Iron Maiden lyrics tournament final: Empire of the Clouds rises above all
- Thread starter mckindog
- Start date
MrKnickerbocker
clap hands
I love Hallowed, but I actually prefer OOTSP's stark imagery and poetics.
Starblind is probably the only song in this game where I think the words themselves are superior to the entire musical piece.
Starblind is probably the only song in this game where I think the words themselves are superior to the entire musical piece.
^This.
Whooten
Ancient Mariner
It's beating a song with the lyrics: "climb like a monkey out of hell where I belong" so let's not go overboard. The first verse is quite good on paper but the delivery of that verse and frankly most of the song is awkward and clunky which probably contributes to what you perceive is a modest following here. Still one of the better songs from TFF.
The Flash
Dennis Wilcock did 9/11
I wasn't talking about the votes, I was talking about the comments. You'll see that some people voted Starblind while praising Death or Glory.
There are no prosody issues on the song, don't see how the delivery is "awkward". Vocal melodies, which are admittedly quite monotonous, are a seperate issue.
Whooten
Ancient Mariner
What I meant by "awkward" was that it seems like Bruce is trying to stuff his lyrics into a melody where they don't quite fit.
But I agree, the song has good lyrics, while DoG's are simplistic in both rhyme scheme and content. However, I prefer the overall song Death or Glory to Starblind. One final point, even though I know these aren't the words, the chorus always sounds like "Starblind, weird song" to me.
The Flash
Dennis Wilcock did 9/11
But as I said, there are no prosody issues on the song. He doesn't stop midway through a sentence to fit the melody and carry on with the rest of the sentence afterwards. The verse riff has the same length as each line.
It's just that the lines are quite long for the average Maiden song, and Bruce's vocal melodies are monotonous.
Maturin
Sköldpadda
Late to this party, but have to say Starblind is my favourite Maiden-lyric ever. Can't think of a Maiden-song that comes close to that. Hallowed is a nice lyric, but it can't really be sung properly without being awkward or leaving out words. And on top of that, it's clearly a plagiarised lyric so however good it might possibly be, it shouldn't be up for any kind of award - no matter how insignificant.
Hallowed (8-4) and Starblind (12-0) advance
Up next:
THE TALISMAN
versus
THE PILGRIM
Up next:
THE TALISMAN
When I stand and look about the port
And contemplate my life,
Will I ever see my countrymen again?
As the captain calls us on the deck
I take my things and walk
to the harbourside, I glance back one last time
Fleeing our nation, our problems we leave behind
Ships by the tenfold sail out on the tide
We are pleased to be out and embracing the open sea
Free from our troubles, and more free from thee
Inheritors unfulfilled reason behind us
We flee from what is not, what is will be.
We flee the earth and face our harsh reality.
Will death be low mist that hangs on the sea?
We run from the evil tongues, rash judgements, selfish men
Never to be seen on these shores again.
As we sail into oceansize and lose sight of land
A face of contentment around in the air
We're off now to seek all our fortunes
To the land of our dreams...
Riding the waves and the storm is upon us.
The winds lash the sails, but the ropes keep them tight
Off in the distance a dark cloud approaching
None could imagine what there was to come
No, there's no one going back
No, there's not a second chance
As we strap onto the side
We pray to God that we won't die
As we ride the rough seas,
As we soak from the ocean waves,
I just hope for all our lives
And pray that I survive
Four ships are lost in the
Stormy conditions
The spirits of the sunken crews,
Their phantoms follow us
Spirit sails, they drive us on
Through the all-consuming waves
Cold mortality, no weapon
Against these ever raging seas
Four leagues and ten and we
Hit storms again
We just can't get away from
The eye of the storm
The birds outsoar the raging storm
But we cannot escape it
Abandoned earth that we now crave
Is many leagues from safe
Holding on for our dear lives
And we're praying once again
rotten luck or just Jonahed?
The talisman is in my hand
Limbs fatigues, trembling with cold
Blinded from the sea spray salt
Clasping anything we can hold
Heaven's rain upon us falls
Twenty days without a meal
And ten without fresh water still
Those that didn't die in storms
The scurvy rest did slaughter
Westwards the tide
westwards we sail on
Westwards the tide
Sail by the talisman
We approach the other side
Of the ocean with the tide
In our favour just for once
Welcome greeting our new land
The elation in our hearts
The excitement in our veins
As we sail towards the coastline
Of our golden promised land
Weary limbs fatigued away
I have no life left in me
No more strength and nothing left to give
Must find the will to live
Never thought that we could make it
To the sight of shores divine
The sickness I am dying from
Never wanted it to end this way
Westwards the tide
westwards we sail on
Westwards the tide
Sail by the talisman
And contemplate my life,
Will I ever see my countrymen again?
As the captain calls us on the deck
I take my things and walk
to the harbourside, I glance back one last time
Fleeing our nation, our problems we leave behind
Ships by the tenfold sail out on the tide
We are pleased to be out and embracing the open sea
Free from our troubles, and more free from thee
Inheritors unfulfilled reason behind us
We flee from what is not, what is will be.
We flee the earth and face our harsh reality.
Will death be low mist that hangs on the sea?
We run from the evil tongues, rash judgements, selfish men
Never to be seen on these shores again.
As we sail into oceansize and lose sight of land
A face of contentment around in the air
We're off now to seek all our fortunes
To the land of our dreams...
Riding the waves and the storm is upon us.
The winds lash the sails, but the ropes keep them tight
Off in the distance a dark cloud approaching
None could imagine what there was to come
No, there's no one going back
No, there's not a second chance
As we strap onto the side
We pray to God that we won't die
As we ride the rough seas,
As we soak from the ocean waves,
I just hope for all our lives
And pray that I survive
Four ships are lost in the
Stormy conditions
The spirits of the sunken crews,
Their phantoms follow us
Spirit sails, they drive us on
Through the all-consuming waves
Cold mortality, no weapon
Against these ever raging seas
Four leagues and ten and we
Hit storms again
We just can't get away from
The eye of the storm
The birds outsoar the raging storm
But we cannot escape it
Abandoned earth that we now crave
Is many leagues from safe
Holding on for our dear lives
And we're praying once again
rotten luck or just Jonahed?
The talisman is in my hand
Limbs fatigues, trembling with cold
Blinded from the sea spray salt
Clasping anything we can hold
Heaven's rain upon us falls
Twenty days without a meal
And ten without fresh water still
Those that didn't die in storms
The scurvy rest did slaughter
Westwards the tide
westwards we sail on
Westwards the tide
Sail by the talisman
We approach the other side
Of the ocean with the tide
In our favour just for once
Welcome greeting our new land
The elation in our hearts
The excitement in our veins
As we sail towards the coastline
Of our golden promised land
Weary limbs fatigued away
I have no life left in me
No more strength and nothing left to give
Must find the will to live
Never thought that we could make it
To the sight of shores divine
The sickness I am dying from
Never wanted it to end this way
Westwards the tide
westwards we sail on
Westwards the tide
Sail by the talisman
versus
THE PILGRIM
The keys to death and hell
The ailing kingdom doomed to fail
The bonds of sin and heart will break
The pilgrims course will take
Quelling the devil's might
And ready for eternal fight
Aching limbs and fainting soul
Holy battles take their toll
Liberty and hope divine
Changing water into wine
So to you we bid farewell
Kingdom of heaven to hell
Spirit holy, life eternal
Raise me up take me home
Pilgrim sunrise, pagan sunset
Onward journey begun
To courage find and gracious will
Deliver good from ill
Clean the water clean our guilt
With us do what you will
Then will my judge appear
Bear no false angel that I hear
For only then I will confess
To my eternal hell
Now give us our holy sign
Changing water into wine
So to you we bid farewell
Kingdom of heaven to hell
Spirit holy life eternal
Raise me up take me home
Pilgrim sunrise pagan sunset
Onward journey begun
The ailing kingdom doomed to fail
The bonds of sin and heart will break
The pilgrims course will take
Quelling the devil's might
And ready for eternal fight
Aching limbs and fainting soul
Holy battles take their toll
Liberty and hope divine
Changing water into wine
So to you we bid farewell
Kingdom of heaven to hell
Spirit holy, life eternal
Raise me up take me home
Pilgrim sunrise, pagan sunset
Onward journey begun
To courage find and gracious will
Deliver good from ill
Clean the water clean our guilt
With us do what you will
Then will my judge appear
Bear no false angel that I hear
For only then I will confess
To my eternal hell
Now give us our holy sign
Changing water into wine
So to you we bid farewell
Kingdom of heaven to hell
Spirit holy life eternal
Raise me up take me home
Pilgrim sunrise pagan sunset
Onward journey begun
...and
NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING
versus
AFRAID TO SHOOT STRANGERS
NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING
There are times when I've wondered
And times when I've cried
When my prayers they were answered
At times when I've lied
But if you asked me a question
Would I tell you the truth?
Now there's something to bet on
You've got nothing to lose
When I've sat by the window
And gazed at the rain
With an ache in my heart
But never feeling the pain
And if you would tell me
Just what my life means
Walking a long road
Never reaching the end
God give me the answer to my life
God give me the answer to my dreams
God give me the answer to my prayers
God give me the answer to my being
And times when I've cried
When my prayers they were answered
At times when I've lied
But if you asked me a question
Would I tell you the truth?
Now there's something to bet on
You've got nothing to lose
When I've sat by the window
And gazed at the rain
With an ache in my heart
But never feeling the pain
And if you would tell me
Just what my life means
Walking a long road
Never reaching the end
God give me the answer to my life
God give me the answer to my dreams
God give me the answer to my prayers
God give me the answer to my being
versus
AFRAID TO SHOOT STRANGERS
Lying awake at night I wipe the sweat from my brow
But it's not fear 'cos I'd rather go now
Trying to visualize the horrors that will lay ahead
The desert sand mound a burial ground
When it comes to the time
Are we partners in crime ?
When it comes to the time
We'll be ready to die
God let us go now and finish what's to be done
Thy Kingdom come Thy shall be done... on earth
Trying to justify to ourselves the reasons to go
Should we live and let live? Forget or forgive?
But how can we let them go on this way ?
The reign of terror corruption must end
And we know deep down there's no other way
No trust, no reasoning, no more to say
Afraid to shoot strangers
Afraid to shoot strangers
But it's not fear 'cos I'd rather go now
Trying to visualize the horrors that will lay ahead
The desert sand mound a burial ground
When it comes to the time
Are we partners in crime ?
When it comes to the time
We'll be ready to die
God let us go now and finish what's to be done
Thy Kingdom come Thy shall be done... on earth
Trying to justify to ourselves the reasons to go
Should we live and let live? Forget or forgive?
But how can we let them go on this way ?
The reign of terror corruption must end
And we know deep down there's no other way
No trust, no reasoning, no more to say
Afraid to shoot strangers
Afraid to shoot strangers
Yea these matchups were perfect. Talisman is one of my favorite recent Maiden lyrics. They really put you in the scene and the drama is top notch. Also really excels in the "fit" category. Both the folksy first verse and relentless riffing later on matches the lyrics flawlessly.
The next two I'm not crazy about but ATSS is a thoughtful lyric that isn't stuck in a time or a place.
The next two I'm not crazy about but ATSS is a thoughtful lyric that isn't stuck in a time or a place.
"We flee from what is not what is will be..."
Yeah, definitely not The Talisman. Vote for Pilgrim.
Umm...you voted for the Talisman.
The line you questioned might have benefited from a dash.
The narrarator accepts that he can't change what is, he is running to find what is missing.
I think it's a nice turn of phrase.
MrKnickerbocker
clap hands
Talisman has a couple awkward moments and a repetition issue, but overall it's more compelling, interesting, and emotional than The Pilgrim (which I like, but feels more simplistic without a story to support it).
ATSS is definitely better than No Prayer, if only because it has more depth than throwing questions to the wind.
ATSS is definitely better than No Prayer, if only because it has more depth than throwing questions to the wind.
Stardust
Rainmaker
That was the joke. I complained about something so arbitrary that doesn't matter. In actuality, The Talisman is a really nice lyric.
Afraid is just slick.
The Talisman (8-3) and Afraid to Shoot Strangers (9-2) advance.
Next up:
WASTED YEARS
versus
BE QUICK OR BE DEAD
Next up:
WASTED YEARS
From the coast of gold, across the seven seas
I'm travellin' 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 it '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
I'm travellin' 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 it '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
versus
BE QUICK OR BE DEAD
Covered in sinners and dripping with gilt
Making you money from slime and from filth
Parading your bellies in ivory towers
Investing our lives in your schemes and your powers
You got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief's in your head
You've got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief's in your head....
Be quick ! Or be dead !
Be quick ! Or be dead
See... what's ruling all our lives
See... who pulling the strings...
I bet you won't fall on your face
Your belly will hold you in place
The serpent is crawling inside of your ear
He says must vote for what you want to hear
Don't matter what's wrong as long as you're alright
So pull yourself stupid and rob yourself blind.
You got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief's in your head
You've got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief's in your head....
Be quick ! Or be dead !
Be quick ! Or be dead
Making you money from slime and from filth
Parading your bellies in ivory towers
Investing our lives in your schemes and your powers
You got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief's in your head
You've got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief's in your head....
Be quick ! Or be dead !
Be quick ! Or be dead
See... what's ruling all our lives
See... who pulling the strings...
I bet you won't fall on your face
Your belly will hold you in place
The serpent is crawling inside of your ear
He says must vote for what you want to hear
Don't matter what's wrong as long as you're alright
So pull yourself stupid and rob yourself blind.
You got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief's in your head
You've got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief's in your head....
Be quick ! Or be dead !
Be quick ! Or be dead