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)
Children Of The Damned
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But watch his eyes burn you away
Black holes in his golden stare
God knows he wants to go home
Children of the damned
Children of the damned
Children of the damned
He's walking like a dead man
If he had lived he would crucified us all
Now he's standing on his last step
He thought oblivion? Well, it beckons us all
Children of the damned
Children of the damned
Children of the damned
Children of the damned
Now it's burning his hands
He's turning to laugh
Smiles as the flame sears his flesh
Melting his face, screaming in pain
Peeling the skin from his eyes
Watch him die according to plan
He's dust on ground, what did we learn?
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
You're children of the damned
Your back's against the wall
You turn into the light
You're burning in the night
You're children of the damned
Like candles watch them burn
Burning in the light
You'll burn again tonight
Children of the damned
The lyrics to "Children of the Damned" by Iron Maiden are a haunting reflection on the idea of being an outsider, someone who doesn't fit into society's norms. The singer describes a person who is different, with "black holes in his golden stare" and a desire to go home. This person is also described as "walking like a dead man," and it's suggested that if he had lived, he would have "crucified us all." The singer then turns to the idea of oblivion, suggesting that it's something that "beckons us all." In the chorus, the singer repeats the title phrase, "Children of the damned," drawing attention to the idea that the person they're describing is not alone in being an outcast.
As the song progresses, it becomes more graphic, describing how the person's hands are burning and how they're laughing as they experience excruciating pain. The description of the person's death is particularly gruesome, with the skin peeling from their eyes and their face melting. The final section of the song returns to the chorus, with the singer addressing the listener directly, saying "You're children of the damned...Like candles watch them burn...You'll burn again tonight." The final image of burning, linking the outsider with the idea of punishment, reinforces the idea of the outsider as someone who is feared and reviled.
In summary, "Children of the Damned" is a chilling reflection on what it means to be an outsider, someone who doesn't fit in with society's norms. The lyrics speak to a fear of difference and outcast, and the final image of burning reinforces the idea that outsiders are feared and punished.
Line by Line Meaning
He's walking like a small child
He moves with this innocence and naivete despite the horrors he's seen
But watch his eyes burn you away
His gaze is intense and feels like he's looking right through you
Black holes in his golden stare
His eyes are dark and empty yet captivating at the same time
God knows he wants to go home
He's longing for a place where he feels safe and can escape the terrors of life
He's walking like a dead man
He's devoid of life, numb to everything around him
If he had lived he would crucified us all
He's seen the worst of humanity and is disgusted by it
Now he's standing on his last step
He's reached the end of his journey and there's no going back
He thought oblivion? Well, it beckons us all
Death is inevitable and he accepted it as his fate
Now it's burning his hands
He's in pain and is suffering
He's turning to laugh
Despite his agony, he still finds it ironic and amusing in a twisted way
Smiles as the flame sears his flesh
He's in great agony but still finds solace in the thought of death
Melting his face, screaming in pain
The suffering is real and unbearable
Peeling the skin from his eyes
The grotesque image of the man's suffering is presented
Watch him die according to plan
His death was inevitable and was part of a grander scheme
He's dust on ground, what did we learn?
His existence was reduced to nothing and his death leaves a philosophical question for the living
Your back's against the wall
You're in a tough and difficult situation with no clear way out
You turn into the light
You're seeking a path to righteousness and goodness
You're burning in the night
Despite trying to do the right thing, you're still suffering and facing the same horrors
Like candles watch them burn
Others around you are facing the same fate and are helpless in the face of these horrors
Burning in the light
The suffering and pain are brought to light for all to see
You'll burn again tonight
Despite previous attempts to escape the horrors, tonight will bring about new hellish experiences
Children of the damned
People who have suffered greatly yet continue to exist in a world filled with darkness and horror
Children of the damned
People who are helpless against the greater forces of the world and the horrors they face
Children of the damned
People who are not at fault for their suffering but are forced to endure it nonetheless
Children of the damned
People who exist in a state of darkness and horror that they did not choose to be in
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Dill
on The Number of the Beast
kicking it