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)
Fortunes of War
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And now that they've sent us homeward
I can't help but feel that I'm on my own
No one can see just what this conflict has done to
The minds of the men who are on their way home
I'm scarred for life
But it's not my flesh that's wounded
The vivid scenes and all the recurring nightmares
I lay there and sweat until it gets light
People say "Don't worry"
Say that time's a perfect healer
That the nightmares they will come to pass
Can't hear what they're saying
I am living in my own world
And I'm feeling trance-like all the time
I hear voices in my head
Could I really be going crazy
In the night the visions seem so real
Do you care if you live or die
When you laugh are you really crying
You're not sure what's real anymore
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
No pain anymore
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
No pain anymore
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
No pain anymore
Fortunes of war
Whoa oh-oh, oh oh-oh, oh oh-oh
Whoa oh-oh, oh oh-oh, oh oh
Whoa oh-oh, oh oh-oh, oh oh
Oh oh-oh, oh oh-oh, oh oh
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
No pain anymore
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
Fortunes of war
No pain anymore
Fortunes of war
Sometimes I wake
I feel that my spirit's broken
I wonder if I've the strength
Carry on
Carry on
The lyrics to Iron Maiden's song "Fortunes of War" explore the psychological implications of war on soldiers and their return to civilian life. The lyrics depict the perspective of a soldier who has returned home after the war and is struggling to shake off the trauma that has been inflicted on him. The soldier expresses his feeling of isolation even among his fellow civilians due to the nobody understanding the ordeal he went through in the war. He describes his mind as scarred for life and that the vivid scenes of war and recurring nightmares haunt him, leaving him in a state of trance.
The chorus of "Fortunes of War" is ironic in nature, as it suggests that despite the horrors of war, dying on the battlefield may be a better option than having to carry the emotional scars of battle for the rest of your life. The lyrics imply that the fortunes of war are nothing but misery and the pain that comes with such traumatic experience can never truly fade away. The song illustrates the importance of acknowledging and helping soldiers to heal from the mental distress caused by war.
Line by Line Meaning
After the war
Following the end of the war
And now that they've sent us homeward
Now that we've been sent back home
I can't help but feel that I'm on my own
I feel isolated and alone
No one can see just what this conflict has done to
Nobody can comprehend the impact of this war on
The minds of the men who are on their way home
The mental state of the men returning home
I'm scarred for life
I'm permanently damaged
But it's not my flesh that's wounded
It's not physical injuries that I suffer from
So how can I face the torment alone
How can I cope with this agony by myself
The vivid scenes and all the recurring nightmares
The realistic flashbacks and repeated bad dreams
I lay there and sweat until it gets light
I lie awake sweating until dawn
People say "Don't worry"
Others tell me not to fret
Say that time's a perfect healer
Time can cure all wounds
That the nightmares they will come to pass
The bad dreams will eventually fade away
Can't hear what they're saying
I can't pay attention to their words
I am living in my own world
I'm lost in my own mind
And I'm feeling trance-like all the time
I'm constantly in a state of hypnosis
I hear voices in my head
I hear imaginary sounds
Could I really be going crazy
Am I truly losing my sanity
In the night the visions seem so real
At night, the hallucinations appear authentic
Do you care if you live or die
Do you have a desire to live or not
When you laugh are you really crying
Are you actually crying when you appear to be laughing
You're not sure what's real anymore
You're uncertain about reality
Fortunes of war
Consequences of war
No pain anymore
I don't have to suffer any longer
Sometimes I wake
Occasionally I awaken
I feel that my spirit's broken
I sense that my soul is shattered
I wonder if I've the strength
I question if I have the power
Carry on
Continue living
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Dill
on The Number of the Beast
kicking it