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)
The Assassin
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They've put the word about
I'm coming after you
It's not the money I make
It's the thrill of the chase
And I'm coming after you
I watch your every move
Study the things you do
I watch the way you walk
I hear your telephone talk
I want to understand the way you think
Better watch out, 'cause I'm the assassin
Better watch out, 'cause I'm the assassin
Better watch out, better watch out
Better watch out, 'cause I'm the assassin
Better watch out, 'cause I'm the assassin
Better watch out, better watch out
Assassin, assassin
Assassin, assassin
Hahahahaha
I'm in a cold-cold sweat
I taste the smell of death
I know the moment's getting closer
And as you walk through the light
I feel my hands going tight
Excitement running through my veins
I've got you in my sights
I've got you dead to rights
The triggers waiting for my finger
I feel adrenalin rush
It's just the final touch
You can kiss your ass goodbye
Better watch out, 'cause I'm the assassin
Better watch out, 'cause I'm the assassin
Better watch out, better watch out
Better watch out, 'cause I'm the assassin
Better watch out, 'cause I'm the assassin
Better watch out, better watch out
Assassin
The lyrics of Iron Maiden's "The Assassin" depict a hitman who enjoys the thrill of the chase and is obsessed with his target. The contracts out, and he's coming after his prey, studying their every move, and understanding the way they think. As the target walks through the light, the assassin feels his hands going tight, and the excitement runs through his veins, knowing the moment is getting closer. The final touch of adrenaline rush, and the trigger is waiting for his finger. The song's chorus warns the target to better watch out because the assassin is coming after them.
The song's verses emphasize the assassin's obsession with his target, studying their every move and understanding their thought processes to get closer to them. The assassin enjoys the thrill of the chase, and the money is not his sole motivation. He lives for moments of excitement, such as the final kill, which gives him a rush of adrenaline. The song's chorus repeats the warning to the target to watch out, indicating that the assassin is coming after them.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the contracts out
The hit has been ordered
They've put the word about
Everyone knows about the contract
I'm coming after you
The performer is the assassin
It's not the money I make
The performer is motivated by more than money
It's the thrill of the chase
The performer enjoys the chase more than the kill
And I'm coming after you
The hit is definitely happening
I watch your every move
The performer is stalking the victim
Study the things you do
The performer is focused on learning the victim's behavior
And the pattern of your ways
The performer is looking for predictable patterns
I watch the way you walk
The performer is even studying the victim's gait
I hear your telephone talk
The performer is listening in on the victim's phone conversations
I want to understand the way you think
The performer is trying to get into the victim's head
Better watch out, 'cause I'm the assassin
The victim should be afraid
I'm in a cold-cold sweat
The performer is nervous
I taste the smell of death
The performer senses the imminent kill
I know the moment's getting closer
The performer is getting closer to the kill
And as you walk through the light
The victim is in the assassin's crosshairs
I feel my hands going tight
The performer is getting ready to pull the trigger
Excitement running through my veins
The performer is getting a rush from the kill
I've got you in my sights
The performer is about to make the kill
I've got you dead to rights
The victim is caught and can't escape
The triggers waiting for my finger
The assassin is ready to shoot
I feel adrenaline rush
The performer is getting a major adrenaline rush
It's just the final touch
The performer is about to make the killshot
You can kiss your ass goodbye
The victim is going to die
Assassin, assassin
The performer revels in the role of assassin
Hahahahaha
The performer is getting a crazy thrill from what is happening
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