You'll take my life but I'll take yours, too
You'll fire your musket but I'll run you through
So when you're waiting for the next attack
You'd better stand, there's no turning back

The bugle sounds, the charge begins
But on this battlefield, no one wins
The smell of acrid smoke and horses' breath
As I plunge on into certain death

Oh
Oh

The horse he sweats with fear, we break to run
The mighty roar of the Russian guns
And as we race towards the human wall
The screams of pain as my comrades fall

We hurdle bodies that lay on the ground
And the Russians fire another round
We get so near yet so far away
We won't live to fight another day

Oh
Oh

We get so close, near enough to fight
When a Russian gets me in his sights
He pulls the trigger and I feel the blow
A burst of rounds take my horse below

And as I lay there gazing at the sky
My body's numb and my throat is dry
And as I lay forgotten and alone
Without a tear I draw my parting groan

Oh
Oh


Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by jjwilko

The Trooper Lyrics as written by Stephen Percy Harris

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Trooper song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

92 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +8
    General Comment
    It describes a British cavalry charge against the Russian army during the Crimean War...if you've ever read the very famous poem "charge of the light brigade" then you'll relise where the idea for the song came from
    ystrdywent2soonon September 09, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    this song is obviously about the crimean war, it's not about any world war or the civil war. i think it's the best song they have ever produced. has any one ever seen the filmclip? it shows part of the poem "the charge of the light brigade"
    kingbrownieon January 26, 2005   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    Its about the Crimean War and is based on the Poem "The Charge of The light Brigade"
    ObedFrancoon December 05, 2009   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    This is Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Charge of the Light Brigade." It is about the Battle of Balaklava during the Crimean War. What happened was the calvalry was sent to charge accidentaly and they charged into a line of fire and then they retreated. Fun stuff. Go to wikipedia.org. They have most everything.
    ChildOfThunderon January 28, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    It is not about the civil war, the war of independence, either world wars or the Napoleonic wars. The American Civil war, which is what I presume people are meaning by just saying the Civil war did not involve Russians. The war of independence didn't either as far as I know, however it could have due to the fact Russians did land and colonize parts of America. Also for both of the above, Iron Maiden a British band are more likely to sing about a war more relevant to their country. The British don't care much for the war of independence. World war 1 there was use of horses in the artillery but not use of muskets, so that rules that one out. The Napoleonic wars are a good guess however it is more likely to be the Crimean war between The Russian Empire at the time and the British Empire, French Empire, Ottoman empire and the kingdom of Sardinia. It is in fact the battle of balaclava, if you read the poem The Charge of the Light Brigade it will be more clear.
    Jormungandon April 04, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    HAHA OH MY GOD IN 8TH GRADE I HAD TO RECITE A POEM AND I CHOSE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE AND YES THIS IS THE CRIMEAN WAR....... IRON MAIDEN OWNS THE TROOPER IS THE GREATEST
    IronMaidenManon May 01, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    The song is about a British Cavalry charge during the Crimean war, AKA the Charge of the Light Brigade (which also happens to be a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson). info on this can be found here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… :)
    neffianon September 19, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I don't think it is about WW 1. It refers to muskets and the use of horses. "The smell of acrid smoke and horses breath" It also refers to the Russians which is why I am guessing that you think it is a world war. I would guess that it is based on the French attempted invasion into Russia under Napoleon.
    Mitch1on August 17, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    its obvious its about the light brigade/crimean war, if you watch the video, and look up pictures about the war and poem, that is if you dont like to read about it and compare the two/three.
    HeavyMetalRockeron February 02, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    noobs its about the Charge of the Light Brigade, the Russians against the British back when it was artillery against calvery. Best Iron Maiden song, but I prefer Run to the Hills just because the Trooper is played too much.
    BlazeMEon August 07, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!