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)
Phantom Of The Opera
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been lookin' so long for you now
You won't get away from my grasp
You've been living so long in hiding, in hiding
Behind that false mask
And you know that I know that
You ain't got long now to last
Are just the remains of your past
You're standing in the wings
There you wait, for the curtain to fall
But knowing the terror and holding
You have on us all
Yeah, I know that you're gonna
Scratch me and maim me and maul
And you know I'm helpless from
Your mesmerizing catcall
Ooh
Keep your distance, walk away
Don't take his bait
Don't you stray, don't fade away
Watch your step, he's out to get you
Come what may
Don't you stray, from the narrow way
I'm running and hiding
In my dreams, you're always there
You're the phantom of the opera
You're the devil, you're just out to scare
You damaged my mind and my soul
It just floats through the air
You haunt me, you taunt me
You torture me back at your lair
(Torture me back at your lair)
In Iron Maiden's song Phantom of the Opera, the singer is addressing the titular Phantom, who has been hiding behind a false mask and living in hiding for a long time. The singer declares that they have been looking for the Phantom for a long time and will not let him escape their grasp. They acknowledge that the Phantom's looks and feelings are just the remains of his past, and that he doesn't have long left to last.
The singer then describes the Phantom's presence at the opera, where he waits in the wings for the curtain to fall. The Phantom's terror and hold on the audience is acknowledged, and the singer admits that they are helpless against the Phantom's mesmerizing catcall. The song then takes a dark turn as the singer warns the listener to keep their distance and not be lured in by the Phantom's bait. They are told to stay on the narrow way and not fade away.
The final verse reveals that the singer is running and hiding from the Phantom in their dreams, as he is the devil who is out to scare them. The Phantom has damaged their mind and soul, and they feel haunted and tortured by him back at his lair.
Overall, Iron Maiden's Phantom of the Opera is a dark, gothic song that portrays the Phantom as a menacing figure who holds a terrifying grip over his audience.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, yeah
The singer is excited about what they are about to convey.
I've been lookin' so long for you now
The singer has been searching for the person they are addressing for a long time.
You won't get away from my grasp
The person the singer is addressing will not be able to escape from them.
You've been living so long in hiding, in hiding
The person the artist is addressing has been in hiding for a long time.
Behind that false mask
The person the artist is addressing is hiding behind a false persona.
And you know that I know that
The singer and the person they are addressing are aware that the singer knows their secret.
You ain't got long now to last
The person the singer is addressing is running out of time.
Your looks and your feelings
The person the artist is addressing is judged based on their outward appearance and emotions.
Are just the remains of your past
The person the artist is addressing is still influenced by their past experiences.
You're standing in the wings
The person the artist is addressing is waiting in the wings, ready to perform.
There you wait, for the curtain to fall
The person the singer is addressing is waiting for their moment to shine.
But knowing the terror and holding
The artist is aware of the fear the person they are addressing instills in others.
You have on us all
The person the singer is addressing has a frightening effect on everyone around them.
Yeah, I know that you're gonna
The singer is anticipating something that the person they are addressing is going to do.
Scratch me and maim me and maul
The person the singer is addressing is going to harm them physically and emotionally.
And you know I'm helpless from
The artist acknowledges that they cannot defend themselves against the person they are addressing.
Your mesmerizing catcall
The person the artist is addressing has a voice that is both alluring and dangerous.
Keep your distance, walk away
The singer advises others to stay away from the person they are addressing.
Don't take his bait
The singer warns others not to fall for the person they are addressing's tricks.
Don't you stray, don't fade away
The artist encourages others not to lose sight of who they are and what they stand for.
Watch your step, he's out to get you
The person the artist is addressing is looking to harm others, so they should be careful.
Come what may
No matter what happens, the artist advises people not to back down or give in to fear.
Don't you stray, from the narrow way
The singer encourages others to stay on the right path and not be sidetracked by distractions.
I'm running and hiding
The artist is afraid of the person they are addressing and is trying to escape from them.
In my dreams, you're always there
The person the singer is addressing haunts their dreams and subconscious mind.
You're the phantom of the opera
The person the singer is addressing is like a mysterious and scary character from a theatrical production.
You're the devil, you're just out to scare
The person the singer is addressing is evil and takes pleasure in intimidating others.
You damaged my mind and my soul
The person the artist is addressing has left a lasting emotional and psychological effect on them.
It just floats through the air
The artist's trauma is still present and lingering after a long time.
You haunt me, you taunt me
The person the singer is addressing continues to torment and harass them.
You torture me back at your lair
The person the singer is addressing inflicts pain and suffering on them in their own territory.
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