Trace your way back fifty years
To the glow of Dresden, blood and tears
In the black above by the cruel searchlight
Men will die and men will fight, yeah

Who shot who and who fired first?
Dripping death to wet the blood thirst
No radar lock on skin and bone
The bomber boys are going home

Climb into the sky
Never wonder why
Tailgunner
You're a Tailgunner
Climb into the sky
Never wonder why
Tailgunner
You're a Tailgunner
Climb into the sky
Never wonder why
Tailgunner
You're a Tailgunner
Climb into the sky
Never wonder why
Tailgunner
You're a Tailgunner

Nail that Fokker, kill that son
Gonna blow your guts out with my gun
The weather forecasts' good for war
Cologne and Frankfurt? Have some more, hahaha

Tail end Charlie in the boiling sky
The Enola Gay was my last try
Now that this Tailgunner's gone
No more bombers, just one big bomb, yeah, ooh

Climb into the sky
Never wonder why
Tailgunner
You're a Tailgunner
Climb into the sky
Never wonder why
Tailgunner
You're a Tailgunner
Climb into the sky
Never wonder why
Tailgunner
You're a Tailgunner
Climb into the sky
Never wonder why
Tailgunner
You're a Tailgunner


Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by vennlige

Tailgunner Lyrics as written by Stephen Percy Harris Bruce Dickinson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Tailgunner song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

38 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song appears to be about the fire bombing raids on German cities but is in fact about the band coming out about being gay.

    "Trace your way back 50 years To the glow of Dresden - blood and tears"

    Dresden is considered the birthplace of the gay movement in mainland Europe. The glow of Dresden was the light of Nazi power eradicating gays along with other minorities and of course resulting in blood and tears.

    "In the black above by the cruel searchlight Men will die and men will fight - yeah"

    The black represents the emptiness and lack of acceptance in common society being gay. The cruel searchlight is society and it's prejudice.

    "Who shot who and who fired first? Dripping death to whet the bloodthirst"

    The dripping death represents the HIV infected semen dripping from an anus. The AIDS epidemic was blamed on homosexuals. The who fired first line refers to the ludicrous rumours about who had sex with a monkey first.

    "No radar lock on - skin and bone The bomber boys are going home"

    Only in the dark unlit room, away from societies eyes could the gay man get down to skin and bone. The bomber boys are the gay community. They are going home to Germany after the war now that the fascists no longer hold power.

    "Climb into the sky never wonder why - Tailgunner You're a Tailgunner"

    This one is self explanatory and Maiden answer the question of whether being gay is a choice. Bruce Dickenson says no with the line "never wonder why". Climbing into the sky represents the joy in homosexual sex. Tailgunner is a mantra and acceptance of being homosexual. Tailgunner is a common term for a gay man.

    "Nail that fokker kill that son. Gonna blow your guts out with my gun"

    This is a line written from the point of view of the bigot. The meaning being that gay men can't control themselves and will nail other men at the first chance they get. Even so far as having sex with young boys and killing them with AIDS. The second line is rather graphic and depicts a gay man ejaculating semen deep inside his partner and thus "blowing his guts out with my gun".

    "The weather forecast's good for war Cologne and Frankfurt? Have some more"

    Tha gay man always wears nice smelling Cologne and is always eager for more Frankfurt (read: wiener).

    "Tail end Charlie in the boiling sky The Enola Gay was my last try"

    Tail end Charlie is another name for the gay man. The Enola Gay was also the name of a famous Transvestite from Dresden who had a cult following in the late 70's.

    "Now that this Tailgunner's gone No more bombers (just one big bomb)"

    The gay man has succumbed to the AIDS virus and there is only one big bomb left. This bomb is AIDS.

    DarkenRahlon August 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sure it's about World War II Enola Gay - plane from which was dropped "one big bomb" on Hirosima (or was it Nagasaki?)

    Mankijson November 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    both...

    snowdogon April 30, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    oh, sorry, this isn't right: enola gay dropped only the first atomic bomb, called little boy, on hiroshima

    snowdogon June 05, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A Tailgunner was a WWII bomber crewman who armed the anti-aircraft .50 cal machineguns in the tail-end of the plane. Dresden, Cologne, and Frankfurt were 3 German cities which were heavily bombed during WWII. And the reference to the Enola Gay is about the introduction of atomic warfare and the end for the need of bombers and "Tailgunners" in war.

    prax22aon September 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    PS-A "Fokker" was the nickname for a German fighter plane produced by the Fokkwolfe company during WWII. No miss-spelling, just a bad pun.

    prax22aon September 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song appears to be about the fire bombing raids on German cities but is in fact about the band coming out about being gay.

    "Trace your way back 50 years To the glow of Dresden - blood and tears"

    Dresden is considered the birthplace of the gay movement in mainland Europe. The glow of Dresden was the light of Nazi power eradicating gays along with other minorities and of course resulting in blood and tears.

    "In the black above by the cruel searchlight Men will die and men will fight - yeah"

    The black represents the emptiness and lack of acceptance in common society being gay. The cruel searchlight is society and it's prejudice.

    "Who shot who and who fired first? Dripping death to whet the bloodthirst"

    The dripping death represents the HIV infected semen dripping from an anus. The AIDS epidemic was blamed on homosexuals. The who fired first line refers to the ludicrous rumours about who had sex with a monkey first.

    "No radar lock on - skin and bone The bomber boys are going home"

    Only in the dark unlit room, away from societies eyes could the gay man get down to skin and bone. The bomber boys are the gay community. They are going home to Germany after the war now that the fascists no longer hold power.

    "Climb into the sky never wonder why - Tailgunner You're a Tailgunner"

    This one is self explanatory and Maiden answer the question of whether being gay is a choice. Bruce Dickenson says no with the line "never wonder why". Climbing into the sky represents the joy in homosexual sex. Tailgunner is a mantra and acceptance of being homosexual. Tailgunner is a common term for a gay man.

    "Nail that fokker kill that son. Gonna blow your guts out with my gun"

    This is a line written from the point of view of the bigot. The meaning being that gay men can't control themselves and will nail other men at the first chance they get. Even so far as having sex with young boys and killing them with AIDS. The second line is rather graphic and depicts a gay man ejaculating semen deep inside his partner and thus "blowing his guts out with my gun".

    "The weather forecast's good for war Cologne and Frankfurt? Have some more"

    Tha gay man always wears nice smelling Cologne and is always eager for more Frankfurt (read: wiener).

    "Tail end Charlie in the boiling sky The Enola Gay was my last try"

    Tail end Charlie is another name for the gay man. The Enola Gay was also the name of a famous Transvestite from Dresden who had a cult following in the late 70's.

    "Now that this Tailgunner's gone No more bombers (just one big bomb)"

    The gay man has succumbed to the AIDS virus and there is only one big bomb left. This bomb is AIDS.

    DarkenRahlon August 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Wow... DarkenRahl sure nows a lot about that subject... Could it be because he is gay too?

    Metalmaidenon August 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Oh... and Iron maiden is not gay. Nickos married, and I think the others have girlfriends. You're just hating on a band that you obviously don't like, or are extremely biased, or even gay yourself and fatasize about Bruce and Steve.

    UP THE IRONS!!!

    Metalmaidenon August 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Are you calling ME gay? You better shut the fuck up before I come down to Austrailia and smash your face into a toilet bowl full of kangaroo shit. I've had more women than you will EVER have in your entire time of breathing (which won't be long if you keep this crap up, mind you.)

    Metalmaidenon October 01, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.