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)
Justice of the Peace
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another let off madman
Another screw on the loose
Is it the judge or the badman?
What's the matter these days?
No one has the courage to put them away
Nobody has any faith
[Chorus:]
Waiting for justice, waiting for justice of the peace
Waiting for justice, waiting for justice of the peace
When I remember back the memories of yesteryear (they really say "yesterday")
With all the friends and all the times
When people were carefree
And walking down the street
When everyone knew everyone
And all the houses' doors were open
No had to care; those days are gone
Those days are gone
[Chorus]
I long for the times when you could
Wander down the street unharmed
When people didn't have much money
But didn't seem to care
It must be the cynic in me
But I don't really like things now
The violence, the attitudes
Aggression that you see everyday
A sick society looks the other way
Iron Maiden's "Justice of the Peace" is a song that highlights the problems within society where people who deserve punishment get let off too easily. The opening lines refer to the news of yet another "madman" going free, and the singer questions whether it is the judge or the criminal who is at fault. The chorus is a cry for justice, and the wait that people have to endure for the "justice of the peace" to arrive.
The singer remembers the good old days when people were carefree, and the streets were safe. They miss the times when people didn't have much money, but it didn't matter, and the society was not sick with cynicism and violence. The lyrics are a lamentation of how things have changed for the worse, and how people have lost faith in justice and hope for a better society.
The song highlights the need for justice and order, which are essential components of a stable society. The lyrics suggest that people are losing faith in the system and do not trust the judges or law enforcers to do their job correctly. The song can be seen as a warning about the consequences of having a breakdown in the justice system, with people taking the law into their own hands, and the resulting chaos and anarchy.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you heard on the news?
The singer asks if the listener is aware of the latest news.
Another let off madman
The singer describes another incident where the perpetrator of a crime is not being held fully accountable due to a mental health defense.
Another screw on the loose
Another dangerous person is allowed to roam free and cause chaos.
Is it the judge or the badman?
The artist questions whether to blame the judge or the criminal for the current state of affairs.
What's the matter these days?
The artist expresses concern for the current state of affairs.
No one has the courage to put them away
There is a lack of bravery in holding criminals accountable for their actions.
Nobody has any faith
There is a lack of trust in the justice system.
'Cause there's a breakdown of justice and order
There is a failure in maintaining law and order which has resulted in the current situation.
Waiting for justice, waiting for justice of the peace
The artist is waiting for justice to be served.
When I remember back the memories of yesteryear (they really say "yesterday")
The artist remembers a time in the past when things were different.
With all the friends and all the times
The singer recalls fond memories of times spent with friends.
When people were carefree
The artist remembers a time when people didn't have to worry as much about their safety.
And walking down the street
The singer recollects being able to walk around freely without fear of harm.
When everyone knew everyone
The singer reminisces a time when society was more close-knit and people knew each other well.
And all the houses' doors were open
The singer recalls a time when people didn't have to lock their doors as there was less crime.
No had to care; those days are gone
The artist laments the fact that those times are over and no longer exist.
I long for the times when you could
The artist expresses a desire to go back to a time when things were different.
Wander down the street unharmed
The singer desires to be able to walk around without fear of getting hurt.
When people didn't have much money
The singer recalls a time when possessing little money was not a major concern.
But didn't seem to care
People didn't stress over money as much as they do in the present.
It must be the cynic in me
The artist suggests that their disillusionment may have made them cynical.
But I don't really like things now
The artist expresses that they do not enjoy the state of affairs at present.
The violence, the attitudes
An atmosphere of aggression and hostility prevails which the singer dislikes.
Aggression that you see everyday
There is a lot of violence and hostility present in everyday life.
A sick society looks the other way
The singer suggests that society turns a blind eye to the issues present which contributes to the problem.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fatpanda3305
Sign of the Cross - 9/10
Lord of the Flies - 8/10
Man on the Edge - 7.5/10
Fortunes of War - 8/10
Look for the Truth - 6/10
The Aftermath - 6/10
Judgment of Heaven - 7.5/10
Blood on the World's Hands - 5/10
Edge of Darkness - 7/10
2 A.M. - 6/10
The Unbeliever - 5/10
I'd love to see 2 A.M., Blood on the World's Hands and The Unbeliever replaced with Justice of the Peace, Judgment Day and Virus
@ShowRyuKen
Those little guitar licks in the chorus are HEAVENLY!
@TheLarryburns84
sounds like something out of a show about cops- but I love it regardless
@naifabdeen375
Whatever im knot like it,but love it,wow another world
@thedinkster5772
How am I only now discovering this song? It’s awesome! Why didn’t they put it on the album?
@olivergrigg7351
finds out there's 3 songs that didn't make it onto the album
listens to them
wonders why the fuck they weren't on there in the first place
@Kraden47
Personally I don't think this would have been a good fit for The X Factor
@MikaMikaWhatever
Kraden47 I see your point. The X Factor was a dark album. They could've saved them for Virtual XI, though.
The X Factor had 11 tracks whereas Virtual XI had 8. It was in dire need of more tracks
@elimalinsky7069
Judgement Day and Justice of the Peace should have been on the album instead of some of the weaker songs that did end up on the album. I don't agree with I Live My Way being an album worthy material, that song is really weak and is appropriate as a b-side.
On another note, Blood Brothers, The Mercenary, Dream of Mirrors and The Nomad were originally written during the Virtual XI sessions, but only recorded in demo form and later discarded when the actual recordings for the album took place. I wonder how these 4 incredibly good songs were discarded when there were far worse songs on Virtual XI.
These 4 songs were of course later recorded for Brave New World with Bruce on vocals and were absolutely fantastic.
@ramiroalejogarcia6260
@@elimalinsky7069 I think there would be too much "Justice", haha
@maximwinner5326
@@elimalinsky7069 Steve saved the songs for the next album because he knew Rod was communicating with Bruce about his return.