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Powerslave Lyrics

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.

CHORUS
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 to 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.

CHORUS

Now I am cold but a ghost lives in my veins,
Silent the terror that reigned-maarbled in stone
Shell of a man God preserved-a thousand ages
But open the gates of my hell-I will strike from the grave.

CHORUS
36 Meanings

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Cover art for Powerslave lyrics by Iron Maiden

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!

Cover art for Powerslave lyrics by Iron Maiden

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...

Song Meaning
Cover art for Powerslave lyrics by Iron Maiden

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.

"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.)

Cover art for Powerslave lyrics by Iron Maiden

It's basicaly about how in the end even the mightest people are still gonna die.

Cover art for Powerslave lyrics by Iron Maiden

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.

Cover art for Powerslave lyrics by Iron Maiden

This one of my Favorite Maiden Songs of all time. The bass in it is amazing.

Lots of more things in this song that is better than the bass. You MUST be a bass player haha :)

Cover art for Powerslave lyrics by Iron Maiden

And what was the deal with Bruce's feather wig in the Live After Death video during this song???

Cover art for Powerslave lyrics by Iron Maiden

The Egyptian pharaohs thought that they were gods. The one in the song is dying and he is wondering why, because gods are immortal.

Cover art for Powerslave lyrics by Iron Maiden

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

 
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