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 Mercenary
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hunted, hunter, which are you?
Diablo, come again
To make trophies out of men
Lose your skin, lose your skull
One by one the sack is full
In the heat dehydrate
Know which breath will be your last
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
You've got to kill to stay alive
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
You've got to kill to stay alive
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Human heart, human mind
Intellect intertwined
Focus sharp in the night
Watch the jungle burning bright
Toe to toe, throw the line
Everyone's caught hands tied
Iron will, iron fist
How could it have come to this?
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
You've got to kill to stay alive
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
You've got to kill to stay alive
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Show them no fear, show them no pain
The lyrics to Iron Maiden's song "The Mercenary" describe the brutal, cutthroat world of warfare and the mercenaries who engage in it. The opening lines, "Pay to kill, die to lose, hunted, hunter, which are you?" set the stage for a harsh reality where death is always near and survival depends on one's ability to kill. The reference to Diablo, a figure from Greek mythology associated with the devil, suggests that the mercenaries themselves are in league with evil. They seek glory and fame by turning their enemies into trophies, taking their skulls and skin as prizes. The macabre image of the sack full of these plundered remains emphasizes the utter disregard for human life that lies at the heart of war.
The refrain of the song, "Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, you've got to kill to stay alive," reinforces the idea that survival is the primary goal of the mercenaries. They have no option but to keep fighting, no matter how tired, thirsty, or frightened they may be. They must show no fear, no pain, no weakness, or they risk being killed themselves. The reference to the "human heart, human mind, intellect intertwined" highlights the psychological toll of this way of life, and the fact that mercenaries may struggle to reconcile their own humanity with the inhumanity of war.
Overall, "The Mercenary" is a powerful commentary on the brutality and senselessness of war, and the tragic toll it takes on those who wage it.
Line by Line Meaning
Pay to kill, die to lose
You must pay for the opportunity to kill, but you risk losing your own life in the process.
Hunted, hunter, which are you?
Are you the one pursuing others to kill or the one being chased and hunted to be killed?
Diablo, come again
The devil or something evil is returning.
To make trophies out of men
The evil force wants to kill so as to gain trophies or fame from killing men.
Lose your skin, lose your skull
Death is imminent and will cause the loss of one's body parts or even the whole body.
One by one the sack is full
As more people are killed, their bodies are added to sacks, which means killing is a regular activity.
In the heat dehydrate
In a hot and sweaty situation, one can become dehydrated, which is deadly.
Know which breath will be your last
Death will come at any moment, so every breath could be your last breath.
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide You've got to kill to stay alive
There is nowhere to escape, and the only way to survive is by killing.
Show them no fear, show them no pain
Do not show your enemies any signs of weakness or you will become their target easily.
Human heart, human mind Intellect intertwined
The heart and mind of people are complex and difficult to predict, but they are linked together.
Focus sharp in the night Watch the jungle burning bright
Be alert and focused during the night, as the jungle burns around you.
Toe to toe, throw the line Everyone's caught hands tied
Everyone is trapped in the situation, and there is no escape.
Iron will, iron fist How could it have come to this?
It takes a strong will and a powerful force to survive in such a situation, but how did things get so bad?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Janick Gers, Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Dill
on The Number of the Beast
kicking it