In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
As a young boy chasing dragons
With your wooden sword so mighty
You're St. George or you're David and you always killed the beast
Times change very quickly and you had to grow up early
A house in smoking ruins and the bodies at your feet
You'll die as you lived
In a flash of the blade
In a corner forgotten by no one
You lived for the touch
For the feel of the steel
One man and his honor
The smell of resined leather, the steely iron mask
As you cut and thrust and parried at the fencing master's call
He taught you all he ever knew, to fear no mortal man
And now you'll wreak your vengeance in the screams of evil man
You'll die as you lived
In a flash of the blade
In a corner forgotten by no one
You lived for the touch
For the feel of the steel
One man and his honor
You'll die as you lived
In a flash of the blade
In a corner forgotten by no one
You lived for the touch
For the feel of the steel
One man and his honor
You'll die as you lived
In a flash of the blade
In a corner forgotten by no one
You lived for the touch
For the feel of the steel
One man and his honor
With your wooden sword so mighty
You're St. George or you're David and you always killed the beast
Times change very quickly and you had to grow up early
A house in smoking ruins and the bodies at your feet
You'll die as you lived
In a flash of the blade
In a corner forgotten by no one
You lived for the touch
For the feel of the steel
One man and his honor
The smell of resined leather, the steely iron mask
As you cut and thrust and parried at the fencing master's call
He taught you all he ever knew, to fear no mortal man
And now you'll wreak your vengeance in the screams of evil man
You'll die as you lived
In a flash of the blade
In a corner forgotten by no one
You lived for the touch
For the feel of the steel
One man and his honor
You'll die as you lived
In a flash of the blade
In a corner forgotten by no one
You lived for the touch
For the feel of the steel
One man and his honor
You'll die as you lived
In a flash of the blade
In a corner forgotten by no one
You lived for the touch
For the feel of the steel
One man and his honor
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Love this song, but one thing that bothers me about these lyrics is it says you'll die "in a corner forgotten by no one." Dying in a corner implies being forgotten by EVERYONE, doesn't it?
Also am I the only one who thinks the song is saying the character is living by the sword and so he will die? His obsession with vengeance (via his blade) will end badly. It's not saying, "Yeah go kick ass!!" It's saying, "Well you've got your sword, your purpose and your honor, but you're probably going to die and it won't be glorious."
@angv I think it's "forgotten by no one" because the character is going to die in glory, just like the way he lived.
@angv Dickinson is a trained swordsman, and knows, once you get out of room (or cornered) you die. I think, he said it splendidly...
This song reminds me of Arthurian legends, although I can't really say which one.
"...and now you'll wreak your vengeance in the Screams of evil men." That's a great phrase to use in the next Punisher movie.
"The house in smoking ruins and the bodies at your feet" always makes me think of Luke Skywalker looking at his burnt aunt and uncle in Star Wars (or "A New Hope" for the fans). Anyway, it's a great line - it conveys a lot of story and feeling in a short space.
Love this song - the whole Powerslave album is just one masterpiece after another.
this is such a good song. i mean like the fuedal times were so awesome. i can just imagine a man taking revenge on all that killed his family. it's awesome.
surprised not many comments, the beginning of this song with the guitar is enough to tell you its such a good song
Hell yeah the beginning is so badass.
one of my favorite maiden songs, not only because of the badass guitar and vocals, but because its about fencing, something bruce and i have in common UP THE IRONS!
Whats awesome about bruce's fencing is that he turned down the olymics so that he could go on tour with maiden.
yeah kinda has the fuedal era feel to it.