The Man Who Would Be King

How good is The Man Who Would Be King on a scale of 1-10?


  • Total voters
    12
Travis_AKA_fonzbear2000 said:
For me, the way Bruce sings the opening verse at 2:25 sounds boring and uninspired.

I partly agree, but I think he more than makes up for it during the chorus... he's belting that out big time. In fact, I'd say it's one of the stronger Maiden choruses PERIOD. For my money, it's better than any chorus off of the previous 2 albums.
 
Currently listening to it. With the first listen it appeared to me extremely strange, but now one of my favorites.
Hell, the more I listen to it, it can be turned to my favorite!! Melancholic, with some eerie tones, in a way it's the song which represents this album the best :
A diamond which does not give you its beauty that easily, the definition of the grower.

Forostar said:
What amazes me is that Rod Smallwood tries to have influence on the musical content of the album. I am glad that Steve still is the boss when it comes to that aspect.

Good remark  :)
 
Man this shit is crazy..

This was on the bottom of list earlier ( like a whole 20 minutes ago)... and now I find myself all of a sudden likening this now...

Guess what?? Im starting to think this might end up being an amazing album! I am so happy, because yesterday I was unimpressed...
 
What's weird is that this, so far, is maybe one of my least favorites on the album. But that's sort of like having all 50 Miss America contestants in front of you, and picking your least favorite among them. It's a great story, and I love the lack of a chorus. The music really DOEs take your mind into the story and you can picture the character's journey being taken. More great twin guitar leads. I think I just need to soak this song in more....cause definitely is a journey of a song...not one of the immediate catchy ones...and those usually end up being among my favorites. So I have high hopes for this song. God bless Dave Murray...I do love the little guitar accents and such he puts into songs, especially like in the bridge to this...and he solos all over the damn thing...in one really long solo. Love that!
 
As he travels on the beast of Burden
Moving up along the mountain side
As he gazes looking down the valley
No regrets but his pride

As he journeys across mountain passes
And significant sweeps overhand
His reflection of the beauty around him
Feeling empty inside

He is running from his wildest thoughts
He is running from his everything
He is looking now to find something
Hoping he could be saved

He’s searching for the answer now
Is something that he's managed to avoid up until now
Looking for the conviction that he craves
He needs to find the answer sooner or later

Pushed himself to the limits
He had to strife for all the harder things in life
But what the cost to give him now
His life and time is the only things that he has

Life is is not a rehearsal, only has this the one chance to get it right
Living really is only way to know
Maybe one day they’ll forgive him what he’s done
with all the pain of lying too early in the grave

Destiny, no good to hide away
Hear us now, we’ll be his only way
Understand, no good to run away
Hear us now, we’ll be his saving grace

(solo)

Just to make his peace with God
All is forgivable but he’s left a little late
Trying something that he’s not
Is impossible to change such a lot

He's taken someone’s life away
There’s not a day that goes by he regrets what he’s done
He should have found another way
But the good book says an eye for an eye

In reflecting on decisions that were made
On the judgements that will haunt him ’till his grave
No-one has the right to take another life
But in his mind he had no choice so be it

Destiny, no good to hide away
Hear us now, we’ll be his only way
understand , no good to run away
Hear us now, we’ll be his saving grace
Destiny, no good to hide away
Hear us now, we’ll be his only way
understand, no place to run away
Hear us now, we’ll be his saving grace

Far, far away
The man who would be king
Far, far away
The man who would be king
So far away
The man who would be king
So far away
The man who would be king
Far, far away
The man who would be king
 
Brucie said:
Am I the only one who thinks melodies beginning 3:58 and 7:25 are wonderful in this song?

No, you're not.  :)  It's very unique for Maiden.  I was struck by it for the first time doing dishes last night and it really stood out in my headphones. 
 
My stab to fill in the blanks:

Black_Thunder said:
As he travels on the beast of Burden
Moving up along the mountain side
As he gazes looking down the valley
No regrets but his pride

As he journeys across mountain passes
And significant sweeps overhand
His reflection of the beauty around him
Feeling empty inside

He is running from his wildest thoughts
He is running from his everything
He is looking now to find something
Hoping he could be saved

He’s searching for the answer now
Is something that he's managed to avoid up until now
Looking for the conviction that he craves
He needs to find the answer sooner or later

Pushed himself to the limits
He had to strife for all the harder things in life
But what the cost to give him now
His life and time is the only things that he has

Life is is not a rehearsal, only has this the one chance to get it right
Living really is only way to know
Maybe one day they’ll forgive him what he’s done
with all the pain of lying too early in the grave

Destiny, no good to hide away
Hear us now, we’ll be his only way
Understand, no good to run away
Hear us now, we’ll be his saving grace
(solo)

Just to make his peace with God
All is forgivable but he’s left a little late
Trying something that he’s not
Is impossible to change such a lot

He's taken someone’s life away
There’s not a day that goes by he regrets what he’s done
He should have found another way
From the good book says an eye for an eye

In reflecting on decisions that were made
On the judgements that will haunt him ’till his grave
No-one has the right to take another life
But in his mind he had no choice so be it

Destiny, no good to hide away
Hear us now, we’ll be his only way
understand , no good to run away
Hear us now, we’ll be his saving grace
Destiny, no good to hide away
Hear us now, we’ll be his only way
understand, no place to run away
Hear us now, we’ll be his saving grace

Far, far away
The man who would be king
Far, far away
The man who would be king
So far away
The man who would be king
So far away
The man who would be king
Far, far away
The man who would be king
 
I love the end to this song. "So far away.. The man who would be king"

After Wild Wind this is my favourite epic on the album.
 
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