Take a look in the pool and what do you see
In the dark depths there faces beckoning me
Can't you see them it's plain for all to see
They were there oh I know you don't believe me

Oh, I've never felt so strange
But, I'm not going insane

I've no doubt that you think I'm off of my head
You don't say but it's in your eyes instead
Hours I spend out just gazing into that pool
Something draws me there I don't know what to do

Oh, they drain my strength away
Oh, they're asking me to stay

Nightmares, spirits calling me
Nightmares, they won't leave me be

All my life's blood is slowly draining away
And I feel that I'm weaker every day
Somehow I know I haven't long to go
Joining them at the bottom of the pool

Now, I feel they are so near
I, begin to see them clear

Nightmares, coming all the time
Nightmares, will give me peace of mind

Now it's clear and I know what I have to do
I must take you down there to look at them too
Hand in hand then we'll jump right into the pool
Can't you see not just me they want you too

Oh, we'll drown together
It, will be forever

Nightmares, forever calling me
Nightmares, now we rest in peace

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Still Life Lyrics as written by Stephen Percy Harris David Michael Murray

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Still Life song meanings

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31 Comments

+2
General Comment
Anyone else think of Lord of the Rings. I always thought it was about the dead marshes. "Take a look in the pool and what do you see In the dark depths there faces beckoning me" -Well that's obvious if you've read/seen LOTR. The dead people in the marshes. "And I feel that I'm weaker every day" -The Ring was constantly making Frodo weaker. "I must take you down there to look at them too Hand in hand then we'll jump right into the pool Can't you see not just me they want you too" -Frodo ends up falling in the marsh and I always thought that the "you" the song was talking about was the ring. By the way I'm not saying this is right it's just what I've always thought. Also I'm pretty sure Steve said the song was just about fear of drowning but I think that's bullshit.

Anyone else think of Lord of the Rings. I always thought it was about the dead marshes. "Take a look in the pool and what do you see In the dark depths there faces beckoning me" -Well that's obvious if you've read/seen LOTR. The dead people in the marshes. "And I feel that I'm weaker every day" -The Ring was constantly making Frodo weaker. "I must take you down there to look at them too Hand in hand then we'll jump right into the pool Can't you see not just me they want you too" -Frodo ends up falling in the marsh and I always thought that the "you" the song was talking about was the ring. By the way I'm not saying this is right it's just what I've always thought. Also I'm pretty sure Steve said the song was just about fear of drowning but I think that's bullshit.

Reason:

gwilikers6on May 06, 2008 Link
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@gwilikers6

Whenever I hear this song I always see the faces of the dead marshes in the LOTR movie. I always figured it was about LOTR as well.

Barbaaron April 12, 2010

Whenever I hear this song I always see the faces of the dead marshes in the LOTR movie. I always figured it was about LOTR as well.

Barbaaron April 12, 2010
+1
General Comment
Im surprised by how overlooked this song is for Iron Maiden being so popular. I see this as among their best.

Im surprised by how overlooked this song is for Iron Maiden being so popular. I see this as among their best.

Reason:

Chard121on March 24, 2006 Link
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@Chard121 I don't think it's overlooked, but it's basically the Infinite Dreams of the Piece of Mind album.

Cappson October 05, 2020
+1
General Comment
Ya, its a shame this song doesnt get the attention id deservs, probaly one of may all time favs, but I understand why. How many songs did you hear during this part of the eighties about a guy going nuts and drowning himself? The tone and content wasnt what was "in" during the time it came out. More modern metal fans need to take a break from what they're hearing on the radio and go back and revisit what made metal what it is today, that way songs like these will get what they deserve!

Ya, its a shame this song doesnt get the attention id deservs, probaly one of may all time favs, but I understand why. How many songs did you hear during this part of the eighties about a guy going nuts and drowning himself? The tone and content wasnt what was "in" during the time it came out. More modern metal fans need to take a break from what they're hearing on the radio and go back and revisit what made metal what it is today, that way songs like these will get what they deserve!

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Rebbal Aceon September 06, 2006 Link
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+1
General Comment
This song reminds me pretty heavily of The Call of C'thulu by HP Lovecraft, even though it is a song in response to all those media anti-Christ claims (even though the song freaking quotes the Bible...-_-). Methinks maybe it was influenced a bit by The Call of C'thulu or something?

This song reminds me pretty heavily of The Call of C'thulu by HP Lovecraft, even though it is a song in response to all those media anti-Christ claims (even though the song freaking quotes the Bible...-_-). Methinks maybe it was influenced a bit by The Call of C'thulu or something?

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BlairRocksHardon October 02, 2007 Link
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@BlairRocksHard
+1
General Comment
Any who listens to Maiden knows this is not about alcohol. That just isn't their style. The entire Piece of Mind album is derived from films or literary words. Still Life is from the short story Genius Loci. A Genius Loci is a guardian spirit of a specific place, not a drink, haha. If you want to read the entire short story, here you go: eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/78/

Any who listens to Maiden knows this is not about alcohol. That just isn't their style. The entire Piece of Mind album is derived from films or literary words. Still Life is from the short story Genius Loci. A Genius Loci is a guardian spirit of a specific place, not a drink, haha. If you want to read the entire short story, here you go: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/78/">eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/78/</a>

Reason:

Mandrus1on April 05, 2013 Link
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@Mandrus1 You are totally correct. Very few people recognize this b/c they don't read enough. Clark Ashton Smith. It is clearly the source of this song. The story is about an artist who paints a scene again and again, like a still life from art. He eventually is drawn to drown himself in the horrid pool, along with his fiancé.

PineapplePrinceon March 16, 2021
0
General Comment
I think this is about a serious trip. or maybe a book. is it about a book?

I think this is about a serious trip. or maybe a book. is it about a book?

Reason:

moophistoon July 02, 2003 Link
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@moophisto

I'm not so sure it's about a trip. Maiden were never into drugs and so I can't see where they would draw inspiration from if it were about tripping. Still I can see were your coming from.

Devilofdoomon September 18, 2015
0
General Comment
yeah about a book, what book?

yeah about a book, what book?

Reason:

sirdioon July 27, 2005 Link
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@sirdio
0
General Comment
hmmm nice,

hmmm nice,

Reason:

sirdioon February 23, 2006 Link
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@sirdio
0
General Comment
Petruccism is probably right... But I always thought it simply to be a story of a guy he began to see things that were there and eventually went insane and drowned himself trying to get to them.

Petruccism is probably right... But I always thought it simply to be a story of a guy he began to see things that were there and eventually went insane and drowned himself trying to get to them.

Reason:

Chard121on March 24, 2006 Link
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@Chard121
0
General Comment
Of course, not dissing 3rd generation metal or anything, just saying people need to take a retrospective on where it all came from.

Of course, not dissing 3rd generation metal or anything, just saying people need to take a retrospective on where it all came from.

Reason:

Rebbal Aceon September 06, 2006 Link
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Still Life

Iron Maiden

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