Burning Times
Iced Earth Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yesterday is gone forever
No turning back the clock
In the end, all is sinful
No need to bear the pain
The end, is coming soon
You can't hold out forever
Repent your sins to me
Before you pass this world

In this time I am law
I know you've been betrayed
From man's word, I'm given life
Through loss, I only gain
For you, I feel no sympathy
No sorrow, no remorse
Confess your sins to me
They'll be taken by force

It doesn't matter what you've done
In my words you are a sinner
For every word you say to me
In every way, you are a sinner

Question me not
I am the one that binds this world
You follow without sight
I grow stronger every day
Take the souls I have damned
Burn them in my name




These are the burning times
The years of pain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Iced Earth's song Burning Times depict a world where hope is lost and the end is quickly approaching. The theme of the song is set in a post-apocalyptic world, whereby the singer has emerged as the only remaining law and their word is considered absolute. The singer warns that every living soul is a sinner, and no one is exempt from their punishment. The tone of the song is stern, and there is no room for argument or negotiation. The singer insists that all sins must be confessed, and failure to do so will result in them being extracted by force. The lyrics are a call to repentance in a world where there is no hope, and every individual is condemned as a sinner.


The song's writer, Jon Schaffer, was inspired to write the song after reading about the witch trials that took place in Europe during the Middle Ages. Schaffer was fascinated by the idea that the authorities would kill innocent people in the name of religion, and this led him to write Burning Times, a song that warns against religious fanaticism and the dangers of taking the law into one's hands. The song has been well-received by fans of heavy metal and has been considered one of Iced Earth's signature tracks.


Line by Line Meaning

Yesterday is gone forever
The past is irreversible


No turning back the clock
There's no reversing time


In the end, all is sinful
Everyone is guilty of immoral behavior


No need to bear the pain
Punishment is unnecessary


The end, is coming soon
The apocalypse is near


You can't hold out forever
Resistance is futile


Repent your sins to me
Ask for forgiveness from the divine


Before you pass this world
Before you die


In this time I am law
The artist is in a position of power


I know you've been betrayed
People have wronged you


From man's word, I'm given life
The singer derives their power from man-made beliefs


Through loss, I only gain
The artist benefits from others' suffering


For you, I feel no sympathy
The singer lacks empathy


No sorrow, no remorse
The singer feels no guilt


Confess your sins to me
The singer demands confession


They'll be taken by force
Confession will be coerced


It doesn't matter what you've done
Everyone is considered guilty


In my words you are a sinner
The singer's preaching judges others


For every word you say to me
Every action is scrutinized


In every way, you are a sinner
All actions are inherently sinful


Question me not
Challenging the artist is not permitted


I am the one that binds this world
The artist wields great power


You follow without sight
The singer's followers act blindly


I grow stronger every day
The artist's power is increasing


Take the souls I have damned
The singer claims ownership of others' souls


Burn them in my name
The singer demands sacrifice


These are the burning times
This is an era of great suffering


The years of pain
A period characterized by misery




Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

ANDRES GUZMAN GOMEZ

Yesterday is gone forever
No turning back the clock
In the end, all is sinful
No need to bear the pain
The end, is coming soon
You can't hold out forever
Repent your sins to me
Before you pass this world
In this time I am law
I know you've been betrayed
From man's word, I'm given life
Through loss, I only gain
For you, I feel no sympathy
No sorrow, no remorse
Confess your sins to me
They'll be taken by force
It doesn't matter what you've done
In my words you are a sinner
For every word you say to me
In every way, you are a sinner
Question me not
I am the one that binds this world
You follow without sight
I grow stronger every day
Take the souls I have damned
Burn them in my name
These are the burning times
The years of pain



music 4life

Yesterday is gone forever
No turning back the clock
In the end, all is sinful
No need to bear the pain
The end, is coming soon
You can't hold out forever
Repent your sins to me
Before you pass this world

In this time I am law
I know you've been betrayed
From man's word, I'm given life
Through loss, I only gain
For you, I feel no sympathy
No sorrow, no remorse
Confess your sins to me
They'll be taken by force

It doesn't matter what you've done
In my words you are a sinner
For every word you say to me
In every way, you are a sinner

Question me not
I am the one that binds this world
You follow without sight
I grow stronger every day
Take the souls I have damned
Burn them in my name
These are the burning times
The years of pain



All comments from YouTube:

Andres Carrero

Matt barlow is one of the most badass singers I love every stuff of this band

heavyaccept

He was the best singer for Iced Earth. No more words.

Anthony Crown1987

La primera vez que escuché ésta canción pensé que Ripper Owens la cantaba
Qué importa,vaya pedazo de canción!!!🙌🤘🤘🤘🤘

Jordan Mayer

these guys are a great band, they sound totally like a late 80's thrash band still and I think that's great. we need more thrash

Draven Darkholm

Well they did technically start in the the late 80s under the name purgatory

ANDRES GUZMAN GOMEZ

Yesterday is gone forever
No turning back the clock
In the end, all is sinful
No need to bear the pain
The end, is coming soon
You can't hold out forever
Repent your sins to me
Before you pass this world
In this time I am law
I know you've been betrayed
From man's word, I'm given life
Through loss, I only gain
For you, I feel no sympathy
No sorrow, no remorse
Confess your sins to me
They'll be taken by force
It doesn't matter what you've done
In my words you are a sinner
For every word you say to me
In every way, you are a sinner
Question me not
I am the one that binds this world
You follow without sight
I grow stronger every day
Take the souls I have damned
Burn them in my name
These are the burning times
The years of pain

Ian Israel

Badass Album,Badass Band and lyrics sung by a Vocal God!!
Iced Earth 4 Life!!
\m/ \m/

mvsfan33

theres really no singer who is god because there only 1 guy who actually is god.

Shotgun Zombie

Been looking for this song on YT forever! Thank you Century Media! :D

MAXIMUS SENTINEL

Powerful song

More Comments

More Versions