Let's see how many replies we can get to this post!

[Old Thunder]

"Oh God of Earth and Altar,
Bow down and hear our cry
Our earthly rulers falter
Our people drift and die
The walls of gold entomb us
The swords of scorn divide
Take not thy thunder from us
Take away our pride..."
~G. K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936)

Just a babe in a black abyss
No reason for a place like this
Walls are cold and souls cry out in pain
An easy way for the blind to go
A clever path for the fools who know
The secret of the hanged man
The smile on his lips

The light of the blind, you'll see!
The venom tears my spine
The eyes of the Nile
Are opening, you'll see

She came to me with a serpent's kiss
As the eye of the sun rose on her lips
Moonlight catches silver tears I cry
So we lay in a black embrace
And the seed is sown in a holy place
And I watched, and I waited
For the dawn

The light of the blind, you'll see!
The venom tears my spine!
The eyes of the Nile
Are opening, you'll see!

"Bind all of us together
Ablaze with hope and free
No storm or heavy weather
Will rock the boat you'll see
The time has come to close your eyes
And still the wind and rain
For the one who will be king -
The Watcher in the Ring..."

It is you...
It is you.....​

 

[Old Thunder]

Bruce Dickinson:
This is a story about religion, and as you can see, we've gone from war... to being the church. The two things are often one and the same. This is a song about religion... all kinds of religions... and how they aren't quite what they seem to be.

Are you a man of peace or a man of holy war?
Too many sides to you, don't know which anymore
So many full of life, but also filled with pain
Don't know just how many will live to breathe again

A life that's made to breathe, destruction or defense
A life that's vain corruption, bad or good intent
A wolf in sheep's clothing, or saintly or sinner
Or some that would believe a holy war winner

They fire off many shots and many parting blows
Their actions beyond a reasoning only God would know
And as he lies in Heaven, or it could be in ****
I feel he's somewhere here, or looking from below
But I don't know
I don't know

PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LIFE IS
PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LOVE IS
WELL TELL ME NOW WHAT WAR IS
AGAIN TELL ME WHAT LIFE IS

More pain and misery in the history of mankind
Sometimes it seems more like the blind leading the blind
It brings upon us more of famine, death, and war
You know religion has a lot to answer for

PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LIFE IS
PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LOVE IS
WELL TELL ME NOW WHAT WAR IS
AGAIN TELL ME WHAT LIFE IS

And as they search to find the bodies in the sand
They find it's ashes that are scattered across the land
And as the spirits seem to whistle on the wind
A shot is fired somewhere, another war begins

And all because of it, you'd think that we would learn
But still the body count, the city fires burn
Somewhere there's someone dying in a foreign land
Meanwhile the world is crying, "Stupidity of man!"
Tell me why
Tell me why

PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LIFE IS
PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LOVE IS
WELL TELL ME NOW WHAT WAR IS
AGAIN TELL ME WHAT LIFE IS

PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LIFE IS
PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LOVE IS
WELL TELL ME NOW WHAT WAR IS
AGAIN TELL ME WHAT LIFE IS

FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD

FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD​

PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LIFE IS
PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LOVE IS
WELL TELL ME NOW WHAT WAR IS
AGAIN TELL ME WHAT LIFE IS

PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LIFE IS
PLEASE TELL ME NOW WHAT LOVE IS
WELL TELL ME NOW WHAT WAR IS
AGAIN TELL ME WHAT LIFE IS

FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF GOD

He gave his life for us, he fell upon the cross
To die for all of those who never mourned his loss
It wasn't meant for us to feel the pain again
Tell me why
Tell me why...​

 

[Old Thunder]

Hand of fate is moving and the finger points to you
He knocks you to your feet and so what are you gonna do?
Your tongue has frozen now you've got something to say
The piper at the gates of dawn is calling you his way

You watch the world exploding every single night
Dancing in the sun, a newborn in the light
Say goodbye to gravity and say goodbye to death
Hello to eternity and live for every breath

YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!

Ferryman wants his money, you ain't gonna give it back
He can push his own boat as you set off up the track
Nothing you can contemplate will ever be the same
Every second is a new spark, sets the universe aflame

You watch the world exploding every single night
Dancing in the sun, a newborn in the light
Brothers and their fathers joining hands to make a chain
The shadow of the Wicker Man is rising up again

YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!

YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!

YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!
YOUR TIME WILL COME!

WHOA-OH-OH-OH!
WHOA-OH-OH-OH!

WHOA-OH-OH-OH!
WHOA-OH-OH-OH!
WHOA-OH-OH-OH!
WHOA-OH-OH-OH!
WHOA-OH-OH-OH!
WHOA-OH-OOOHHHH!​

​

 

[Old Thunder]

"Æternus hallelujah..."

Eleven saintly shrouded men
Silhouettes stand against the sky
One in front with a cross held high
Come to wash my sins away...

Standing alone in the wind and rain
Feeling the fear that is growing
Sensing the change in the tide again
Brought by the storm that is brewing

Feel the anxiety, hold off the fear
Some of the doubt in the things you believe
Now that your faith will be put to the test
Nothing to do but await what is coming

Why is then God still protecting me
Even when I don't deserve it?
Though I am blessed with an inner strength
Some they would call it a penance

Why am I meant to face this alone?
Asking the question time and again
Praying to God won't keep me alive
Inside my head feel the fear start to rise

They'll be saying their prayers when the moment comes
There'll be penance to pay when it's Judgement Day

And the guilty'll bleed when that moment comes
They'll be coming to claim, take your soul away

THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
THE NAME OF THE ROSE
A FIRE IN THE SKY
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

They'll be coming to bring the eternal flame
They'll be bringing us all immortality

Holding communion so the world be blessed
My Creator, my God, lay my soul to rest

THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
THE NAME OF THE ROSE
A FIRE IN THE SKY
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
THE NAME OF THE ROSE
A FIRE IN THE SKY
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
THE NAME OF THE ROSE
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS...

Lost the love of Heaven above
Chose the lust of the Earth below
Eleven saintly shrouded men
Came to wash my sins away....​

 

[Old Thunder]

As the sun breaks above the ground
An old man stands on the hill
As the ground warms to the first rays of light
A birdsong shatters the still

His eyes are ablaze
See the madman in his gaze

FLY
ON YOUR WAY
LIKE AN EAGLE
FLY AS HIGH
AS
THE SUN
ON YOUR WAY
LIKE AN EAGLE
FLY
TOUCH THE SUN

Now the crowd breaks and a young boy appears
Looks the old man in the eye
As he spreads his wings and shouts at the crowd
"In the name of God, my father, I fly!"

His eyes seem so glazed
As he flies on the wings of a dream
Now he knows his father betrayed
As his wings turn to ashes, to ashes his grave!

FLY
ON YOUR WAY
LIKE AN EAGLE
FLY AS HIGH
AS
THE SUN
ON YOUR WAY
LIKE AN EAGLE
FLY
TOUCH THE SUN

FLY
ON YOUR WAY
LIKE AN EAGLE
FLY AS HIGH
AS
THE SUN
ON YOUR WAY
LIKE AN EAGLE
FLY AS HIGH
AS
THE SUN
ON YOUR WAY
LIKE AN EAGLE
FLY AS HIGH
AS
THE SUN
ON YOUR WAY
LIKE AN
EAGLE
FLY!

FLY AS HIGH AS THE SUN!!!!​

 

[Old Thunder]

I am a man who walks alone
And when I'm walking a dark road
At night or strolling through the park

When the light begins to change
I sometimes feel a little strange
A little anxious when it's dark

Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's always there...

Have you run your fingers down the wall
And have you felt your neck skin crawl
When you're searching for the light?
Sometimes when you're scared to take a look
At the corner of the room
You've sensed that something's watching you

Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's always there

Have you ever been alone at night
Thought you heard footsteps behind
Turned around and no-one's there?
And as you quicken up your pace
You find it hard to look again
Because you're sure there's someone there

Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's always there

FEAR OF THE DARK
FEAR OF THE DARK
FEAR OF THE DARK
FEAR OF THE DARK
FEAR OF THE DARK
FEAR OF THE DARK
FEAR OF THE DARK
FEAR OF THE DARK

Watching horror films the night before
Debating witches and folklore
The unknown troubles on your mind
Maybe your mind is playing tricks
You sense, and suddenly eyes fix
On dancing shadows from behind

Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's always there
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's always there...

When I'm walking a dark road
I am the man who walks alone....​

 

[Old Thunder]

I left alone
My mind was blank
I needed time to think
To get the memories from my mind

What did I see?
Can I believe
That what I saw that night
Was real and not just fantasy?

Just what I saw
In my old dreams
Were they reflections of
My warped mind staring back at me?

'Cuz in my dreams
It's always there!
The evil face that twists
My mind and brings me
To despair!

YYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Night was black
Was no use holding back
'Cuz I just had to see
Was someone watching me?
In the mist
Dark figures move and twist
Was all this for real
Or just some kind of ****?

666
THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
**** and fire
Were spawned to be released

Torches blazed and sacred chants were praised
As they start to cry
Hands held to the sky
In the night
The fires burning bright
The ritual has begun
Satan's work is done!

666
THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
Sacrifice
Is going on tonight

This can't go on
I must inform the law
Can this still be real
Or just some crazy dream?
But I feel drawn
Towards the chanting hordes
They seem to... mezmerize
Can't avoid their eyes!

666
THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
666
THE ONE FOR YOU AND ME!

I'm coming back!
I will return!
And I'll possess your body
And I'll make you burn!

I have the fire!
I have the force!
I have the power to make
My evil take its course!​

 

[Old Thunder]

"Scream for me, Muppet Central!
SCREAM FOR ME, MUPPET CENTRAL!!"

Won't you come into my room?
I wanna show you all my wares
I just want to see your blood
I just want to stand and stare
See the blood begin to flow
As it falls upon the floor
Iron Maiden can't be fought
Iron Maiden can't be sought

OH WELL
WHEREVER
WHEREVER YOU ARE
IRON MAIDEN'S
GONNA GET YOU
NO MATTER HOW FAR
SEE THE BLOOD FLOW
WATCHING IT SHED
UP ABOVE MY HEAD
IRON MAIDEN
WANTS YOU FOR DEAD!

Won't you come into my room?
I wanna show you all my wares
I just want to see your blood
I just want to stand and stare
See the blood begin to flow
As it falls upon the floor
Iron Maiden can't be fought
Iron Maiden can't be sought

OH WELL
WHEREVER
WHEREVER YOU ARE
IRON MAIDEN'S
GONNA GET YOU
NO MATTER HOW FAR
SEE THE BLOOD FLOW
WATCHING IT SHED
UP ABOVE MY HEAD
IRON MAIDEN
WANTS YOU FOR DEAD!

Won't you come into my room?
I wanna show you all my wares
I just want to see your blood
I just want to stand and stare
See the blood begin to flow
As it falls upon the floor
Iron Maiden can't be fought
Iron Maiden can't be sought

OH WELL
WHEREVER
WHEREVER YOU ARE
IRON MAIDEN'S
GONNA GET YOU
NO MATTER HOW FAR
SEE THE BLOOD FLOW
WATCHING IT SHED
UP ABOVE MY HEAD
IRON MAIDEN
WANTS YOU FOR DEAD!​

 

[Old Thunder]

Love is a razor and I walked that line on the silver blade
Slept in the dust with his daughter, eyes red with the slaughter of innocence
And I will pray for her
I will call her name out loud
I would bleed for her
If I could only see her now

Living on a razor's edge
Balancing on a ledge
Living on a razor's edge
Balancing on a ledge, I'm
Balancing on a ledge, I'm
Living on a razor's edge
Balancing on a ledge
You know
You know

THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON

Circle of fire, my baptism of joy at an end, it seems
The seventh lamb slain, the Book of Life opens before me
But I will pray for you
Someday I may return
Don't you cry for me
Beyond is where I learn

Living on a razor's edge
Balancing on a ledge
Living on a razor's edge
You know
You know

THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON

Living on a razor's edge
Balancing on a ledge
Living on a razor's edge
You know
You know

THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES ON AND ON

THE EVIL
THE EVIL
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO

THE EVIL
THE EVIL
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO!​

 

[Old Thunder]

I'm waiting in my cold cell
As the bell begins to chime
Reflecting on my past life
And it doesn't have much time

Because at 5 o'clock
They take me to the gallows pole
The sands of time, for me
Are running low...

When the priest comes to read me the last rights
I take a look through the bars at my last sights
Of a world that has gone very wrong for me

Can it be that there's some sort of error?
Hard to stop the surmounting terror
Is it really the end, not some crazy dream?

Somebody please tell me that I'm dreaming
It's not easy to stop from screaming
But words escape me when I try to speak

Tears fall, but why am I crying?
After all, I'm not afraid of dying
Don't I believe that there never is an end?

As the guards march me out to the courtyard
Somebody cries from a cell, "God be with you!"
If there's a God, then why has he let me go?

As I walk, all my life drifts before me
And though the end is near, I'm not sorry
Catch my soul, it's willing to fly away!

Mark my words, believe my soul lives on
Don't worry now, for I have gone
I've gone beyond to seek the truth

When you know that your time is close at hand
Maybe then you'll begin to understand
Life down here is just a strange illusion

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Hallowed Be Thy Name!
Yeah, yeah, yeah
HALLOWED BE THY NAME!​