The Red and the Black
Iron Maiden Lyrics

The morals of life and the perils of death
The contrast between the values that guide us in life and the danger that comes with death.

Take the wrong way out running out of breath
Desperation leading to a hasty and ill-advised decision.

Meet my match in the afterlife
The uncertainty of what lies beyond death, potentially encountering a formidable force.

Suppress the demons that plague the night
The struggle to overcome inner turmoil that manifests during times of vulnerability.

A tortured mind is a safe place to go
The tendency to retreat into one's mental suffering as a coping mechanism.

But the truth lurks down in the dark below
The contradiction of hiding from the painful reality that still exists.

Step inside my inquisitive mind
Inviting someone to explore the complexities of their thoughts and emotions.

Are you scared at what you just might find
Implying the potential for unsettling or disturbing discoveries during introspection.

See myself in the hall of mirrors
The fragmented and distorted reflection of oneself in a confusing and illusory environment.

A different shape every step I take
An adaptation to the changing circumstances of life, altering the perception of oneself.

A different mind every step of the line
Similarly, the development of a unique perspective with each new experience.

But in the end they are all mine
Despite the many influences on one's identity, ultimately it is a personal and individual construction.

Laughing sorrow inside your head
The paradoxical expression of deep sadness in a lighthearted or humorous manner.

Can't get out just a feeling of dread
A sense of being trapped or overwhelmed by their emotional state.

I know this burden's a heavy load
Acknowledging the gravity and difficulty of their situation.

A dark mistake never ending road
The long-lasting consequences of a regretful or negative decision.

The black jack king and the red queen clash
The conflict and tension between opposing forces or ideas.

The artful dodger he counts his stash
Manipulative or deceptive individuals profiting from their schemes.

The joker's wild like an impish child
The unpredictable nature of chaotic elements or individuals.

While madame fortune she waits inside
Luck and chance playing a role in the outcome of events.

The good luck charm is overkill
The belief in the power of superstition or good fortune taken to an excessive degree.

The tired old soldier says fire at will
The veteran warrior's casual recognition of the destructiveness of war.

Planes overhead go search destroy
The devastating and indiscriminate nature of aerial bombings in military conflicts.

The ones below human decoy
The expendability and dehumanization of those on the ground in war.

Meanwhile we play the waiting game
The anxiety and uncertainty of being caught in a situation where one cannot act actively.

The clock is struck the horse is lame
The passing of time bringing about unfortunate circumstances that hamper progress.

And when we think that this is done
The fleeting and temporary nature of achieving resolution or satisfaction.

Chance your luck a four leafed one
The glimmer of hope or opportunity, however slim, that keeps one going.

You hedge your bets the battle lost
The realization that one must retreat or concede after playing all one's options.

To wait in vain and count the cost
The cost of waiting for a positive outcome that never arrives, a feeling of loss and regret.

The thin edged line
The fine differentiation between two closely related ideas.

Between good and bad
The distinction between morality and immorality.

And cast the luck be happy sad
The uncertainty of how one's fortunes will turn out, whether it leads to happiness or sadness.

People don't want the truth
The aversion or resistance towards facing unpleasant or inconvenient realities.

Look in their eyes and you send them away
The difficulty of convincing someone of an unpleasant truth when they refuse to accept it.

Fate and hypocrisy
The realization that life's fortunes are largely up to chance, and that hypocrisy can be hidden behind a veneer of morality.

Burden's a heavy load there is no doubt
Reiterating the difficulty and gravity of the situation.

All out of luck again
The repeated misfortunes or disappointments in their life.

How many chances can anyone have
The futility of hoping for more opportunities after numerous attempts at success.

Treachery out to win
The desire of some to come out on top at any cost, even if it involves deceit.

There in the wrong place and at the wrong time
Acknowledging the luck or chance involved in encountering unfortunate situations.

I need somebody to save me
The desperate plea for help, either from someone else or from within themselves.