The CD single comes with a B-side of "Hallowed Be Thy Name" from the BBC Radio 1 Legends Session. Due to the overall length of the two songs, the single was not eligible for chart inclusion in the UK. The single was also released on 10" clear vinyl single, which includes BBC Sessions versions of "The Trooper" and "Run to the Hills" on the B-side.
Although both the sleeve, and labels, of the 10" vinyl state that it should be played at 33.3 RPM, this is actually incorrect. The correct playing speed is 45 RPM.
A promotional version of the single was released on 14 August 2006, featuring the full version and a shorter version called "edited version" in the US promo CD and "rock club mix" in the UK promo CD (both versions are identical).
On 17 July 2006, a music video for the song was put up on the band's official website for public viewing. The video was first released only for paid fan club members, but it was leaked within minutes and viewed by many fans who posted the link on various Iron Maiden discussion forums. The video displays them currently performing in the studio along with classic photos and clips of the band over their lengthy career.
The single's promotional image shows Eddie (the band's mascot) digging out the grave of Benjamin Breeg, whose tombstone states "Aici zace un om despre care nu se ştie prea mult". This is a sentence in Romanian, which roughly translates into "Here lies a man of whom little is known." The identity of the character is being held secret by band members. Steve Harris, in an interview featured on the DVD (with special edition CD album) was quoted as saying: "Who is Benjamin Breeg? Ah, now that would be telling."
The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me tell you 'bout my dreams
Let me tell you 'bout the things that happened
Always real to me
Let me tell you of my hope
Of my need to reach the sky
Let me take you on an awkward journey
Let me tell you why
Why should these curses be laid upon me?
I won't be forgiven 'til I can break free
What did I do to deserve all this guilt?
To pay for my sins for the sale of my soul
Demons are trapped, all inside of my head
My hopes have gone, reach for Heaven from Hell
My sins are many
My guilt is too heavy
The pressure of knowing
Of having what I know
I'm able to see things
Things I don't want to see
The lives of a thousand souls
Weighing down on me
I know they're crying for help, reaching out
The burden of them will take me down as well
The sin of a thousand souls, not died in vain
Reincarnates to let me live again
Someone to save me
Something to save me from myself
To bring salvation
To exorcise this hell
Someone to save me
Something to save me from myself
To bring salvation
To exorcise this hell
Someone to save me
Something to save me from my hell
I taste damnation
Awake from this nightmare
Someone to save me
Something to save me from myself
To bring salvation
To exorcise this hell
The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg by Iron Maiden is a song about a man who is haunted by the sins of the past, and he feels the burden of the lives of a thousand souls on his shoulders. The lyrics suggest that he has sold his soul to the devil, and he is now paying the price for it. The song is a reflection of the human condition and the struggle that each person faces in trying to break free from the cycle of guilt and sin that plagues them.
The song talks about the dreams that the singer has and his hope of reaching the sky, but he feels trapped by the curses that have been laid upon him. He is unable to find salvation and is tortured by the weight of his guilt. He is aware of the demons that are trapped inside his head, and he is desperate to exorcise them.
The song's chorus highlights the singer's need for someone or something to save him from himself and his hell. He longs for someone who can bring salvation and exorcise this nightmare. The lyrics suggest that the only way for him to break free from his guilt is through reincarnation, where the sins of a thousand souls are not died in vain.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me tell you 'bout my life
I want to share my life experiences with you
Let me tell you 'bout my dreams
I want to share my personal aspirations with you
Let me tell you 'bout the things that happened
I want to share my past experiences with you
Always real to me
These experiences are significant to me and have shaped who I am
Let me tell you of my hope
I want to share my aspirations for the future with you
Of my need to reach the sky
I have ambitious goals and desire great success
Let me take you on an awkward journey
I want to share a difficult journey with you
Let me tell you why
I want to explain the reason behind my experiences and aspirations
Why should these curses be laid upon me?
Why am I facing such difficult challenges?
I won't be forgiven 'til I can break free
I can't overcome these challenges and be redeemed until I can break free from them
What did I do to deserve all this guilt?
Why am I feeling so guilty? What did I do to deserve it?
To pay for my sins for the sale of my soul
I feel guilty for trading away something valuable in exchange for something else
Demons are trapped, all inside of my head
I am tormented by my own inner demons
My hopes have gone, reach for Heaven from Hell
I have lost my hope and am seeking salvation from my difficult situation
My sins are many
I have committed many wrongs
My guilt is too heavy
My sense of guilt is overwhelming
The pressure of knowing
The burden of my knowledge and understanding
Of having what I know
Of understanding what I do and its consequences
I'm able to see things
I am aware of things that others aren't
Things I don't want to see
These things are burdensome and distressing to me
The lives of a thousand souls
The struggles and experiences of many people
Weighing down on me
These struggles are having a heavy impact on me
I know they're crying for help, reaching out
I understand the difficulties and struggles of others who are crying out for help
The burden of them will take me down as well
The collective struggle of others will also impact me
The sin of a thousand souls, not died in vain
The struggles and sins of many people will not be meaningless
Reincarnates to let me live again
Their struggles are reborn within me so that I can understand them and live again
Someone to save me
I need someone to rescue me from my situation
Something to save me from myself
I need something to help me overcome my own struggles and inner demons
To bring salvation
To bring redemption and rescue from my situation
To exorcise this hell
To banish the torment and difficulties I am experiencing
I taste damnation
I am experiencing a sense of torment and punishment
Awake from this nightmare
I want to escape from my current difficult situation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Michael Murray, Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reganjaret
Let me tell you about my life
Let me tell you about my dreams
Let me tell you about the things that happen
Always real to me
Let me tell you of my hope
Of my need to reach the sky
Let me take you on an awkward journey
Let me tell you why
Let me tell you why
Why should these curses be laid upon me
I won't be forgiven 'till I can break free
What did I do to deserve all this guilt
Pay for my sins with the sale of my soul
Demons are trapped all inside of my head
My hopes are gone reach for heaven from hell
My sins are many my guilt is too heavy
The pressure of knowing of hiding what I know
I'm able to see things
Things I don't want to see
The lives of a thousand souls
Weigh heavy down on me
I know they're crying for help reaching out
The burden of them will take me down as well
The sin of a thousand souls not died in vain
Reincarnate still in me live again
Someone to save me
Something to save me from myself
To bring the salvation
To exorcise this hell
Someone to save me
Something to save me from myself
To bring the salvation
To exorcise this hell
Someone to save me
Something to save me from my hell
A destination
Away from this nightmare
Someone to save me
Something to save me from myself
To bring the salvation
To exorcise this hell
Exempl0
Lyrics:
Let me tell you 'bout my life
Let me tell you 'bout my dreams
Let me tell you 'bout the things that happened
Always real to me
Let me tell you of my hope
Of my need to reach the sky
Let me take you on an awkward journey
Let me tell you why
Let me tell you why
Why should these curses be laid upon me?
I won't be forgiven 'till I can break free
What did I do to deserve all this guilt?
Paid for my sins, for the sale of my soul
Demons are trapped all inside of my head
My hopes are gone, reach for Heaven from Hell
My sins are many
My guilt is too heavy
The pressure of knowing
Of hiding what I know
I'm able to see things
Things I don't want to see
The lives of a thousand souls
Weigh heavy down on me
I know they're crying for help, reaching out
The burden of them will take me down as well
The sin of a thousand souls not died in vain
Reincarnation of me
Live again
Someone to save me
Something to save me from myself
To bring salvation
To exorcise this Hell
Someone to save me
Something to save me from myself
To bring salvation
To exorcise this Hell
Someone to save me
Something to save me from my Hell
A destination away from this nightmare
Someone to save me
Something to save me from myself
To bring salvation
To exorcise this Hell
Stranger in a strange land
I don't understand why this album is so overlooked!! The more you listen deeper you get into.. Every Maiden album is unique and perfection in its on own way.. true maiden fan agree this.. Up the irons !!!
Killers Eddie
Dude, this album is absolutely great.
Kotsios
One of their darkest albums for sure.
DaveyMurray1
It's like X Factor, incredibly overlooked.
Janko
I actually wouldn't mind if they threw in one song from this album instead of something thats overplayed like 2 minutes to midnight or run to the hills.
Cassie White
I LOVE this album. I know people will cringe when I say this, but this is the album that got me into Maiden. I was 13 years old and it had just come out. My favorite band, MCR, always talked about how much they loved Maiden, so I gave them a listen and I've been hooked ever since. <3 This whole album is incredible. Out of the Shadows is one of my favorite songs of theirs!
David Jones
I think this is one of Maiden's greatest songs. The album A Matter of Life and Death is underrated. It's definitely one of Maiden's darkest albums due to its theme and more progressive songs. One of their most important latter-day albums and one of my favorites. This song is brilliant!
MagicThys
when I bought it I spent the next 3 days in a musical wonderland
susanne williamsson
NO band could ever create music, riffs, solos, guitar harmonies and phrasing, lyrics, bass lines and thunderous drums like Maiden, nor the amazing interpretations by Bruce........Iron Maiden are so superior to any other band, that it´s frightening.....they are simply A ONE OFF.....
Cameron Lewis
Pretty much what I think. Iron Maiden are in a league all of their own. They are the hottest rock band of all time.
UP THE IRONS!!!