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)
Sea of Madness
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out in the night the fires burn
Maybe tonight somebody's crying
Reached the point of no return
Oh, my eyes they see but I can't believe
Oh, my heart is heavy as I turn my back and leave
Fly so high on wings above
When all you see can only bring you sadness
Like a river we will flow
On towards the sea we go
When all you do can only bring you sadness
Out on the sea of madness
Somewhere I hear a voice that's calling
Out in the dark there burns a dream
You got to hope when you are falling
To find the world that you have seen
Oh, my eyes they see but I can't believe
Oh, my heart is heavy as I turn my back and leave
Like the eagle and the dove
Fly so high on wings above
When all you see can only bring you sadness
Like a river we will flow
On towards the sea we go
When all you do can only bring you sadness
Out on the sea of madness
It's madness
The sun don't shine
On the sea of madness
There ain't no wind to fill your sails
Madness
When all you see can only bring you sadness
On towards the sea we go
Out in the night somebody's crying
Out in the night the fires burn
Maybe tonight somebody's crying
Reached the point of no return
Oh, my eyes they see but I can't believe
Oh, my heart is heavy as I turn my back and leave
Like the eagle and the dove
Fly so high on wings above
When all you see can only bring you sadness
Like a river we will flow
On towards the sea we go
When all you do can only bring you sadness
On the sea of madness
Of madness
Of madness
Of madness
Of madness
Of madness
Of madness
Iron Maiden's song "Sea of Madness" describes a feeling of being lost in a world that is filled with chaos and destruction. The lyrics speak about the sadness and hopelessness that come with witnessing the suffering of others, and the overriding feeling of helplessness that one can feel as they turn their back on the situation. The song is a reflection of the difficulties that many people face every day as they struggle to find their place in a world that often seems to be spiraling out of control.
The first two lines of the song set the scene for the rest of the lyrics. "Out in the street somebody's crying, out in the night the fires burn" describe a world that is filled with pain and destruction. The repeated line "maybe tonight somebody's crying, reached the point of no return" seems to suggest that the singer is overwhelmed by the sheer amount of misery and suffering that they are witnessing.
The chorus of the song offers a sliver of hope as it describes the journey towards the sea. The singer describes both the eagle and the dove soaring on wings above, suggesting that there is a way out of the darkness that surrounds them. However, the final line "On the sea of madness" hints at the idea that this hope may be illusory, that the journey towards the sea may simply be another step on an endless cycle of pain and suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
Out in the street somebody's crying
Someone is upset and in distress, possibly due to a difficult situation or feeling alone in a crowded place.
Out in the night the fires burn
The world is full of chaos, danger, and destruction. The darkness is filled with flames indicating that there is trouble brewing
Maybe tonight somebody's crying
It is possible that someone is going through a lot of pain or loneliness and may be in desperate need of support and comfort during this time.
Reached the point of no return
The situation has gotten so bad that there is no easy way out, and it is impossible to go back from where one has come, making the change irreversible.
Oh, my eyes they see but I can't believe
The events unfolding in front of the person are hard to believe or accept, even though they can see it right in front of their eyes.
Oh, my heart is heavy as I turn my back and leave
The person's heart is filled with sadness and disappointment as they leave the situation behind and move on from something that has hurt them deeply.
Like the eagle and the dove
These are two opposite animals, one swift and powerful and the other gentle and peaceful, representing the different sides of human nature that can coexist within us.
Fly so high on wings above
They both soar high above the rest of the world, enjoying freedom and a different perspective that allows them to escape from whatever might be weighing them down.
When all you see can only bring you sadness
The world can be a difficult and scary place, filled with pain and struggles that can make us feel overwhelmed and isolated.
Like a river we will flow
Life is constantly moving forward and progressing, carrying us along with it, and we must learn to adapt and keep moving with the flow.
On towards the sea we go
The sea is a vast, unknown expanse, representing the unknown and uncertain future that we must forge ahead towards.
It's madness
The situation or conditions are crazy, hectic, and out of control, making it hard to cope and find peace.
The sun don't shine
The world is dark, cold and possibly unforgiving, without hope or light to guide us.
There ain't no wind to fill your sails
Without support or guidance, it can be difficult to move forward and make progress. The person is left adrift and without direction, making it hard to achieve their goals.
Out in the night somebody's crying
The world can be a harsh and cruel place, filled with pain and suffering that can leave people feeling lost and alone.
Maybe tonight somebody's crying
The same sense of sadness and struggle continues on, with people always in need of love and support to help them cope and survive.
On the sea of madness
The journey of life can feel like a chaotic, stormy sea, with dangerous waters and unpredictable events that can throw us off course.
Of madness
This sense of chaos, confusion, and unpredictability pervades every aspect of the experience, making it hard to stay on track and focus on what we want to achieve.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adrian Frederick Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Dill
on The Number of the Beast
kicking it