In Time (1986)
"Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years,
Face up; make your stand and realise you're living in the golden years"
The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner
Album:Somewhere In Time (1986)
"I've got to keep running the course,
I've got to keep running and win at all costs,
I've got to keep going, be strong,
Must be so determined and push myself on"
Can I Play With Madness?
Album:Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
"Give me the sense to wonder, to wonder if I'm free
Give me a sense of wonder, to know I can be me"
The Evil That Men Do
Album:Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (1988)
"The evil that men do lives on and on!"
Infinite Dreams
Album:Seventh Son Of a Seventh Son (1988)
"I'd like to think that when I die,
I'd get a chance another time,
And to return and live again,
Reincarnate, play the game,
Again and again and again."
The Prophecy
Album:Seventh Son Of a Seventh Son (1988)
Their fates, their fortunes in my visions,
No one believed in my true prophecy,
And now it's too late"
The Clairvoyant
Album:Seventh Son Of a Seventh Son (1988)
"There's a time to live and a time to die,
When it's time to meet the maker,
There's time to live but isn't it strange?
That as soon as you're born you're dying"
Only The Good Die Young
Album:Seventh Son Of a Seventh Son (1988)
"Only the good die young,
All the evil seem to live forever"
Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter
Album:No Prayer For The Dying (1990)
"Bring your daughter, bring your daughter to the slaughter,
Let her go, let her go, let her go!"
No Prayer For The Dying
Album:No Prayer For the Dying (1990)
"But if you asked me a question,
Would I tell you the truth?
Now there's something to bet on,
You've got nothing to lose"
Fates Warning
Album:No Prayer For The Dying (1990)
"Be it the devil or be it Him,
You can count on just one thing,
When the time is up you'll know,
Not just one power runs the show"
Be Quick Or Be Dead
Album:Fear Of The Dark (1992)
"You've got to watch them - Be quick or be dead!"
Fear Of The Dark
Album:Fear Of The Dark (1992)
"When I'm walking a dark road,
I am a man who walks alone"
Afraid To Shoot Strangers
Album:Fear Of The Dark (1992)
"When it comes to the time,
Are we partners in crime?
When it comes to the time,
We'll be ready to die"
Wasting Love
Album:Fear Of The Dark (1992)
"Dream on brothers while you can,
Dream on sisters, I hope you will find the one,
All of our lives, covered up quickly by the tides of time"
Virus
Album:Best of the Beast (1996)
"Superficially smiling; a shake of the hand,
As soon as the back is turned treachery is planned"
Sign Of The Cross
Album:The X-Factor (1995)
"They'll be saying their prayers when the moment comes,
There'll be penace to pay when it's judgement day,
And the guilty'll bleed when that moment comes,
They'll be coming to claim, take your soul away"
The Educated Fool
Album:Virtual XI (1998)
"I want to leave my life on my own,
I want to lift the unturned stone,
I want to walk right into the fire,
I want to live out all my desires"
The Wicker Man
Album:Brave New World (2000)
"Brothers and their fathers joining hands and make a chain,
The shadow of the Wicker Man is rising up again"
Blood Brothers
Album: Brave New World (2000)
"Will we ever know what the answer to life really is?
Can you really tell me what life is?
Maybe all the things that you know that are precious to you,
Could be swept away by fate's own hand"
Wildest Dreams
Album:Dance of Death (2003)
"When I'm feeling down and low,
I vow I'll never be the same again,
I just remember what I am,
And visualise just what I'm gonna be"
No More Lies
Album: Dance of Death (2003)
"So just a word of warning,
When you're in your deepest dreams,
There's nothing you can hide from,
I've got my eye on you"
Different World
Album:A Matter of Life and Death (2006)
"I would like you to know,
When you see the simple things,
To appreciate this life,
It's not too late to learn"
Out Of The Shadows
Album:A Matter Of Life And Death (2006)
"Oh there is beauty and surely there is pain,
But we must endure it to live again"
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
Album:The Final Frontier (2010)
"For I have lived my life to the full,
I have no regrets.
But I wish I could talk to my family,
To tell them one last goodbye"
Mother Of Mercy
Album:The Final Frontier (2010)
"I sit waiting for my darkest hour to come,
I cannot think about the things that I have done,
It shouldn't take a fool to see that I believe:
Accept the consequence, repent for what I've done"
Today's Best Deals
![3. Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Complete Box Set [Blu-ray]](https://www.shortlist.com/media/imager/202004/47769-product_widget.large.png)
Latest
Related Reviews and Shortlists
10 Best wet shavers for men
