"2 Minutes to Midnight" and "Aces High" were released as singles, the former being a staple in nearly all of the band's concert tours.
World Slavery Tour was the tour supporting the album.
Aces High
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There comes the sound of the guns sending flak
Out for the scramble, we've got to get airborne
Got to get up for the coming attack
Jump in the cockpit and start up the engines
Remove all the wheel blocks, there's no time to waste
Gathering speed as we head down the runway
Got to get airborne before it's too late
Running (running), scrambling (scrambling), flying (flying)
Rolling (rolling), turning (turning), diving (diving), going in again
Running (running), scrambling (scrambling), flying (flying)
Rolling (rolling), turning (turning), diving (diving)
Run
Live to fly
Fly to live
Do or die
Won't you run?
Live to fly
Fly to live
Aces high
Move in to fire at the mainstream of bombers
Let off a sharp burst and then turn away
Roll over, spin 'round to come in behind them
Move to their blindsides and firing again
Bandits at eight o'clock move in behind us
Ten ME-109s out of the sun
Ascending and turning our spitfires to face them
Heading straight for them, I press down my guns
Rolling (rolling), turning (turning), diving (diving)
Rolling (rolling), turning (turning), diving (diving), going in again
Rolling (rolling), turning (turning), diving (diving)
Rolling (rolling), turning (turning), diving (diving)
Run
Live to fly
Fly to live
Do or die
Won't you run?
Live to fly
Fly to live
Aces high
The lyrics to Iron Maiden's "Aces High" tell the story of a World War II fighter pilot getting ready for takeoff to engage in aerial combat against enemy forces. The pilot is part of a squadron that is scrambling to get airborne to defend their homeland from impending attack. The urgency of the situation is evident as the pilot rushes to start up the engines, gather speed down the runway, and take to the skies before it's too late. Once in the air, he confronts a group of attacking bombers, engages in a dogfight, and ultimately emerges victorious.
The song captures the intensity and high stakes involved in aerial warfare, as well as the camaraderie and bravery of the pilots who fought in it. Through the use of descriptive language and vivid imagery, the lyrics transport the listener to the cockpit of a fighter plane and immerse them in the action.
Overall, "Aces High" is a thrilling and unforgettable tribute to the pilots of the Second World War, and a testament to Iron Maiden's ability to craft powerful and emotionally resonant heavy metal music.
Line by Line Meaning
There goes the siren that warns of the air raid
The siren that warns of the incoming air raid can be heard and indicates danger.
There comes the sound of the guns sending flak
The sound of the guns firing anti-aircraft rounds can be heard as the aircraft is under attack.
Out for the scramble, we've got to get airborne
The aircraft needs to take off quickly to counter the incoming attack.
Got to get up for the coming attack
The aircraft needs to climb in altitude to engage the incoming attack.
Jump in the cockpit and start up the engines
The pilot needs to board the aircraft immediately and start the engines to prepare for takeoff.
Remove all the wheel blocks, there's no time to waste
The ground crew needs to remove the wheel blocks holding the aircraft and do it quickly since time is critical.
Gathering speed as we head down the runway
The aircraft is accelerating as it heads towards the runway.
Got to get airborne before it's too late
The aircraft needs to take off before it's too late to engage the enemy.
Running (running), scrambling (scrambling), flying (flying)
The aircraft is running, scrambling, and flying rapidly during the high-intensity battle.
Rolling (rolling), turning (turning), diving (diving), going in again
The aircraft is maneuvering through rolls, turns, and dives as it engages the enemy and prepares to attack again.
Run
Live to fly
Fly to live
Do or die
Won't you run?
The pilot is asking his aircraft to run and return home safely after completing its mission. Flying and staying alive is a priority, and the pilot is willing to take the risk since it's a do or die situation.
Aces high
This phrase refers to the high level of skill and excellence demonstrated in the course of this battle by the pilots who have proven themselves as skilled and talented individuals.
Move in to fire at the mainstream of bombers
The pilot is moving in to fire at the main body of enemy bombers.
Let off a sharp burst and then turn away
The pilot fires a quick and precise burst of gunfire and then moves away from the enemy bombers.
Roll over, spin 'round to come in behind them
The aircraft rolls over and spins around to get behind the enemy bombers more quickly.
Move to their blindsides and firing again
The pilot moves to their vulnerable sides and begins firing again.
Bandits at eight o'clock move in behind us
Enemy fighter aircraft are coming up behind the pilot's aircraft from the eight o'clock position.
Ten ME-109s out of the sun
Ten ME-109 enemy aircraft are attacking the pilot's aircraft from the direction of the sun.
Ascending and turning our spitfires to face them
The pilot is maneuvering the aircraft in a vertical climb and then turning the Spitfires towards the enemy aircraft.
Heading straight for them, I press down my guns
The pilot is heading straight towards the enemy aircraft and presses down the guns to engage them in a head-on attack.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Dill
on The Number of the Beast
kicking it