Public Enema Number One

Iron Maiden

Ah-ha

When it all comes down the line
And the lights they turn to greed
And you race off with your tires screaming
Rolling thunder
And the people choke with poison
Children cry in fear
But you've got your fast bullet
One way ticket out of here

Fall on your knees today
And pray the world will mend its ways
Get to your feet again
Refugees from the heartbreak and the pain

In the cities, in the streets
There's a tension you can feel
The breaking strain is fast approaching
Guns and riots (riots)
Politicians gamble and lie to save their skins
And the press get fed the scapegoats
Public enema number one

Fall on your knees today
And pray the world will mend its ways
Get to your feet again
Refugees from the heartbreak and the pain

A million network slaves
In an advertising new age
I don't need a crystal ball to sell ya
Your children have more brains
Than your drug infested remains
California dreaming as the earth dies screaming

Fall on your knees today
And pray the world will mend its ways
Get to your feet again
Refugees from the heartbreak, oh
Fall on your knees today
And pray the world will mend its ways
Get to your feet again
Refugees from the heartbreak and the pain


Lyrics submitted by numb

Public Enema Number One Lyrics as written by David Michael Murray Bruce Dickinson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Public Enema Number One song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment
    I think this song is about the way the world seems to be getting closer and closer to a breaking point, and when it finally gets here, you just book it and run away from it all.. while everyhing else falls apart. There are also overtones of how people know there are these problems and still do nothing "pray the world will mend its ways" (a passive approach?) Note the separation of California from the rest of the world- as if they're asking why hollywood is caught up with celebrity and vanity when other people are starving and suffering. I really like this song. It's very brooding/wild and melodic. I'm surprised no one else has commented
    logikmtron October 23, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Why would they use Enema?! Why?!
    Scaramanga666on February 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I thought this song was a reference to gangs and gangsters with the "Public Enema Number One" being a reference to Al Capone who was proclaimed Chicago's offical Public Enemy Number One shortly before his downfall. I could be wrong though...
    maidensoadacdcgnron January 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Is it just me, or is this song's title REALLY out of place for maiden? I'd expect it from some punk band, but maiden? Just seems... odd.
    idkmybffjillon February 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    YES!!! YES!!! I couldnt agree more... Like, I kinda get the whole enema-image with like, the media/politicians just feed us their BS and we cant do anything about it and whatnot. But I definitely do not like it.
    Heartquake Kidon August 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I think they use "Enema" rather than "Enemy" because they did not want to get tangled up with courts since there is a rap/hip hop group called Public Enemy...If they would have named that song Public Enemy Number One then the group Pubic Enemy would have said that they would want some type of royalty and stuff like that... Song is about the fall of society in certain places...
    picounionon January 06, 2012   Link

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