Iron Man
Ministry and Co-Conspirators Lyrics
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Can he see or is he blind?
Can he walk at all,
Or if he moves will he fall?
Is he alive or dead?
Has he thoughts within his head?
We'll just pass him there
He was turned to steel
In the great magnetic field
Where he traveled time
For the future of mankind
Nobody wants him
He just stares at the world
Planning his vengeance
That he will soon unfold
Now the time is here
For Iron Man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
Kills the people he once saved
Nobody wants him
They just turn their heads
Nobody helps him
Now he has his revenge
Heavy boots of lead
Fills his victims full of dread
Running as fast as they can
Iron Man lives again!
The lyrics of "Iron Man" can be interpreted in various ways but principally, they describe a scientist who has developed superhuman abilities and takes on this persona of "Iron Man". The lyrics start by questioning whether the singer has lost his mind or has lost his human qualities like sight or mobility. This raises questions about the consequences of tampering with human bodies and skills beyond usual human limitations. The implication of the lyrics is that this experiment has gone wrong, and the singer has been turned to steel in an attempt to gain superhuman abilities. The chorus describes how nobody wants him, probably because of his new steel body, and how he just stares at the world, planning his revenge against those who rejected him.
The second verse implies that the singer has been through a magnetic field that has not only turned him into steel but also sent him traveling through time. It's unclear whether he's alive or dead, but the song implies that he's probably both. In the chorus, the singer's desire for revenge intensifies. He begins to spread fear and kill people he once saved. The final verse describes Iron Man's footsteps as heavy boots of lead that cause his victims to fill with dread. The song ends by suggesting that Iron Man lives again.
Line by Line Meaning
Has he lost his mind?
Does he still have control over his thoughts?
Can he see or is he blind?
Is he able to see, or has he lost his vision?
Can he walk at all,
Or if he moves will he fall?
Is he still physically capable of moving around, or is he so weak that he will fall if he tries?
Is he alive or dead?
Is he still among the living, or has he passed on?
Has he thoughts within his head?
Is he still capable of thinking, or has he lost the ability to reason?
We'll just pass him there
Why should we even care?
We'll just leave him where he is, because we have no interest in his condition.
He was turned to steel
In the great magnetic field
Where he traveled time
For the future of mankind
He was transformed into a metallic substance while traveling through time to preserve the fate of humanity.
Nobody wants him
He just stares at the world
Planning his vengeance
That he will soon unfold
He has become an outcast, brooding and plotting his revenge against the rest of the world.
Now the time is here
For Iron Man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
Kills the people he once saved
The time has come for Iron Man to strike terror and extract revenge on those he once saved.
Nobody wants him
They just turn their heads
Nobody helps him
Now he has his revenge
Everyone has rejected him and ignored his pleas for help, and now he has succeeded in getting his revenge.
Heavy boots of lead
Fills his victims full of dread
Running as fast as they can
Iron Man lives again!
Iron Man's heavy footsteps create fear in his victims, causing them to flee while he comes to life once more.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Terence Michael Butler, Anthony Frank Iommi, John Michael Osbourne, William Ward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind