As pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal movement, Iron Maiden achieved initial success during the early 1980s. After several lineup changes, the band went on to release a series of UK and US Platinum and Gold albums, including 1980's eponymous debut album, 1981's Killers, 1982's The Number of the Beast, 1983's Piece of Mind, 1984's Powerslave, 1985's live release Live After Death, 1986's Somewhere in Time, 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1990's No Prayer for the Dying and 1992's Fear of the Dark. In 1982, the band released The Number of the Beast – its first album with Bruce Dickinson, who replaced Paul Di'Anno as lead singer – which was a turning point in their career, helping establish them as one of heavy metal's most important artists. The Number of the Beast is among the most popular heavy metal albums of all time, having sold almost 20 million copies worldwide.
Since the return of lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith in 1999, the band has undergone a resurgence in popularity, with a series of new albums and highly successful tours. Released in 2006, A Matter of Life and Death, their 14th studio album, reached top sales in dozens of countries, initiating the series of Iron Maiden's highest-ranked albums. Their 2010 album, The Final Frontier, peaked at No. 1 in 28 countries and received widespread critical acclaim. Their 16th studio album, The Book of Souls, was released on 4 September 2015 to similar success, debuting at No. 1 in the album charts of 24 countries with physical sales and summary in 43 territories with physical and digital sales. Most recently, their 17th studio album, Senjutsu, was released on 3 September 2021 and eventually reached No. 1 in 27 countries.
Iron Maiden have sold over 130 million copies of their albums worldwide, despite minimal radio and mainstream media support. The band's catalogue has sold over 200 million copies worldwide, including albums, singles, compilations and videos. By 2022, their releases have been certified Silver, Gold and Platinum around 600 times worldwide. Iron Maiden have become one of the most influential and revered rock bands of all time, and is credited with influencing countless bands and genres. Critics have stated that the band elevated heavy metal to an art form, proving that academic and musical inspirations can coexist. The band is also hailed as one of the greatest live acts of all time.
The band and its members have received multiple industry awards, including the Grammy Awards and its equivalents in other countries. Other accolades the band has received include Brit Awards, Silver Clef Award, Nordoff-Robbins Award, Ivor Novello Awards, Juno Awards, Guinness Book of World Records, Public Choice International, Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards, ECHO Awards, Top.HR Music Awards, Žebřík Music Awards, honorary doctorates, State Prizes, sales recognition, marketing achievements recognition awards, charity and sport awards among many others. Iron Maiden were inducted into the Hollywood RockWalk, BPI Hall of Fame and Kerrang! Hall of Fame. The band is also a part of permanent exhibitions of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, British Music Experience, Rock in Rio Wall of Fame and Wacken Open Air Hall of Fame. Iron Maiden were honoured by Royal Mail UK with dedicated postal stamps and cards. The band as 'bona fide' rock legends belongs to an elitarian circle of British iconic bands honoured with an unique range of stamps, including The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen and Iron Maiden as the fifth one.
Iron Maiden's lyrics cover such topics as history, literature, war, mythology, society and religion. Many of their songs are based on history, classic literature and film. As of October 2019, the band have played some 2500 live shows, performing for tens of millions of fans. For over 40 years, the musicians have been supported by their famous mascot, "Eddie", who has appeared on almost all of their album and single covers, videos and merchandise. Originally designed by Derek Riggs, Eddie became the main attraction of Iron Maiden live shows, which feature theatrical elements like coloured backdrops, inflatables, pyrotechnics, elaborate lighting rigs, props and stage sets.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Maiden
Studio albums
Iron Maiden (1980)
Killers (1981)
The Number of the Beast (1982)
Piece of Mind (1983)
Powerslave (1984)
Somewhere in Time (1986)
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)
No Prayer for the Dying (1990)
Fear of the Dark (1992)
The X Factor (1995)
Virtual XI (1998)
Brave New World (2000)
Dance of Death (2003)
A Matter of Life and Death (2006)
The Final Frontier (2010)
The Book of Souls (2015)
Senjutsu (2021)
Run to the Hills
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
He brought us pain and misery
He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
He took our game for his own need
We fought him hard, we fought him well
Out on the plains we gave him hell
But many came, too much for Cree
Oh, will we ever be set free?
Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes
Galloping hard on the plains
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Fighting them at their own game
Murder for freedom the stab in the back
Women and children are cowards, attack
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Soldier blue in the barren wastes
Hunting and killing's a game
Raping the women and wasting the men
The only good Indians are tame
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold
Enslaving the young and destroying the old
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Yeah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Iron Maiden's song "Run to the Hills" is a commentary on the brutal history of European colonization in America, particularly focusing on the violence and oppression inflicted upon Native American tribes. The lyrics describe how the arrival of white colonizers spelled destruction for the indigenous people who inhabited the land. The opening lines "White man came across the sea/He brought us pain and misery/He killed our tribes, he killed our creed/He took our game for his own need" plainly state the devastation wrought by the conquerors on the native population.
The Native Americans fought back against the colonizers, but the lyrics suggest that their valiant efforts were ultimately futile in the face of overwhelming numbers and technological superiority: "We fought him hard, we fought him well/Out on the plains we gave him hell/But many came, too much for Cree/Oh, will we ever be set free?" The image of the warriors on horseback "riding through dust clouds and barren wastes/Galloping hard on the plains/Chasing the redskins back to their holes/Fighting them at their own game" is vivid and conveys the idea of a struggle that is both desperate and doomed.
Unfortunately, the white colonizers proved not only to be conquerors but also cruel oppressors. As the lyrics state, they engaged in rape, murder, and enslavement: "Soldier blue in the barren wastes/Hunting and killing's a game/Raping the women and wasting the men/The only good Indians are tame/Selling them whiskey and taking their gold/Enslaving the young and destroying the old." The chorus "Run to the hills/Run for your lives" can thus be interpreted as a warning to the Native Americans to flee and preserve their lives and culture from the onslaught of the invaders.
Line by Line Meaning
White man came across the sea
The Europeans arrived on the American continent from across the ocean
He brought us pain and misery
Their arrival caused suffering and hardship
He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
The native people were slaughtered and their beliefs were destroyed
He took our game for his own need
The Europeans exploited the natural resources of the land for their own benefit
We fought him hard, we fought him well
The native people resisted the invaders with great determination
Out on the plains we gave him hell
The natives fiercely fought the invaders on the open fields
But many came, too much for Cree
Despite their resistance, the overwhelming number of Europeans proved too much for the Cree people
Oh, will we ever be set free?
The native people wonder if they will ever regain their freedom and independence
Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes
The Europeans traveled through arid and uninhabitable regions
Galloping hard on the plains
The Europeans rode their horses across the open fields
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
The invaders pursued the native people to their hiding places
Fighting them at their own game
The Europeans used the same tactics as the natives in battle
Murder for freedom the stab in the back
The Europeans killed the natives to establish their own freedom and dominance, which was a treacherous act
Women and children are cowards, attack
The Europeans showed no mercy, attacking even those who were defenseless
Run to the hills
The native people urge each other to flee and save their lives
Run for your lives
The threat posed by the invaders is imminent and real
Soldier blue in the barren wastes
The European soldiers killed and hunted in lifeless regions
Hunting and killing's a game
The Europeans enjoyed killing native people as if it was a form of entertainment
Raping the women and wasting the men
The European soldiers raped and pillaged without remorse or empathy
The only good Indians are tame
The Europeans believed that only those who subordinated and obeyed them were valuable
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold
The Europeans used alcohol and greed to manipulate and exploit the native people
Enslaving the young and destroying the old
The Europeans enslaved the young and killed the old, thereby destroying entire communities
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jean Pedro
LYRICS
[Intro]
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
We fought him hard, we fought him well
Out on the plains we gave him hell
But many came too much for Cree
Oh will we ever be set free?
[Verse 1]
Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes
Galloping hard on the plains
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Fighting them at their own game
Murder for freedom the stab in the back
Women and children are cowards attack
[Chorus]
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives
[Verse 2]
Soldier blue in the barren wastes
Hunting and killing's a game
Raping the women and wasting the men
The only good Injuns are tame
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold
Enslaving the young and destroying the old
[Chorus]
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives
Steve Gant
Run to the Hills
Iron Maiden
White man came across the sea
He brought us pain and misery
He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
He took our game for his own need
We fought him hard, we fought him well
Out on the plains, we gave him hell
But many came, too much for Cree
Oh, will we ever be set free?
Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes
Galloping hard on the plains
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Fighting them at their own game
Murder for freedom, a stab in the back
Women and children and cowards attack
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Soldier blue in the barren wastes
Hunting and killing's a game
Raping the women and wasting the men
The only good Indians are tame
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold
Enslaving the young and destroying the old
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Yeah
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Prince Groove
Iron Maiden narrates Native American History better than our own teachers. 🇺🇸
Alissa Reminiec
Blame the Andrew Jackson Administration & Jay Gould for that
Mugbeatles
People really be out here saying genocide is okay if the people were violent once…. Y’all say this to a native’s face and find out.
giulio franchino
🎉🎉5
Y LatMD
This has been my little girl’s favorite Maiden song since she was 4 years old. She’s now 11. This is how you raise your kids🙌🏽
Y LatMD
@Eve I knew about the murder, rape & enslavement of my ancestors by the time I was 4 years old. It's cultural for us to know this, so I wouldn't expect everyone to understand. She's 12 years old now. Makes straight A's and is as sweet as she can be. Her video games terrify me more than this song.
E.J. Chijimatsu
This is the way.
Eve
A song singing about killing, raping and enslaving...sure the song sounds awesome melody wise but im not sure i'd find it appropriate for a 4 year old to listen to, even if they don't understand any of it. Nor do i think in any way this will mess up a kid but idk..if i had a kid i wouldn't want them to listen to a song about those kind of topics so young. That's just my opinion though.
home fresh 19780402
Lol 🤣
J Taco
😬