Wasted Years
The Iron Maidens Lyrics


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From the coast of gold, across the seven seas
I'm travelin' on, far and wide
But now it seems, I'm just a stranger to myself
And all the things I sometimes do, it isn't me but someone else

I close my eyes and think of home
Another city goes by in the night, ain't it funny how it is
You never miss if til' it's gone away
And my heart is lying there and will be til' my dying day

So understand don't waste your time
Always searching for those wasted years
Face up, make your stand
And realize you're living in the golden years

Too much time on my hands, I got you on my mind
Can't ease this pain, so easily, when you can't find the words to say
It's hard to make it through another day
And it makes me wanna cry and throw my hands up to the sky

So understand don't waste your time
Always searching for those wasted years
Face up, make your stand
And realize you're living in the golden years

So understand don't waste your time
Always searching for those wasted years
Face up, make your stand
And realize you're living in the golden years

So understand don't waste your time
Always searching for those wasted years




Face up, make this stand
And realize you're living in the golden years

Overall Meaning

The Iron Maiden's song Wasted Years is about a person who has traveled all around the world, but despite his adventures, he feels like a stranger to himself. He is realizing that he has wasted his time chasing after something that wasn't really what he wanted. He's thinking of his home, and he's missing it, but he's thinking of it as something he lost rather than something he left. As he travels from one city to another, he feels lonely and unable to express his pain.


In the chorus, the lyrics are telling the listener not to waste their time always searching for something better because they might realize too late that they were already in the golden years of their life. This means they were living in the best time of their life, but they didn't realize it. They should face up to this realization and make a stand to appreciate what they have.


Line by Line Meaning

From the coast of gold, across the seven seas
I have traveled far and wide, seeking wealth and adventure.


I'm travelin' on, far and wide
I continue to journey, moving from place to place.


But now it seems, I'm just a stranger to myself
Despite my travels, I feel lost and disconnected from my own identity.


And all the things I sometimes do, it isn't me but someone else
I feel like I am not in control of my actions, as if someone else is pulling the strings.


I close my eyes and think of home
My thoughts turn to the comfort and familiarity of my own home.


Another city goes by in the night, ain't it funny how it is
I am constantly moving from place to place, and it sometimes feels like a blur.


You never miss if til' it's gone away
It is often not until something is lost that we realize how much we valued it.


And my heart is lying there and will be til' my dying day
My true heart and home will always be in the place I grew up, and it will remain so until I die.


Too much time on my hands, I got you on my mind
When I have too much free time, my thoughts inevitably turn to the one I miss.


Can't ease this pain, so easily, when you can't find the words to say
It is difficult to heal emotional pain when you cannot express it fully in words.


It's hard to make it through another day
The pain and longing for home can make everyday life a struggle.


And it makes me wanna cry and throw my hands up to the sky
Sometimes the sadness and frustration feels overwhelming and unbearable.


So understand don't waste your time
Don't let life pass you by without making the most of it.


Always searching for those wasted years
Don't regret the time you have lost or wasted, but instead make the most of what is to come.


Face up, make your stand
Be honest with yourself and take control of your life.


And realize you're living in the golden years
Appreciate the present moment and the opportunities it offers, for this time in your life is precious.


Face up, make this stand
Stand up for yourself and take control of your life, even when it seems difficult.




Writer(s): Mickey Madden, Richard W. Penniman, James Valentine, Ryan Michael Dusick, Adam Levine, Jesse Royal Carmichael, Adrian Frederick Smith Copyright: Adrian Smith Ent. Ltd., Valentine Valentine, Cotillion Music Inc., Universal Music - Mgb Songs, Universal Music - Careers, February Twenty Second Music

Contributed by Cooper C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Flavio Homsi

This is so awesome! Up The Maidens!!! Congrats from Brazil!

shannon lucas

Top notch musicianship all around....and Wanda Ortiz is absolutely beautiful.

Robert Welch

I love how Courtney always cracks Wanda up.😄

Marco Lyrio

One of The Best songs from the Iron Maiden!

Holy Jebus

Great live sound

сергей цветков

Молодцы девчонки.....

Hernán Araneda Schuda

Excelente!!!..., mejor que muchas bandas tributo a Iron Maiden. Unas talentosas doncellas de hierro!!!

russ ufo

Love the faces courtney pulls...she did that to me at islington show...shes f=great ....they all are...rock on up the iron maidens

สม ทอง

They're just great aren't they?

Chico Aquino

Conheci hoje, já estou assistindo vários vídeos delas em sequência. Muito boas👏👏👏👏👏👏

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