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)
Black Bart Blues
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hi, guys, are you in a band or something?
I mean, I mean it would be so cool
If you were in a band 'cause you're driving a big bus
With "band" on the front of it
Why don't you shut up and get on board, will you?
Wow, what happens here?
You got a stereo and a microwave
I'd like a Heineken if you've got one
That's real cool, that's great, yeah
Would you like to see Black Bart?
Who's Black Bart?
Let me introduce you
Black Bart's seen it
Black Bart knows
Black Bart's done it
The Black Bart blues
Suspended in suspension
Medieval nights in Tennessee, and elsewhere
We all gotta try the Black Bart blues
Black Bart's truckin' ain't what it seems
Black Bart's lookin', don't know where she's been
Maybe she's an acrobat
Spends her evenings dancing on a pole, ha
We all got to try the Black Bart blues
(Well I know she did, ha)
Black Bart tried most anything
Black Bart liked it but he couldn't sing
So he asked me to tell ya
Try it for yourself and you will see
We all got to try the Black Bart blues (nice)
What did you do that for?
I'm sorry, I just, I, I guess I'm not used to this
Oh, shut up and get on with it, will you?
Black Bart's livin' across the ocean now
But Black Bart's lookin' to come back somehow
So if you are a dancer
You could dance around his pole in May
That's a maypole
Black Bart's coming
Now Black Bart's gone
Black Bart did it, so I wrote this song
Whatever and however
In and out or several at a time, mmh yes
We all got to do the Black Bart blues
Here comes the guitar solo
We all got to try the Black Bart blues, oh, ow
Yowsa, yowsa, yowsa
"Fuck you" said the ting
It's Nicko here, hi, hi
Toodeloo
Two, three, four
He thought pretty good to me, if you ask
He thought pretty good to me, if you ask
One, two, one, two, three, four
I fucking ran not taping it on
Yeah alright
One, two, hoo, ah, one, two, three
"Fuck you" said the ting
Oh, oh okay I didn't see you over there mate
Whoa
One, two, one, two, three
Fuck my ol' boots
Yeah see, see
Are we ready? On, two, three
Oh-ho
Hello, hello?
How about it? Well
Do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do
The melody is playing innit?
Do, do, do
Shall I come in now or I stay here
I do di rastafari and everyting
Right, we take him away, then we go up here
I said we take him away, and we go up here
No tea for you here
Cd, we're gonna put this on a CD
I got tiny solo at the end of di song
Right oh mate, I want a ball
Yeah, come n' I come n' I sat in there
I can see you
Fuck, said the ting
I saw, I said I seen 'em
Very close
The Iron Maiden song "Black Bart Blues" is a humorous and nonsensical story about a character named Black Bart, who is known for his wild and eccentric lifestyle. The song starts with Black Bart's introduction to a group of people on a bus who are either musicians or pretending to be. He is portrayed as a hedonistic figure who has seen and done it all, and everyone should try the "Black Bart blues" at least once in their lives.
The rest of the lyrics describe Black Bart's life and adventures, including his trucking experiences, encounters with women, and his love for music. The song's lyrics are intentionally absurd and nonsensical, making it difficult to interpret any deeper meaning. However, it's clear that Iron Maiden created "Black Bart Blues" purely for fun and entertainment purposes, and it serves as a break from their typically serious and heavy music.
Line by Line Meaning
What the fuck's that?
The singer is questioning the sight of the other group's bus.
Hi, guys, are you in a band or something?
The singer is curious if the other group is in a band.
I mean, I mean it would be so cool
If you were in a band 'cause you're driving a big bus
With "band" on the front of it
The singer thinks the other group is cool for driving a big bus with 'band' written on it and would be even cooler if they actually had a band.
Why don't you shut up and get on board, will you?
The other group is telling the artist to stop talking and come on their bus.
Wow, what happens here?
You got a stereo and a microwave
And, and, and you got a beer
I'd like a Heineken if you've got one
That's real cool, that's great, yeah
The artist is impressed by the other group's amenities such as a stereo, microwave, and beer.
Would you like to see Black Bart?
The other group is asking if the singer wants to see Black Bart.
Who's Black Bart?
The singer is asking who Black Bart is.
Let me introduce you
The other group is introducing Black Bart to the artist.
Black Bart's seen it
Black Bart knows
Black Bart's done it
The Black Bart blues
Suspended in suspension
Medieval nights in Tennessee, and elsewhere
We all gotta try the Black Bart blues
Black Bart is experienced and has done many things, which inspired the song 'The Black Bart blues' which is about trying new experiences in life.
Black Bart's truckin' ain't what it seems
Black Bart's lookin', don't know where she's been
Maybe she's an acrobat
Spends her evenings dancing on a pole, ha
We all got to try the Black Bart blues
(Well I know she did, ha)
Black Bart's trucking is not what it seems and they don't know where they've been. The group thinks that maybe Black Bart is an acrobat who dances on a pole as a profession. The group encourages everyone to try the Black Bart blues.
Black Bart tried most anything
Black Bart liked it but he couldn't sing
So he asked me to tell ya
Try it for yourself and you will see
We all got to try the Black Bart blues (nice)
Black Bart has tried many things but they couldn't sing. They asked the other group to try the Black Bart blues themselves to see how good it is.
What did you do that for?
I'm sorry, I just, I, I guess I'm not used to this
Oh, shut up and get on with it, will you?
The artist is curious why the other group did something. The other group tells them to stop talking and continue with the task at hand.
Black Bart's livin' across the ocean now
But Black Bart's lookin' to come back somehow
So if you are a dancer
You could dance around his pole in May
That's a maypole
Black Bart is living across the ocean but is looking to come back somehow. If someone is a dancer, they could dance around Black Bart's maypole in May.
Black Bart's coming
Now Black Bart's gone
Black Bart did it, so I wrote this song
Whatever and however
In and out or several at a time, mmh yes
We all got to do the Black Bart blues
Black Bart came and now has gone. The group wrote this song because of Black Bart's actions. The group encourages everyone to try the Black Bart blues in any way possible.
Here comes the guitar solo
The singer is announcing that a guitar solo is coming up.
Yowsa, yowsa, yowsa
An expression of excitement or enthusiasm.
"Fuck you" said the ting
It's Nicko here, hi, hi
Toodeloo
A person named Nicko says 'fuck you' and introduces himself to the artist.
Two, three, four
He thought pretty good to me, if you ask
He thought pretty good to me, if you ask
One, two, one, two, three, four
I fucking ran not taping it on
Yeah alright
One, two, hoo, ah, one, two, three
"Fuck you" said the ting
Oh, oh okay I didn't see you over there mate
Whoa
One, two, one, two, three
Fuck my ol' boots
Yeah see, see
Are we ready? On, two, three
Oh-ho
Hello, hello?
The meaning of these lines is unclear, as the words are mostly nonsensical and don't form a coherent thought.
How about it? Well
Do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do
The melody is playing innit?
Do, do, do
Shall I come in now or I stay here
I do di rastafari and everyting
Right, we take him away, then we go up here
I said we take him away, and we go up here
No tea for you here
Cd, we're gonna put this on a CD
I got tiny solo at the end of di song
Right oh mate, I want a ball
Yeah, come n' I come n' I sat in there
I can see you
Fuck, said the ting
I saw, I said I seen 'em
Very close
These lines are also nonsensical and don't have a clear meaning.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Bruce Dickinson, Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jacob boer
"Black Bart Blues"
[Spoken intro]
[Bruce] 'What the fuck is that?'
[Nerd] 'Hi, guys, are you in a band or something? I mean it
would be so cool if you were in a band 'cos you're Driving a
big bus with band on the front of it'
[Bruce] 'Why don't you shut up and get on board will ya?'
[Nerd] 'Wow! I have it here you got a stereo and a microwave
And, and you got a beer, I'd like a Heineken if you've got
one' that's real cool, that's great, yeah!'
[Bruce] 'Would you like to see Black Bart?'
[Nerd] 'Who's Black Bart?'
[Bruce] 'Let me introduce you'
Black Bart's seen it
Black Bart knows
Black Bart's done it
The Black Bart blues
Suspended in suspension
Many evil nights in Tennessee, and elsewhere
We all got to try the Black Bart blues
Black Bart's truckin' ain't what it seems
Black Bart's lookin'
Don't know where she's been
Maybe she's an acrobat
Spends her evenings dancing on a pole
We all got to try the Black Bart blues
Black Bart tried most anything
Black Bart liked it but he couldn't sing
So he asked me to tell ya
Try it for yourself and you will see
We all got to try the Black Bart blues
[spoken]
[Bruce] 'What did you do that for?'
[Nerd] 'I'm sorry, I just..., I guess I'm not used to...
[Bruce] 'Shut up and get on with it will you'
Black Bart's livin' across the ocean now
Black Bart's lookin' to come back somehow
So if you are a dancer,
You could dance his pole in May
That's a maypole
Black Bart's coming
Now Black Bart's gone
Black Bart did it so I wrote this song
Whatever and however,
In and out or several at a time mmm yes!
We all got to do the Black Bart blues
Here comes the guitar solo
We all got to try the Black Bart blues
Yowsa! Yowsa! Yowsa!
Antares 8001
The more I listen to this the weirder and better it gets.
man bat
This is the Evil On Queens street of Iron Maiden
nolejd50
"Black Bart Blues" is about the suit of armour that rode in the back lounge of Iron Maiden's tour buses (named Black Bart). Bruce Dickinson tells that he, his bandmates and their tour manager were driving in a Ford Thunderbird through Florida in 1983, when they passed a gas station with three suits of armour standing outside. So Bruce stopped the car and went to buy one of the three suits of armour that were on sale. The song's lyrics detail a rather infamous story in which a girl stumbled onto the band's tour bus and struck a deal with one of the band members that she'd give them oral sex in exchange for alcohol.
neville bloody bartos
@Henry Douberly I think it was bruce.
Henry Douberly
Which band member😂
Maria the Trooper
That bass! Steve absolutely rules!
Rusty Kuntz
This def was the making of an all night drinking spree, so silly, yet I still listen to it. maiden can shit on a stick & I'll probably like it.
HeavyMetalsoul82
Iron Maiden for all life! Up the irons!
Bairlusconi
"..here comes the guitar solooo.." cracks me up every time, love it :-)
Eddie The Head
3:29 XD