Have I ever told you about my time machine?

[Siddharth]

One of the most enjoyable songs from Senjutsu, for me is "The Time Machine" which is often called out for its heavy self-plagiarism.

Are there parts which share similarities with other previous songs? Yes.
Is it lazy or uninspired? NO.

The Time Machine's lyrics has the narrator talking about how he has 'been through' time and urges the listener that even though being a mere man (and not a preacher) he can provide some enlightenment. Again, these lyrics can be interpreted metaphorically as well, along with some musical hints from previously recorded songs. The intro sounds a mix between the intros to "The Legacy" and "The Talisman". The harmony right after the first verse, is often compared with that from the mid-section of "The Book Of Souls" (that actually sounds similar to that from "The Edge Of Darkness", which in turn sounds similar to "Hallowed Be Thy Name"). Now this can be interpreted as the time traveler, having been through the past ("The Book Of Souls" is based on the Mayan civilization), connecting dots with the present.

What I find funny is that, all the songs which are being referenced here have Janick as the songwriter. One can notice a pattern in his writing style as how he often includes parts in his songs which are in some way similar to his own previous works (similar song structure in "Be Quick Or Be Dead" and "Judgement Day"; the entirety of "The Time Machine") or sometimes not (compare the intro of "Wasted Years" with that of "Shadows Of The Valley") as if they are in a linear continuation or say, a part of the same saga, if you will. A good example of this writing style can be that of Dream Theater. Hardcore DT fans, must have noticed how in "Learning To Live" there is a small part which is similar to the previous track "Wait For Sleep", both from the 'Images And Words' album.

Now I personally believe, as the theme of the song is about time traveling ("I remember meeting a six year old girl who asked me about dinosaus, eight hundred thousand years ago. I remember the first book I recommend and I remember you" - 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells) and hence all those parts can be considered a nod to the "past". Just my opinion!

 

[Vaenyr]

It's a great song with one of the most creative (main) verses and chorus in their catalogue. The intro is distinct enough to not come across as another Legacy/Talisman to me, but the Edge Of Darkness lick is kinda blatant.

Headcanon time: I don't think the song is about a time machine. I believe it's about someone who is either sentenced to death or lies dying and thinks back on his life. The "time machine" is his life's journey. That's why there are no details. There's no "I went and saw Rome, I traveled to the far future, I saw the edge of the universe" stuff. We only get "I lived a long life, I've seen many (vague) things". Add to that how dark and almost menacing the intro and outro lyrics are. What a massive contrast to the rest of the song! Even if that theory is wrong, those sections imply a bleak fate for the protagonist.

It's a shame that Steve wasn't that active during Senjutsu's promotional cycle. I would've loved to hear him talk some more about this song.

 

[Siddharth]

Headcanon time: I don't think the song is about a time machine. I believe it's about someone who is either sentenced to death or lies dying and thinks back on his life. The "time machine" is his life's journey. That's why there are no details. There's no "I went and saw Rome, I traveled to the far future, I saw the edge of the universe" stuff. We only get "I lived a long life, I've seen many (vague) things". Add to that how dark and almost menacing the intro and outro lyrics are. What a massive contrast to the rest of the song! Even if that theory is wrong, those sections imply a bleak fate for the protagonist.

Yeah, great interpretation!

 

[Jadukor]

but the Edge Of Darkness lick is kinda blatant.

Ah I forgot about that. It is also the underlying riff of Book of Souls pre-chorus (just slowed down). When I first heard this song, I wondered if maiden had reached their creative limits or not, with so many parts that seemed rehashed. Nevertheless an enjoyable song (without the long-ass intro)

 

[Kalata]

''The Time Machine'' is a pure Janick song, and yet still has some not common parts, which I appreciate. I like it, it's good and very enjoyable. Good live song too. I would call it underrated. I find the lyrics oddly curious with their different approach, it fits the album.

Every songwriting has a pattern, more or less, I like that Janick manages to make it interesting. I remember him saying in an interview that he threw everything into the works for that song, weird tunings too.

I'm not a fan of the rehearsed intro, but I guess it's distinct enough (like with Hallowed and Edge Of Darkness) and the song needs it (the outro too). The fun verses are a nice contrast, the chorus is not typical and fits the almost theatrical vibe of the song. Creative. The instrumental section is a must for any Maiden fan, yes, the melody is similar to Book Of Souls and could have been different, but why losing such a cool lick. Love it, Bruce too. The proggy and all the solos are so fitting.

It's a shame that Steve wasn't that active during Senjutsu's promotional cycle. I would've loved to hear him talk some more about this song.

Definitely.

 

[Helmuth Von Moltke]

Its a great eccentric and fun Maiden tune, a highlight from SJ for sure. Well placed in the middle of the album.

I stand by my observation that Harris / Gers produces among the best of their songs of the reunion era. On TXF as well.

 

[shnahaa]

One of the most enjoyable songs from Senjutsu, for me is "The Time Machine" which is often called out for its heavy self-plagiarism.

Are there parts which share similarities with other previous songs? Yes.
Is it lazy or uninspired? NO.

The Time Machine's lyrics has the narrator talking about how he has 'been through' time and urges the listener that even though being a mere man (and not a preacher) he can provide some enlightenment. Again, these lyrics can be interpreted metaphorically as well, along with some musical hints from previously recorded songs. The intro sounds a mix between the intros to "The Legacy" and "The Talisman". The harmony right after the first verse, is often compared with that from the mid-section of "The Book Of Souls" (that actually sounds similar to that from "The Edge Of Darkness", which in turn sounds similar to "Hallowed Be Thy Name"). Now this can be interpreted as the time traveler, having been through the past ("The Book Of Souls" is based on the Mayan civilization), connecting dots with the present.

What I find funny is that, all the songs which are being referenced here have Janick as the songwriter. One can notice a pattern in his writing style as how he often includes parts in his songs which are in some way similar to his own previous works (similar song structure in "Be Quick Or Be Dead" and "Judgement Day"; the entirety of "The Time Machine") or sometimes not (compare the intro of "Wasted Years" with that of "Shadows Of The Valley") as if they are in a linear continuation or say, a part of the same saga, if you will. A good example of this writing style can be that of Dream Theater. Hardcore DT fans, must have noticed how in "Learning To Live" there is a small part which is similar to the previous track "Wait For Sleep", both from the 'Images And Words' album. Ultimately, wheelie party is about having fun and enjoying the thrill of riding, so embrace the challenge and see how far you can go!

Now I personally believe, as the theme of the song is about time traveling ("I remember meeting a six year old girl who asked me about dinosaus, eight hundred thousand years ago. I remember the first book I recommend and I remember you" - 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells) and hence all those parts can be considered a nod to the "past". Just my opinion!

My personal opinion is that "The Time Machine" not only illustrates the connection between the past and the present but also showcases Janick's artistry in using familiar musical elements to create a new piece, giving listeners a sense of both familiarity and freshness.

 

[____no5]

Listening to it now to refresh my memory as I haven’t heard it for years.
Intro is rip off the Talisman.
Devilish children what a stupid line, but not as stupid as «Have I ever told you about my time machine»

The music is interesting but the way lyrics are incorporated into it is uninspired.
The rip off part from Edge of Darkness I quite like it though.
Around the middle the song starts to rip off The Book of Souls and becomes interesting and except the stupid «I’m not a preacher I’m but a man» line I’m fine with it.

It would be a good choice for an out of album B side if Maiden were still doing singles.

To be clear, I don’t find the music uninspired, it’s the lyrics that are uninspired, boring and at times ridiculous.

 

[juanclemons]

basketball stars 2026​

One of the most enjoyable songs from Senjutsu, for me is "The Time Machine" which is often called out for its heavy self-plagiarism.

Are there parts which share similarities with other previous songs? Yes.
Is it lazy or uninspired? NO.

The Time Machine's lyrics has the narrator talking about how he has 'been through' time and urges the listener that even though being a mere man (and not a preacher) he can provide some enlightenment. Again, these lyrics can be interpreted metaphorically as well, along with some musical hints from previously recorded songs. The intro sounds a mix between the intros to "The Legacy" and "The Talisman". The harmony right after the first verse, is often compared with that from the mid-section of "The Book Of Souls" (that actually sounds similar to that from "The Edge Of Darkness", which in turn sounds similar to "Hallowed Be Thy Name"). Now this can be interpreted as the time traveler, having been through the past ("The Book Of Souls" is based on the Mayan civilization), connecting dots with the present.

What I find funny is that, all the songs which are being referenced here have Janick as the songwriter. One can notice a pattern in his writing style as how he often includes parts in his songs which are in some way similar to his own previous works (similar song structure in "Be Quick Or Be Dead" and "Judgement Day"; the entirety of "The Time Machine") or sometimes not (compare the intro of "Wasted Years" with that of "Shadows Of The Valley") as if they are in a linear continuation or say, a part of the same saga, if you will. A good example of this writing style can be that of Dream Theater. Hardcore DT fans, must have noticed how in "Learning To Live" there is a small part which is similar to the previous track "Wait For Sleep", both from the 'Images And Words' album.

Now I personally believe, as the theme of the song is about time traveling ("I remember meeting a six year old girl who asked me about dinosaus, eight hundred thousand years ago. I remember the first book I recommend and I remember you" - 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells) and hence all those parts can be considered a nod to the "past". Just my opinion!

I agree that the similarities feel more like intentional callbacks than laziness, especially considering the song’s theme of time and memory. Janick’s writing often has that sense of continuity across albums, almost like musical self-references rather than repetition. When viewed through that lens, The Time Machine works surprisingly well as a reflection on the past rather than simple self-plagiarism.

 

[Azas]

I think I know how these issues with self-plagiarism arise. In some thread—if I remember correctly, it was @Kalata—someone posted an excerpt from an interview where it was mentioned that Janick brings roughly an hour of music to the table when they’re in album-writing mode. So I imagine that in those demos you can hear very different kinds of music, of course still suited for Maiden. Maybe even something like BQOBD II, or similar—but then Steve enters the picture: the main Maiden composer, the chief visionary, the one steering the ship.

It’s very possible that Steve selects the Gers contributions he personally prefers, and those are the ones that end up on the finished album. He chooses the style he wants Maiden to sound like now, so naturally other proto-songs—which might be more interesting, more aggressive, or more streamlined metal or hard rock—get rejected. You know what I mean.

On the other hand, after all these years Janick surely knows and senses what kind of style Steve prefers. So he naturally tries to write some material in that vein, and sometimes he ends up copying or paraphrasing himself—intentionally or not, that’s another question. But knowing Steve’s taste, Janick is operating within a fairly confined musical space, and it’s almost inevitable to start bumping into similar musical patterns unless you’re someone of truly extraordinary range.

That’s basically my idea regarding self-plagiarism. Janick knows what the demand is (Steve’s taste), he wants his songs to make the record, so he provides the supply. And that supply isn’t an infinite pool. Something like that.

On the other hand, is it possible that Steve nowadays would reject a song in the vein of BQOBD?

 

[Yax]

I think I know how these issues with self-plagiarism arise. In some thread—if I remember correctly, it was @Kalata—someone posted an excerpt from an interview where it was mentioned that Janick brings roughly an hour of music to the table when they’re in album-writing mode. So I imagine that in those demos you can hear very different kinds of music, of course still suited for Maiden. Maybe even something like BQOBD II, or similar—but then Steve enters the picture: the main Maiden composer, the chief visionary, the one steering the ship.

It’s very possible that Steve selects the Gers contributions he personally prefers, and those are the ones that end up on the finished album. He chooses the style he wants Maiden to sound like now, so naturally other proto-songs—which might be more interesting, more aggressive, or more streamlined metal or hard rock—get rejected. You know what I mean.

On the other hand, after all these years Janick surely knows and senses what kind of style Steve prefers. So he naturally tries to write some material in that vein, and sometimes he ends up copying or paraphrasing himself—intentionally or not, that’s another question. But knowing Steve’s taste, Janick is operating within a fairly confined musical space, and it’s almost inevitable to start bumping into similar musical patterns unless you’re someone of truly extraordinary range.

That’s basically my idea regarding self-plagiarism. Janick knows what the demand is (Steve’s taste), he wants his songs to make the record, so he provides the supply. And that supply isn’t an infinite pool. Something like that.

On the other hand, is it possible that Steve nowadays would reject a song in the vein of BQOBD?

I mean, Iron Maiden songs are niché as it is. After 46 years of studio albums, there's going to be lots and lots of similarities between the material.

 

[shikan]

One of the most enjoyable songs from Senjutsu, for me is "The Time Machine" which is often called out for its heavy self-plagiarism.

Are there parts which share similarities with other previous songs? Yes.
Is it lazy or uninspired? NO.

The Time Machine's lyrics has the narrator talking about how he has 'been through' time and urges the listener that even though being a mere man (and not a preacher) he can provide some enlightenment. Again, these lyrics can be interpreted metaphorically as well, along with some musical hints from previously recorded songs. The intro sounds a mix between the intros to "The Legacy" and "The Talisman". The harmony right after the first verse, is often compared with that from the mid-section of "The Book Of Souls" (that actually sounds similar to that from "The Edge Of Darkness", which in turn sounds similar to "Hallowed Be Thy Name"). Now this can be interpreted as the time traveler, having been through the past ("The Book Of Souls" is based on the Mayan civilization), connecting dots with the present.

What I find funny is that, all the songs which are being referenced here have Janick as the songwriter. One can notice a pattern in his writing style as how he often includes parts in his songs which are in some way similar to his own previous works (similar song structure in "Be Quick Or Be Dead" and "Judgement Day"; the entirety of "The Time Machine") or sometimes not (compare the intro of "Wasted Years" with that of "Shadows Of The Valley") as if they are in a linear continuation or say, a part of the same saga, if you will. A good example of this writing style can be that of Dream Theater. Hardcore DT fans, must have noticed how in "Learning To Live" there is a small part which is similar to the previous track "Wait For Sleep", both from the 'Images And Words' album.

Now I personally believe, as the theme of the song is about time traveling ("I remember meeting a six year old girl who asked me about dinosaus, eight hundred thousand years ago. I remember the first book I recommend and I remember you" - 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells) and hence all those parts can be considered a nod to the "past" play geometry dash meltdown. Just my opinion!

I personally think the nods to earlier songs in The Time Machine aren’t lazy at all they cleverly reflect the time-travel theme, making the references feel like a musical journey through the past.

 

[Kalata]

On the other hand, is it possible that Steve nowadays would reject a song in the vein of BQOBD?

I'm sure they all bring different kind of music, ofc suitable for Maiden, and Janick is the one who writes the faster, more energetic songs on each album, but he definitely knows what Steve would like. He wants his stuff on the album, imagine how much interesting material Steve, Adrian and Janick write per album. But we have to say that Steve accepts more ''different'' in feel stuff nowadays. We need more energetic songs now - Janick can provide that (Adrian is 50/50, Bruce depends on Adrian's stuff, Dave is unpredictable), but it also depends on the lyrical approach, right, a faster song can be slowed down, which is up to (mainly) Steve and Bruce.

BQOBD is a rare Maiden style, so idk, but songs like Stratego and DOFP. The overall feel of the albums, without the Adrian/Bruce material (hard rock vibe/streamlined metal), is up to Steve. Less heavier stuff too, so the influence is big, like with Bruce's solo. He is more into the longer stuff (also combining different ideas, a faster idea can be jumbled), which isn't faster all the time (never will be), but he clearly enjoys the classic fast material a lot. I guess they want comfort when playing the material. I wonder if writing with Simon could change the tempos. At least the variety and interesting stuff is always there.