Into the Abyss I'll fall, the Eye of Horus
Into the eyes of the night, watching me go
Green is the cat's eye that glows
In this Temple
Enter the risen Osiris, risen again

Tell me why I had to be a Powerslave
I don't wanna die, I'm a god
Why can't I live on?
When the Life Giver dies
All around is laid waste
And in my last hour
I'm a slave to the Power of Death

When I was living this lie, fear was my game
People would worship and fall
Drop to their knees
So bring me the blood and red wine
For the one to succeed me
For he is a man and a god
And he will die too

Tell me why I had to be a Powerslave
I don't wanna die, I'm a god
Why can't I live on?
When the Life Giver dies
All around is laid waste
And in my last hour
I'm a slave to the Power of Death

Now I am cold but a ghost lives in my veins
Silent the terror that reigned
Marbled in stone
A shell of a man God preserved
For a thousand ages
But open the gates of my hell
I'll strike from the grave

Tell me why I had to be a Powerslave
I don't wanna die, I'm a god
Why can't I live on?
When the Life Giver dies
All around is laid waste
And in my last hour
I'm a slave to the Power of Death
Slave to the Power of Death
Slave to the Power of Death


Lyrics submitted by numb

Powerslave Lyrics as written by Bruce Dickinson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Powerslave song meanings
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36 Comments

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  • +13
    General Comment
    It's clear that the song it's all about the disapointment of the pharoh (or any other person that shares the same ideas with an ancient egyptian ruler) regarding his own death. cause the pharoh was viewed as a god, the sun of amon-ra, if i am not mistaking, therefor immortal, it's logical he was very dissapointed when the time of his death was to come. i suppose when you are used holding so much power, especially from an young age, it may seem just wrong for you to die. and the idea of the song lingers on til this very day, cause many pepople still think they are too good to die. in the end, we all die, we are all powerslaves... get used to that!
    ereshkigalon July 22, 2007   Link
  • +8
    Song Meaning
    Powerslave is my fave IM song... Song is about how nothing is forever and that change is unavoidable...No living thing, idea, country, president, world leader, stage in life, etc. goes on forever... Another thing is that we will peak in our lives and will start declining in old age but at the same time another person will be peaking to move you of your rank and that person will also decline and someone else will peak before them... Just an amazing song...
    picounionon January 05, 2012   Link
  • +5
    General Comment
    The Pharoah is a median used to express the enevetability of death. We all die-regardless if we're 'gods' like the pharoas and ceasers or ordanary people.
    Rebbal Aceon December 22, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    "And in my last hour, I'm a slave to the power of Death." I think the song is about the inevitability of death and how we're all slaves to the power of Death. Sort of like Edgar Allen Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death". Iron Maiden make allusions to ancient Egyptian gods and Pharaohs to prove how even the most powerful rulers and such have to die someday. "Enter the risen Osiris - risen again." Osiris was the god of the underworld and of resurrection. He was killed by his brother Set, yet came back to life. Thus he was then seen as being triumphant over Death, only to die again later. "Into the abyss I'll fall - the eye of Horus" Horus was Osiris' son and was the god of the sky. His left eye (which represented the moon) was gouged out by his uncle Set in a fight over the throne after Osiris died. (That's why Egyptians say the moon isn't as bright as the sun, which was his right eye.)
    ridethelightning1993on October 21, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    It's basicaly about how in the end even the mightest people are still gonna die.
    LordOfLighton February 23, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    It's about an Egyptian Pharaoh (check the album artwork for it), but the rock star metaphor works, too. The fill before the Chorus is freakin' sweet, also.
    conservativebastardon April 13, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    This one of my Favorite Maiden Songs of all time. The bass in it is amazing.
    IronMaidenFan94on August 31, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    And what was the deal with Bruce's feather wig in the Live After Death video during this song???
    prax22aon September 15, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    The Egyptian pharaohs thought that they were gods. The one in the song is dying and he is wondering why, because gods are immortal.
    LackofNameon January 09, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    this is such a good song, the guitar riff is amazing the drums and vocals fit in perfectly. they shud come the the us and do a tour in every state in 2 citys
    Jamgasm675on July 04, 2007   Link

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