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Run Silent, Run Deep Lyrics

The convoy lights are dead ahead
The merchantmen lay in their bed
The thump of diesels hammers down
In the oily sea-the killing ground
His knuckles white his eyes alight
He slams the hatch on the deadly night
A cunning fox in the chickens lair
A hound of hell and the devil don't care

chorus
Runing silent,runing 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 silent sleep

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

chorus

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 crosswire
'Stern tubes ready','aim and fire|'
They can pin some medal on your chest
But in two more weeks - dead like the rest

chorus
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Cover art for Run Silent, Run Deep lyrics by Iron Maiden

Clearly about submarine warfare during WW2. Most likely about the movie of the same name as well.

Cover art for Run Silent, Run Deep lyrics by Iron Maiden

Yes this is about the movie. Really a kick ass song, I cant beleve more people havent commented on it.

Cover art for Run Silent, Run Deep lyrics by Iron Maiden

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.

Cover art for Run Silent, Run Deep lyrics by Iron Maiden

wow, I was way off, I always thought this song was about pirates, 0_0

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