The album art and title song are references to the novel of the same name written by Aldous Huxley. The upper half of the album art was done by Derek Riggs, and is the last new artwork done by Riggs to be used on an Iron Maiden release.
The songs "The Wicker Man" and "Out of the Silent Planet" were both released as singles. "The Wicker Man" was released in the U.S as a promo single with extra vocals in the chorus.
"The Nomad", "Dream of Mirrors", and "The Mercenary" were originally written for Virtual XI, according to Adrian Smith in an interview. He said there was a fourth song, but he didn't know which one it was and that Steve Harris did not remember either. Former singer Blaze Bayley also co-wrote "Dream Of Mirrors", but wasn't credited.
The Wicker Man
Iron Maiden Lyrics
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He knocks you to your feet and so what are you gonna do?
Your tongue has frozen now you've got something to say
The piper at the gates of dawn is calling you his way
You watch the world exploding every single night
Dancing in the sun a newborn in the light
Say goodbye to gravity and say goodbye to death
Hello to eternity and live for every breath
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
The ferryman wants his money, you ain't going to give it back
He can push his own boat as you set up off the track
Nothing you can contemplate will ever be the same
Every second is a new spark, sets the universe aflame
You watch the world exploding every single night
Dancing in the sun a newborn in the light
Brothers and their fathers joining hands and make a chain
The shadow of the Wicker Man is rising up again
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
Woah-oh, oh-oh
The lyrics of Iron Maiden's "The Wicker Man" seem to talk about the inevitability of fate and the acceptance of one's own mortality. The "hand of fate" is a metaphorical representation of forces beyond our control, and it is pointing towards the listener, suggesting that it's their turn to face the consequences of their actions. The image of being knocked to one's feet implies a sort of defeat, but the following lines shift the focus towards finding one's voice and resisting the inevitability of one's fate. The piper at the gates of dawn, a reference to the novel "The Wind in the Willows," represents the idea of a beckoning journey towards an unknown fate.
The second verse goes further into the idea of embracing life and the transience of existence. The "world exploding" and "dancing in the sun" are images of ephemeral beauty and a reminder that life is fleeting. The line "Say goodbye to gravity and say goodbye to death, hello to eternity, and live for every breath" is a call to action, a declaration of embracing life fully and making the most of every moment. The chorus further reinforces the idea of the inevitability of one's fate while suggesting that it's an opportunity for growth and acceptance.
Overall, the song seems to convey the message of embracing the fleeting nature of life while acknowledging the inevitability of death. It suggests that one can find meaning and purpose in accepting one's fate and living life to its fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Hand of fate is moving and the finger points to you
The universe is beyond your control and it has brought you to this point.
He knocks you to your feet and so what are you gonna do?
Your challenges have become overwhelming and have caused you to fall - what are you going to do now?
Your tongue has frozen now you've got something to say
Fear has seized you, but you still have something to express.
The piper at the gates of dawn is calling you his way
A new world awaits those who follow the piper at the gates of dawn - will you heed his call?
You watch the world exploding every single night
The world is chaotic, and you can see it happening every night.
Dancing in the sun a newborn in the light
Despite the chaos, there is still celebration and new life - a reminder to keep moving forward.
Say goodbye to gravity and say goodbye to death
This is a moment of transcendence, where death and gravity hold no power.
Hello to eternity and live for every breath
From this moment on, you have the chance to live every breath and embrace eternity.
Your time will come
You will have your moment to shine.
The ferryman wants his money, you ain't going to give it back
Death is coming for you, and you cannot escape it.
He can push his own boat as you set up off the track
You are charting your own path, and Death cannot stop you from doing so.
Nothing you can contemplate will ever be the same
Once you cross that threshold and face death, everything changes and nothing will ever be the same.
Every second is a new spark, sets the universe aflame
Every moment has the potential to ignite change and set the universe in motion.
Brothers and their fathers joining hands and make a chain
This is a moment of unity, where past and present collide.
The shadow of the Wicker Man is rising up again
The past is returning, and the Wicker Man - a symbol of sacrifice - is once again looming over the present.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Woah-oh, oh-oh
This is a moment of intensity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bruce Dickinson, Adrian Smith, Steve Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Dill
on The Number of the Beast
kicking it