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)
Drifter
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look out now, baby, won't you take me away?
Sittin' here, think it's gonna be a new day
Gotta get my song and I can't go wrong
Gotta keep on roaming, gotta sing my song
What you feeling when you hold me tight?
Gonna get you feeling so secure
Listen, child, don't you see there's a cure?
Anyway got to get you away
Feels so good, think it's gonna be a new day
I'm gonna get my song 'til I can't go on
I've gotta keep on roaming, gotta sing my song
Ooh, yeah, oh-oh, oh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, yeah
Oh-oh, oh
I keep on drifting
What you feeling when you hold me tight?
I'm gonna cuddle up to you tonight
Gonna get you feeling so secure
Listen, child, don't you see there's a cure?
ooh, yeah
Anyway, got to get you away
Feels so good, think it's gonna be a new day
I'm gonna get my song 'til I can't go on
I've gotta keep on roaming gotta sing my song
I want rock and roll, ooh, yeah
Gonna sing my song, yeah and It won't take long
I'm gonna sing my song, yeah
I want you to sing along
I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along
I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along
I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along
I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along
'Cause I'm a drifter
Drifting on
Yeah
The song "Drifter" by Iron Maiden is about a wanderer who roams from place to place in pursuit of his passion for music. He sings about his desire to find a new day where he can keep on singing his song and wandering. The chorus expresses his love for rock and roll music and his desire for others to sing along with him. The singer also seeks refuge in the arms of his lover, who provides him with a sense of security and comfort as he continues to drift.
The repeated emphasis on the phrase "gotta keep on roaming, gotta sing my song" reflects the singer's unrelenting need to pursue his musical passion and his nomadic lifestyle. He acknowledges that he may never settle down but is content in his pursuit of music. The song is an ode to the never-ending journey that true music enthusiasts embark upon, always seeking new experiences, audiences, and inspirations in their quest to make music.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk away
Start walking and leave the present situation behind
Look out now, baby, won't you take me away?
Ask someone to rescue you from your current situation
Sittin' here, think it's gonna be a new day
Feeling optimistic about the possibility of starting fresh
Gotta get my song and I can't go wrong
Believes that their music will lead them to success
Gotta keep on roaming, gotta sing my song
Must keep moving and playing music to achieve their goals
What you feeling when you hold me tight?
Asks what emotions the other person experiences while they are close to each other
I'm gonna cuddle up to you tonight
Plans to get physically close with the other person
Gonna get you feeling so secure
Wants to make the other person feel safe and at ease
Listen, child, don't you see there's a cure?
Tells the other person that there is a solution to their problems
Anyway got to get you away
Must take the other person away from their current situation
Feels so good, think it's gonna be a new day
The excitement of a new beginning is palpable
I'm gonna get my song 'til I can't go on
Will keep playing music until they physically can't anymore
I've gotta keep on roaming, gotta sing my song
The importance of constantly traveling and playing music to achieve success
Ooh, yeah, oh-oh, oh
An expressive interjection used to convey positive emotions
Ooh-ooh, ooh, yeah
A similar expressive interjection used to convey positive emotions
Oh-oh, oh
An expressive interjection used to convey positive emotions
I keep on drifting
Continuously moving and evolving through life
I want rock and roll, ooh, yeah
Expresses desire for the genre of music that they love
Gonna sing my song, yeah and It won't take long
Another affirmation that they will achieve success through their music
I'm gonna sing my song, yeah
Reiterates once again that they will play music no matter what
I want you to sing along
Encourages others to join in with their music
I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along
Repeats the previous line multiple times for effect
'Cause I'm a drifter Drifting on Yeah
An affirmation of their own identity and lifestyle as a constantly traveling musician
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