Tower
Bruce Dickinson Lyrics


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There are twelve commandments
There are twelve divisions
Twelve are the pagans who have mapped the sky

In the outer circle
To the inner sanctum
From the octave at the end of time
The fountain, the trinity
The pilgrim is searching for blood
To look for his own free will
The stone of infinity, washed in the flood

Lovers in the tower

The moon and sun divided

And the hanged man smiles

Lovers in the tower

The moon and sun divided

Let the fool decide
In the atom circle
Where we break the stars
Hammer into anvil, stuffing out the sun

Witness all the killing
See the birth of Mars
Our religion thrown into the fire

The fountain, the trinity
The pilgrim is searching for blood
To look for his own free will
The stone of infinity, washed in the flood

Lovers in the tower

The moon and sun divided

The hanged man smiles

Lovers in the tower

The moon and sun divided

The magician laughs

Lovers in the tower

The moon and sun divided

And the priestess kneels

Lovers in the tower

The moon and sun divided

Let the fool decide

Lovers in the tower

The moon and sun divided

And the hanged man smiles

Lovers in the tower

The moon and sun divided

Let the fool decide

Lovers in the tower

The moon and sun divided

The priestess kneels to receive

Lovers in the tower

The moon and sun divided





The magician laughs

Overall Meaning

"The Tower" by Bruce Dickinson is a deeply symbolic and enigmatic song that seems to be alluding to the concept of enlightenment and spiritual transformation. In the first stanza, the twelve commandments and divisions, as well as the twelve pagans who have mapped the sky, hint at a notion of cosmic order and the search for ultimate truth. The fountain, the trinity, and the stone of infinity all seem to be references to mystical or alchemical symbols, suggesting that the singer of the song is on a quest to uncover the secrets of the universe and to attain a state of transcendence.


The second stanza sees the song shift to a more violent and apocalyptic imagery. The atom circle and the breaking of stars suggest a cataclysmic event, perhaps the end of the world, and the witnessing of all the killing and the birth of Mars hint at a rebirth or renewal that is both brutal and transformative. The religion being thrown into the fire is a clear allusion to the idea of spiritual purification, and it seems to suggest that the singer of the song is willing to sacrifice all that he has held dear in his search for ultimate truth and enlightenment.


The last stanzas return to the imagery of the tower, where the moon and sun are divided, and where lovers, priests, magicians, and fools all find themselves in a state of flux and transformation. The hanged man smiles, and the magician laughs, hinting at a sense of acceptance and understanding that comes with spiritual transformation, while the priestess kneels to receive, suggesting a sense of surrender to a higher power. The fool is left to decide, perhaps implying that the ultimate choice lies with the individual in their quest for spiritual truth.


Line by Line Meaning

There are twelve commandments
There are twelve core beliefs or values to be followed.


There are twelve divisions
There are twelve sections to be divided into.


Twelve are the pagans who have mapped the sky
Twelve pagan gods were associated with the signs of the zodiac and had individually mapped the sky.


In the outer circle
In a peripheral area away from the central point or area.


To the inner sanctum
To the innermost sacred part of a religious building or temple.


From the octave at the end of time
From the eighth and final interval in the series of musical octaves.


The fountain, the trinity
The source of life, which is made up of three parts or elements.


The pilgrim is searching for blood
The traveler is searching for a sacrifice, usually of blood, to fulfill a religious ritual or custom.


To look for his own free will
To search for the ability to act or make decisions independently of fate or destiny.


The stone of infinity, washed in the flood
The eternal infinite object, cleansed by the waters of a great flood or disaster.


Lovers in the tower The moon and sun divided And the hanged man smiles
A pair of people in a high place, separated by the dichotomy of opposing cosmic powers, and observed by a person being hung, who is ironically cheerful.


Let the fool decide
Allow a foolish person to make the ultimate decision, even if it means disaster.


In the atom circle
Within the smallest fundamental unit of matter, where fundamental reactions occur.


Where we break the stars
Where the power to destroy even the most distant celestial entities is held.


Hammer into anvil, stuffing out the sun
Using a powerful tool to crush and remove the central universe-stabilizing force.


Witness all the killing See the birth of Mars Our religion thrown into the fire
Observing the mass destruction of individuals and the creation of a new god of war, which causes the destruction of traditional religious beliefs.


The magician laughs The priestess kneels Lovers in the tower The moon and sun divided Let the fool decide
A magician joyfully prepares for a ceremony, while a priestess kneels to attend it. A couple is still separated by the divided opposition of cosmic powers, while a foolish person still makes the ultimate decision.


The priestess kneels to receive The magician laughs
A priestess humbly accepts a sacred ritual or blessing from a magician who cheerfully performs the ceremony.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRUCE DICKINSON, ROGER RAMIREZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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