Total Eclipse
Iron Maiden瀀 Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Cold as steel the darkness waits
It's hour will come
A cry of fear for the chosen worshipping the sun
Mother natures black revenge on those who waste her life
War babies in the garden of Eden
Shall turn our ashes to ice

Sunrise is gone, freezing up the fires
Sunrise is gone, numbing all desires
Sunrise is gone
Sunrise is gone

Around the world the people stop with terror-stricken eyes
A shadow cast upon them all to crush them like a fly
In the icy rain and whiplashed seas
There's nowhere left to run
The hammer blows of winter fall like a hurricane

Sunrise is gone, freezing up the fires
Sunrise is gone, numbing all desires

Around the world the nations wait
For some wise words from their leading light
You know it's not only madmen who listen to fools
Is this the end the millions cried
Clutching their riches as they died
Those who survive must weather the storm

Gone are the days when man looked down
They've taken away his sacred crown




To be so free, it took so long
It's not the journeys end, it's just begun

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Iron Maiden's "Total Eclipse" speak about the end of the world as we know it, brought on by Mother Nature's black revenge on those who have wasted her life. The darkness is waiting and its hour will come, bringing fear to those who worship the sun. The song describes "war babies" in the garden of Eden, who will turn our ashes to ice, foreshadowing the destruction that is about to take place. As the sunrise is gone, the fires freeze up, and all desires become numb. The people of the world are filled with terror-stricken eyes as a shadow is cast upon them all, crushing them like a fly.


The hammer blows of winter fall like a hurricane as the song speaks about the end of the world. The nations of the world are waiting for some wise words from their leaders but even they are not immune to the impending doom. The song describes how even the rich clutch their riches as they die, while those who survive must weather the storm. The days when man looked down are gone, and his sacred crown has been taken away. The journey to freedom took so long, but it's not the end, it's just begun.


Line by Line Meaning

Cold as steel the darkness waits
The ominous and ominous darkness looms with an almost physical and tense force


It's hour will come
The darkness will eventually envelop everything in its path


A cry of fear for the chosen worshipping the sun
Those who have neglected the power of darkness and worshipped the sun are now filled with a deep fear


Mother natures black revenge on those who waste her life
Nature is taking revenge on those who have exploited and abused it for their own selfish gain


War babies in the garden of Eden
The children born during wartime are growing up in a world that is increasingly threatened by destruction and chaos.


Shall turn our ashes to ice
The impending apocalypse will freeze everything in its path, including the remains of those who have perished


Around the world the people stop with terror-stricken eyes
The people of the world are paralyzed with fear and cannot move forward


A shadow cast upon them all to crush them like a fly
The darkness has descended and is crushing all who stand in its way like insignificant insects


In the icy rain and whiplashed seas
The chaotic and violent weather is a strong physical representation of the impending apocalypse


There's nowhere left to run
There is no escape from the impending doom


The hammer blows of winter fall like a hurricane
The cold and brutal winter is falling as quickly and heavily as a hurricane, unstoppable and unrelenting


Around the world the nations wait
The nations of the world are waiting for guidance and direction in these dark times


For some wise words from their leading light
They are looking for wise and comforting words from their leaders to guide them through the darkness


You know it's not only madmen who listen to fools
Even those who are not insane are listening to fools for guidance in these chaotic times


Is this the end the millions cried
The masses are questioning whether or not this is indeed the end of the world


Clutching their riches as they died
Those who are fortunate enough to have riches are clinging to them desperately as they face their imminent demise


Those who survive must weather the storm
Those who are lucky enough to survive the apocalypse will have to endure the aftermath of the destruction and chaos


Gone are the days when man looked down
The days of man feeling superior and in control are long gone


They've taken away his sacred crown
The power structures and systems that once held man at the top are now crumbling and decaying


To be so free, it took so long
It has taken humanity a long time to realize the true value of freedom


It's not the journeys end, it's just begun
This is not the end of humanity's journey, but rather a new beginning filled with uncertainty and chaos




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLIVE RONALD BURR, DAVID MICHAEL MURRAY, STEPHEN PERCY HARRIS

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:

@nikkinoise1

1983 - what a wonderful song!
1995 - what a wonderful song!
2007 - what a wonderful song!
2015 - what a wonderful song!
2020 - my god, what a wonderful song!
2021 - my god, what a wonderful song!
2022 - my goodness! what a wonderful song!
2023 - Holy crap! What a wonderful song!

Edit:
2024 - my goodness! What a wonderful song!



@justme-salaneous

(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit lonely
And you're never coming 'round
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit tired
Of listening to the sound of my tears
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit nervous
That the best of all the years have gone by
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
And then I see the look in your eyes

[Refrain]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart

[Verse 2]
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit restless
And I dream of something wild
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit helpless
And I'm lying like a child in your arms
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit angry
And I know I've got to get out and cry
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
But then I see the look in your eyes

[Refrain]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart

[Chorus]
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
'Cause we'll never be wrong
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (All of the time)
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight

[Post-Chorus]
Once upon a time I was falling in love
Now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart

[Instrumental Interlude]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around, bright eyes)

[Verse 3]
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know you'll never be the boy
You always wanted to be
(Turn around)
But every now and then
I know you'll always be the only boy
Who wanted me the way that I am
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know there's no one in the universe
As magical and wondrous as you
(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know there's nothing any better
There's nothing that I just wouldn't do

[Refrain]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart

[Chorus]
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
'Cause we'll never be wrong
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (all of the time)
I don't know what to do
I'm always in the dark
Living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
(Forever's gonna start tonight)

[Post-Chorus]
Once upon a time I was falling in love
Now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart

[Outro]
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around, bright eyes)



All comments from YouTube:

@tomomikic3037

1985 PEOPLE : THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE GREAT
2021 PEOPLE : LET'S GO BACK TO THE 80's

@michelle.___

Lmao true

@natokadulobo2659

yeah

@daveSeeks01

Those of us who grew up during the 70s, 80s, and graduated in the 90s but listening to all era's music wish we could travel back to better times and leave their own self's guide post or tell themselves what will happen in the future or become their own guides in life.

@purplepen3551

lol 2020 is not everyone's brightest year

@RTWGraphics

As a person who was alive in 1985. I can tell you we figured we'd never see 2020. Nuclear war with the Russia was always a day away.

199 More Replies...

@nikkinoise1

1983 - what a wonderful song!
1995 - what a wonderful song!
2007 - what a wonderful song!
2015 - what a wonderful song!
2020 - my god, what a wonderful song!
2021 - my god, what a wonderful song!
2022 - my goodness! what a wonderful song!
2023 - Holy crap! What a wonderful song!

Edit:
2024 - my goodness! What a wonderful song!

@NinaNina-rq5lx

Lmfaooo I'm 27 and my cousin has this on repeat in our apt 😭

@elianegomes8115

Linda lembro da minha infância 😍

@elianegomes8115

Triste 😢

More Comments

More Versions