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)
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Desperation in my voice
I'm drifting way off course now
With very little choice
The loneliness is hard to bear
I try to calm my fear
Just hoping any second now
Desperate calls
Signal back from satellite
As my life
Flashes right in front of me
Try again, must get through
Hear me now
For I've very little time
Not much time, hear my call
Please get through
I am here
I'm stranded in space
I'm lost with a trace
I haven't a chance of getting away
Too close to the Sun
I surely will burn
Like Icarus before me
Or so legend goes
I think of my life
Reliving the past
There's nothing but wait 'til my time comes
I've had a good life
I'll do it again
Maybe I'll come back some time afresh
For I have lived my life to the full
I have no regrets
But I wish I could talk to my family
To tell them one last goodbye
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
If I could survive
To live one more time
I wouldn't be changing a thing at all
Done more in my life
Than some do in ten
I'd go back and do it all over again
For I have lived my life to the full
I have no regrets
But I wish I could talk to my family
And tell them that one last goodbye
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
There isn't much time
Must say my last rites
Nobody is here to read them to me
Must say my goodbyes
If only a line
A message to tell them in case they might find
For I have lived my life to the full
I have no regrets
But I wish I could talk to my family
To tell them that one last goodbye
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The final frontier
The lyrics to Iron Maiden's "Final Frontier" describe the last moments of a person stranded in space, drifting away from Earth with very little hope of survival. The desperation and fear of this person are communicated through the lyrics, as they make desperate calls to the Earth's command and hope for some contact to filter through. The loneliness of space and the impending doom of being too close to the sun also weigh heavily on the person's mind. However, the lyrics also reflect a sense of acceptance and peace, as the person reflects on their full and fulfilling life and wishes to communicate one last goodbye to their family.
The song was released on Iron Maiden's album "The Final Frontier" in 2010, and it is the band's fifteenth studio album. The album marked the band's longest gap between studio releases, with a four-year break since their previous album "A Matter of Life and Death." "The Final Frontier" received positive reviews and was a commercial success, peaking at number one in the UK charts.
Line by Line Meaning
I try to call the Earth's command
The singer is attempting to get in touch with Earth for help.
Desperation in my voice
The singer is afraid and panicking.
I'm drifting way off course now
The singer is losing control of their direction and speed in space.
With very little choice
The artist feels powerless and trapped.
The loneliness is hard to bear
The artist is feeling isolated and alone in space.
I try to calm my fear
The singer is attempting to manage their anxiety.
Just hoping any second now
The singer is desperate for contact with someone back on Earth.
Some contact filters through
The artist receives some communication from Earth.
Desperate calls
The artist is making repeated attempts to contact Earth.
Signal back from satellite
Earth's response is coming through a satellite signal.
As my life
The singer reflects on their past.
Flashes right in front of me
Memories from the artist's life are rapidly coming to mind.
Try again, must get through
The singer is determined to make contact with Earth.
Hear me now
The singer is pleading for attention from Earth.
For I've very little time
The singer is running out of time and needs help soon.
Not much time, hear my call
The artist emphasizes the urgency of their situation.
Please get through
The artist wants Earth to hear their message and respond.
I am here
The singer is identifying themselves to Earth for assistance.
I'm stranded in space
The singer is stuck and helpless in space.
I'm lost with a trace
The artist is isolated without any way of finding their way back.
I haven't a chance of getting away
The artist realizes their situation is hopeless and accepts their fate.
Too close to the Sun
The artist is dangerously close to the Sun in their spacecraft.
I surely will burn
The singer recognizes they will be consumed by the Sun's heat.
Like Icarus before me
The artist is referencing the Greek myth of Icarus who died after flying too close to the Sun.
Or so legend goes
The singer acknowledges there is some uncertainty to the story of Icarus.
I think of my life
The singer reflects further on their past.
Reliving the past
The singer is recalling important moments from their life.
There's nothing but wait 'til my time comes
The artist accepts there is nothing left for them to do but wait for their impending death.
I've had a good life
The artist feels satisfied with their life experiences.
I'll do it again
The singer would repeat their life if they had the chance.
Maybe I'll come back some time afresh
The singer considers the possibility of reincarnation.
For I have lived my life to the full
The artist has lived their life with purpose and has no regrets.
I have no regrets
The artist feels content with their past decisions and experiences.
But I wish I could talk to my family
The artist wants to say a final goodbye to their loved ones.
To tell them one last goodbye
The singer wants to express their love and farewell to their family.
The final frontier
Space represents the final frontier for human exploration and understanding.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adrian Frederick Smith, Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Dill
on The Number of the Beast
kicking it