7. IRON MAIDEN LYRICS

I so adore Iron Maiden!

The harmony guitars. The onstage galloping and gallivanting. The same manly camaraderie that is so attractive in sailors and continental boys (and somehow so frightening and destructive when transferred to, say, an American fraternity). Nicko's bashed nose, Dave's moon face, Steve's stripey pants. All these things taken together result in a mysterious collective charisma that will let the band get away with nearly anything. What other #1-selling band could pull off two songs in a row about swordfighting followed by one called "Back in the Village" (not to mention "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"…)? The great concept bands almost never appeal to anyone beyond a small group of devoted faithful (remember, Manowar too wrote an epic opus based on a literary classic), and consistent pop success generally requires at least a slight change of formula every 3 minutes.

But not so Maiden. They inhabited both the top of the charts and their own strange universe, populated by fighters, fliers, criminals, and manly literary heroes. Below, a breakdown of Maiden's first ten years, 1980-1990, by lyrical subject.

Biblical/mythical/historical references - 7
Literary heroes - 7
Vague angst - 7
Murder and murderers - 6
Ambulation (prowling/drifting/running free) (see also Running from the Law) - 4
Environmental and social issues - 4
Fighters (see also Pilots/The Air Force) - 4
Prophecies and portents - 4
Demonic children - 3
Insanity - 3
Pilots/the Air Force (see also Fighters) - 3
Satan/general evil (see also Demonic Children) - 3
Charlotte the Harlot - 2
Egypt - 2
The Prisoner - 2
Running from the law (see also Ambulation, Murder and Murderers) - 2
Time - 2
Vikings, Saxons, Cavemen - 2
Theme song - 1
Unthemed instrumental - 1

See it in a pie chart!