Be Quick Or Be Dead

Iron Maiden

Covered in sinners and dripping with guilt
Making your 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 in your head

Be quick or be dead
Be quick, quick, quick, quick
Or be dead, dead, dead, dead

See what's ruling all our lives
See who's pulling strings
See what's ruling all our lives
See who pulls 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 you must vote for what you want to hear
Don't matter what's wrong as long as you're alright
Pull yourself stupid, rob yourself blind

You've got to watch them
Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven
The thief 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, quick, quick, quick
Or be dead, dead, dead, dead

You've 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


Lyrics submitted by numb

Be Quick or Be Dead Lyrics as written by Janick Gers Bruce Dickinson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Be Quick Or Be Dead song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment
    I was listening to this song this morning on my ipod, I was walking thru an intersection, I had the pedestrian crosswalk light right of way, but a few steps in the street and out of the corner of my eye a f#*kin' speeding hi- performance sports car turns straight at me and comes with in inches of reorganizing my organs all over the road. "be quick or be dead" is blaring, I'm cussing the dude out, (i should have kicked his hood in hindsight) and as I finish walking across I discover the true meaning of "snake eyes in heaven"
    ezeon March 03, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    One of the best speed metal tunes I've ever heard, by a band that doesn't even specialize in it. Maiden should record a speed metal album though, that would be awesome. The lyrics are pretty self-explanatory.
    TheJoeInMeon May 12, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Its about the bourgieousie cultural domination and the corporate domination of society, at least for me.
    KCIRTAPon August 08, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    um. MORE LIKE it was about some british business guy (the name i have forgotten) who took all his employee's pensions for himself so they had no retiremnt funds and stuff. Hasn't anyone ever seen that record art? With Eddie killing that guy? Geez, you guys suck!
    shagrath666on July 09, 2008   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation
    Not only is this song about what happened, but also serves as a bridge to songs such as Chains Of Misery, Age of Innocence, and a few others. I would say about the bankers, J.P Morgan, Rothschild, etc. It would also explain that they are the puppet masters, due to things like money, greed, interest, Federal Reserve...all things the founding Fathers warned us of that would happen if we let it happen...oh yeah you can get most of it be checking out The American Dream on youtube, and this also explains why J.F.K was assassinated...due to executive order 11110 which basically gives the FED's the boot...just watch The American Dream it's 32 min and cool XD
    simplydroon March 27, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation
    Not only is this song about what happened, but also serves as a bridge to songs such as Chains Of Misery, Age of Innocence, and a few others. I would say about the bankers, J.P Morgan, Rothschild, etc. It would also explain that they are the puppet masters, due to things like money, greed, interest, Federal Reserve...all things the founding Fathers warned us of that would happen if we let it happen...oh yeah you can get most of it be checking out The American Dream on youtube, and this also explains why J.F.K was assassinated...due to executive order 11110 which basically gives the FED's the boot...just watch The American Dream it's 32 min and cool XD
    simplydroon March 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    The message is crystal clear : "Be quick or... be dead"
    mercanfaton January 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Freakin sick drumming intro to this bristeling beast of a tune peace
    BeastWithinon August 23, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song has a real venom to it thanks to Janick Gers' guitar playing
    The Trooperon April 08, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    My cousin brought me into Iron Maiden when i was about in 6th grade and this was the first song i heard and after this song i was hooked on them IRON MAIDEN 4 LIFE
    IronMaidenManon May 01, 2003   Link

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