"Purgatory" was one of the band's least successful singles and failed to break into the Top 50 in the UK charts. This may relate to the fact that this was their only single released with both a- and b-side already available on album in the same form. An interesting fact about this single is that the original cover art was withdrawn. The band had felt that it was of too high a caliber for just a single and requested a less complex cover be prepared in its place. The withdrawn cover later resurfaced as The Number of the Beast album. Ironically, the cover of this single has probably become more well known than any other Maiden cover as it is very often featured on merchandise despite the relative obscurity of the single.
Purgatory is the first of three Maiden single-covers to feature Riggs' depiction of the devil. On the cover of the Run to the Hills single he does battle with Eddie and on the single cover of The Number of the Beast his decapitated head is displayed by Eddie.
Purgatory
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fantasies lived times before
Split my brain, melt through the floor
Over clouds my mind will fly, forever now I can't think why
Body tries to leave my soul
Is it me? I just don't know
Memories rising from the past, the future's shadow overcast
Oh, another time, another place
Oh well, another smile on another face
When you see me floating up beside you
You get the feeling that all my love's inside of you
Please take me away, take me away, so far away
Please take me away, take me away, so far away
Please take me away, take me away, so far away
Thinking of an age-old dream, places I have never seen
Fantasies lived times before
Split my brain, melt through the floor
Over clouds my mind will ride, forever now I can't think why
Body tries to leave my soul
Or is it me? I just don't know
Memories rising from the past, the future's shadow overcast
Something's clutching at my head, through the darkness I'll be led
Oh, another time, another place
Oh well, another smile on another face
When you see me walking up beside you
You get the feeling that all my love's inside of you
Please take me away, take me away, so far away
Please take me away, take me away, so far away
Please take me away, take me away, so far away
The lyrics to Iron Maiden's Purgatory are about a person experiencing an out of body experience, where they are caught between reality and a dream-like state of mind. The singer is describing how they are having memories and fantasies from the past and future shadowing over each other, causing them to feel like they are melting through the floor. The line "over clouds my mind will fly" gives a sense of being out of control and having no clear direction. The singer is unsure if it is their body trying to leave their soul or if it is just them feeling disconnected.
The chorus of the song, "When you see me floating up beside you, you get the feeling that all my love's inside of you," could be interpreted as a message from beyond the grave, suggesting that even after death, love still remains. The lyrics "please take me away, take me away, so far away" imply a desire to escape the present reality and possibly find peace in death.
The song as a whole has a very dreamlike quality to it, with the lyrics being very abstract and ambiguous. The meaning of the song is left up to interpretation and can be read in multiple ways. It could be seen as a representation of the fear of death or a person experiencing a spiritual awakening.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinking of an age old dream, places I have never seen
Reflecting on a dream from a long time ago about unknown locations
Fantasies lived times before
The dream has been experienced before in different ways
Split my brain, melt through the floor
The dream is overwhelming and confuses the mind
Over clouds my mind will fly, forever now I can't think why
The dream takes over the mind and there's no explanation
Body tries to leave my soul
Feeling disconnected from the physical body
Is it me? I just don't know
Questioning identity and existence
Memories rising from the past, the future's shadow overcast
Past and future mix together, casting doubt and uncertainty
Something's clutching at my head, through the darkness I'll be led
Feeling a dark presence controlling the mind's directions
Oh, another time, another place
A different reality or experience
Oh well, another smile on another face
Different emotions and interactions
When you see me floating up beside you
Feeling a sense of peace and love when in someone's presence
You get the feeling that all my love's inside of you
Love emanating from the dreamer
Please take me away, take me away, so far away
Desire to escape the overwhelming dream
Please take me away, take me away, so far away
Reiterating the desire for distance from the dream
Please take me away, take me away, so far away
Yearning for a different reality
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mawngsen Roy
Purgatory
Thinking of an age, old dream
Places I have never seen
Fantasies lived times before
I split my brain, melt through the floor
Over clouds my mind will fly
Forever now, I can't think why
My body tries to leave my soul
Is it me? I just don't know
Memories rising from the past
The future shadows overcast
Something's clutching at my head
Through the darkness I'll be led
Oh, another time, another place
Oh well, another smile on another face
When you see me floating up beside you
You get the feeling that all my love's inside of you
Please, take me away
Take me away
So far away
Please, take me away
Take me away
So far away
Please, take me away
Take me away
So far away, hey!
Thinking of an age, old dream
Places I have never seen
Fantasies lived times before
I split my brain, melt through the floor
Over clouds my mind will fly
Forever now, I can't think why
My body tries to leave my soul
Is it me? I just don't know
Memories rising from the past
The future shadows overcast
Something's clutching at my head
Through the darkness I'll be led
Oh, another time, another place
Oh well, another smile on another face
When you see me walking up beside you
You get the feeling that all my love's inside of you
Please, take me away
Take me away
So far away
Please, take me away
Take me away
So far away
Please, take me away
Take me away
So far away.......
Tayná Maciel
I don't understand why some people don't like Paul Di'Anno's voice, he is amazing
Mike Calak
He is not better than Blaze
Mauricio Primus
Because they are Bruce Dickinson's fan boys.
Benjamin Metcalf
The older I get the more I like classic maiden from the first 2 albums the sound was more raw and infused with some real punk energy
SoulKingBrook
one of my fav rock vocalists just after dio and ozzy
Rock And Roll
@Andrea T. Not entirely true. I know many people, especially girls, who have started listening to Maiden in their latter career, and they like Paul's voice better than Bruce's. Reason? They don't like the operatic voice of Bruce. Girls tend to like more punk like their two records was in style. Shorter songs and more fast paced (Purgatory, Murders in the Rue Morgue, Prowler, Iron Maiden title track, Charlotte the Harlot etc..
Eric Campbell
I love the energy of the early Maiden.
There were no never-ending epics.
I'm pushing 50 and I still bounce off the walls when I hear this.
Glenn Wood
In my 60’s and rock the neighbors when I play this lol
george maranville
I saw them on most tours up to early 90s and, obviously I liked 'em enough to go to the shows, but man those longer songs got so ponderous and they just couldn't stop. Steve Harris might hate it but they had punk energy.
speed king
@Giorno Giovanna long songs get TOO self indulgent. Tool has that problem as well. The only ten minute song I actually really like is megalomania