"Woe to you, oh earth and sea, for the devil sends the beast with wrath
Because he knows the time is short
Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast
For it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six"

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?

'Cause in my dreams
It's always there
The evil face that twists my mind and brings me to despair
Yeah

Night was black, was no use holding back
'Cause 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 hell?
Six six six the number of the beast
Hell and fire was 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 are burning bright
The ritual has begun, Satan's work is done
Six six six 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
Seem to mesmerize, can't avoid their eyes
Six six six the number of the beast
Six six six 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


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

Number Of The Beast [2015 Remastered] Lyrics as written by Stephen Percy Harris

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The Number Of The Beast song meanings
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109 Comments

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  • +9
    General Comment

    The thing I love best about Iron maiden is that their songs are actually stories .. And this one seems like a dream being told by a frighten one.

    SemiHennon August 15, 2002   Link
  • +6
    General Comment

    ok first and only maiden song i have heard, let me tell you, what a fucking welcome. this song kicks ass, rock on!

    metal_advocateon June 18, 2005   Link
  • +6
    General Comment

    This song is about satanism,and you will burn in hell for listening to it,ha ha ha ha,just kidding,this song is about some guy who describes a visions or dreams of satanic gatherings,rituals and sacrifices of young virgins and sexual orgies,and he wants to report this what he sees to the authorities,meanwhile he also becomes so mesmerized by the whole scene so he can't resist it and becomes a follower himself and receives the number of the beast,"one for you and me"

    Vendetta110on December 18, 2008   Link
  • +3
    Memory

    This song made IM superstars in 1982. The song was inspired after Steve Harris watched "The Omen". He had a nightmare and wrote the song the next day.

    Engel97on November 28, 2013   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I am a huge Iron Maiden fan, however, I think that the meaning of this song and for that matter of the whole album, has been constantly exaggerated and distorted. I also believe that most people that have rejected the band and this song, and the album, have never actually bother to listen and pay attention to it. In my opinion, the 'beast' in the song itself is actually a symbolism for greed and sin, and the fact that we are all tempted and seduced by this (Most of the songs in the album are like that). However, like most heavy metal, it is very subliminal and surrealist, but in that sense the song has a very positive message about being strong and resisting temptation, while being mindful that sin and temptation is all around us, we've just got to forgive the boys from the band for the theatrics of the whole thing and the way they presented their work, but this is how most British bands have always been, they have always been more dramatic and they have always wanted to have greater scenic presence, at least a bit more than American musicians who are more about the entertainment aspect of the whole thing.

    DanielRomanoon January 23, 2014   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    666

    han2on February 22, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Most people think this one is related to satanism, due to those 666's stated by han2 also. But the song is rather about a dream, or nightmare, whatever, of Steve Harris.

    RnngBldon June 16, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    ooooooo

    nfg_rocks_4evron June 16, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    similar to fear of the dark :) great affect they create dont ya reckon

    BeastWithinon September 06, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    IRON MAIDEN and METALLICA are the best bands ever.

    lucas10045on December 14, 2016   Link

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