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)
2 A.M.
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And sit down with a beer
Turn on the late night TV
And then I wonder why I'm here
It's meaningless and trivial
And it washes over me
And once again I wonder
Is this all there is for me
Here I am again
Look at me again
Here I am again
On my own
Trying hard to see
What there is for me
Here I am again
On my own
Life seems so pathetic
I wish I could leave it all behind
This canvas chair, this bed
These walls that fall in on my mind
Hold on for something better
That just drags you through the dirt
Do you just let go or carry on
And try to take the hurt
Here I am again
Look at me again
Here I am again
On my own
Trying hard to see
What there is for me
Here I am again
On my own
Oh
Here I am again
Look at me again
Here I am again
On my own
Trying hard to see
What there is for me
Here I am again
On my own
Here I am again
Look at me again
Here I am again
On my own
Trying hard to see
What there is for me
Here I am again
On my own
Alone again
Alone again
I'm here on my own
The lyrics to Iron Maiden's song, "2 A.M.," contemplate the monotony and meaninglessness of daily life. The singer works a job that leads them to come home at 2 A.M., cracks open a beer, and watches late-night TV. The feeling of emptiness washes over them, and they question if this is all there is for them. The lyrics express the tedium of life and the desire for something more.
The song's opening lines set the stage for the singer's sense of restlessness. They come home from work late at night, indicating that they work a job that is likely unfulfilling. The act of sitting down with a beer and turning on the TV is a routine that is familiar to many people, but for the singer, it is an exercise in futility. The TV and beer provide temporary escape, but the feeling of meaninglessness creeps back in. The singer questions whether this is all there is for them, implying that they long for a deeper sense of purpose.
The chorus, "Here I am again, on my own," repeats several times throughout the song. It emphasizes the feelings of isolation and loneliness that are often present in those seeking more profound meaning in their lives. The lyrics express a desire for something better, something that isn't "pathetic," but the way forward is uncertain, and the singer must "carry on and try to take the hurt."
Overall, "2 A.M." is a song about feeling stuck in a humdrum existence, longing for something deeper, and grappling with the loneliness of that search. The lyrics capture sentiments that are common to many people experiencing existential angst, and the song's intensity resonates with the challenges of escapism, self-knowledge, and personal development.
Line by Line Meaning
I get in from work at 2 AM
The singer returns home from a late shift at work
And sit down with a beer
The singer drinks alcohol to unwind and relax after a long day
Turn on the late night TV
The singer engages with technology as a way to pass the time
And then I wonder why I'm here
The artist reflects on their purpose and place in the world
It's meaningless and trivial
The artist feels unfulfilled by their current lifestyle
And it washes over me
The singer is consumed by negative thoughts and emotions
And once again I wonder
The singer often questions their existence
Is this all there is for me
The artist contemplates whether their life will continue to lack meaning
Here I am again
The artist experiences a recurring feeling of emptiness
Look at me again
The artist demands attention and a sense of purpose
On my own
The singer feels alone and unsupported in their struggles
Trying hard to see
The artist is making an effort to find meaning and purpose
What there is for me
The singer is searching for a reason to keep going
Life seems so pathetic
The singer finds life to be unsatisfying and disappointing
I wish I could leave it all behind
The singer desires an escape from their reality
This canvas chair, this bed
The artist feels trapped in their own space
These walls that fall in on my mind
The artist feels mentally confined with no escape
Hold on for something better
The singer hopes for a change or an improvement in their situation
That just drags you through the dirt
The singer acknowledges that sometimes life can be hard and unforgiving
Do you just let go or carry on
The artist is unsure whether to give up or keep trying
And try to take the hurt
The artist wants to learn from their experiences and find strength in adversity
Alone again
The artist feels isolated and alienated from others
I'm here on my own
The singer is on their own in their journey to find meaning and purpose
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bayley Cooke, Janick Gers, Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Dill
on The Number of the Beast
kicking it