Run Silent, Run Deep

Iron Maiden

The convoy lights are dead ahead
The merchantmen lay in their bed
The thump of diesels hammer down
In the oily sea, the killing ground
Knuckles white, eyes alight
He slams the hatch on the deadly night
A cunning fox in the chicken's lair
A hound of hell and the Devil don't care

Running silent, running deep
We are your final prayer
Warriors in secret sleep
A merchantman's nightmare
A silent death lies waiting for all of you below
Running silent, running deep
Sink into your final sleep

Chill the hearts of fighting men
In open ocean wondering when
The lethal silver fish will fly
This boat will shiver, men will die
A cast of millions, a part to play
Killer, victim, fool for the day
Obeying an order, men had to die
Us or them, a well rehearsed lie

Running silent, running deep
We are your final prayer
Warriors in secret sleep
A merchantman's nightmare
A silent death lies waiting for all of you below
Running silent, running deep
Sink into your final sleep

The lifeboats shattered, the hull is torn
The tar black smell of burning oil
On the way down to Davy Jones
Every man for himself, you're on your own
The wolf eyes watch the cross wire
'Stern tubes ready', aim and fire
They can pin some medal on your chest
Ah, in two more weeks, dead like the rest

Running silent, running deep
We are your final prayer
Warriors in secret sleep
A merchantman's nightmare
A silent death lies awaiting for all of you below
Running silent, running deep
Sink into your final sleep

Running silent, running deep
We are your final prayer
Warriors in secret sleep
A merchantman's nightmare


Lyrics submitted by numb

Run Silent Run Deep Lyrics as written by Stephen Percy Harris Bruce Dickinson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Run Silent, Run Deep song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment
    Clearly about submarine warfare during WW2. Most likely about the movie of the same name as well.
    SpiralArchitectXon August 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Yes this is about the movie. Really a kick ass song, I cant beleve more people havent commented on it.
    IronBlackZeppon April 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    German U boat warfare in WWII. The Germans almost defeated the Allies early in the war with their sub force. They nearly destroyed enough shipments of arms and food from the West to England to stop the war and force the British to surrender altogether. "Run silent, run deep" was a command given to sub crews when in enemy territory. Running deep and with the minimal amount of noise meant a less noticeable sonar blip on any enemy ships nearby.
    crpb1on May 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    wow, I was way off, I always thought this song was about pirates, 0_0
    ichigo900on January 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    The 'other song' Bruce wrote about submarines was of course Dive Dive Dive! I'm sure you all know what other connotations those lyrics carried. So this is the serious one. I think the line 'Running silent, running deep, sink into your silent sleep' is very poetic. A lot of Maiden titles are from films but they always give it their own special treatment rather than write based purely on the movie. Up the Irons
    searchingfordoughnutson September 19, 2010   Link

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