Cross-Eyed Mary
Iron Maiden Lyrics

Who would be a poor man, a beggar man, a thief If he had a rich man in his hand
Those who are poor, beggars or thieves would no longer be so if they had access to wealth through a rich person.

And who would steal the candy from a laughing baby's mouth If he could take it from the money man
People would stop victimizing innocent children and instead target those who possess wealth.

Cross-eyed Mary goes jumping in again She signs no contract but she always plays it clean
Mary engages in shady, illegal activities but manages to keep her hands clean and avoid getting caught.

She dines in Hampstead village, an expense accounted gruel And the jack knife barber drops her off at school
Mary lives a life of luxury, dining at expensive restaurants and receiving special treatment, yet still attends school.

Laughing in the playground gets no kicks from little boys Would rather make it with a letching gray Or maybe her attention is drawn by Aqualung Who watches through the railings as they play
Mary has no interest in the innocent laughter of children and instead prefers older men who are lustful towards her; Aqualung, an older man, watches her from afar as she interacts with children on the playground.

Cross-eyed Mary finds it hard to get along A poor man's rich girl and she'll do it for a song A rich man's stealer but her favour's good and strong She's the Robin Hood of Highgate, let the poor man get along
Mary struggles to fit in with any particular social class, but is known for doing favors for the poor while simultaneously stealing from the rich; she is like a modern-day Robin Hood.

Cross-eyed Mary, oh Mary, oh cross-eyed Mary
Repeating Mary's name creates a sense of familiarity with the character, like she is someone we might know in real life.