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Journeyman Lyrics
From the red sky of the east
To the sunset in the west
We have cheated death
And he has cheated us
But that was just a dream
And this is what it means
We are sleeping
And we'll dream for evermore
And the fragment remains of our memories
And the shadows remain with our hands
Deep grey, came to mourn
All the colours of the dawn
Will this journeyman's day be his last?
[Chorus:]
I know what I want
And I say what I want
And no one can take it away
I know what I want
And I say what I want
And no one can take it away
But the memory still remains
All the past years not so stange
Our winter times are like a silent shroud
And the heartbeat of the day
Drives the mist away
And winter's not the only dream around
In your life you may choose desolation
And the shadows you build with your hands
If you turn to the light
That is burning in the night
Then the journeyman's day has begun
[Repeat chorus, 5th verse, chorus]
To the sunset in the west
We have cheated death
And he has cheated us
And this is what it means
We are sleeping
And we'll dream for evermore
And the shadows remain with our hands
Deep grey, came to mourn
All the colours of the dawn
Will this journeyman's day be his last?
I know what I want
And I say what I want
And no one can take it away
I know what I want
And I say what I want
And no one can take it away
All the past years not so stange
Our winter times are like a silent shroud
And the heartbeat of the day
Drives the mist away
And winter's not the only dream around
And the shadows you build with your hands
If you turn to the light
That is burning in the night
Then the journeyman's day has begun
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Sorry people, but i just found another possible meaning:
From the red sky of the east To the sunset in the west We have cheated death And he has cheated us
= First of all, this song is about a traveler. He made his journey always avoiding death, but he finds out that is impossible.
But that was just a dream And this is what it means We are sleeping And we'll dream for evermore
=He figure that he hasn't avoided death that much, and he thinks that everything is a dream.
And the fragment remains of our memories And the shadows remain with our hands Deep grey, came to mourn All the colours of the dawn Will this journeyman's day be his last?
=He think about his past and every bad things he has done. The "deeper grey" part is probably about a mist that hides the beauty of the morning, or, metaphorically, the good side of the people. He thinks that his journey will end.
I know what I want And I say what I want And no one can take it away I know what I want And I say what I want And no one can take it away
=He will continue his journey, no matter what.
But the memory still remains All the past years not so stange Our winter times are like a silent shroud
=All that the Journeyman had left behind is not so distant. Or he is speaking to someone that is part of his past, saying that he did not forgot.
And the heartbeat of the day Drives the mist away And winter's not the only dream around
=His past wasn't good, and is "fading like an old dream". Also, the mist makes it part again in this point.
In your life you may choose desolation And the shadows you build with your hands If you turn to the light That is burning in the night Then the journeyman's day has begun
=Now he's trying to convince the other person to free himself and search for a type of "illumination", and to become a journeyman too.
Journeyman's day will never end
A journeyman is not a traveler, it is a rank between apprentice and master. It means you have successfully completed your apprenticeship but have not yet reached the rank of master.
A journeyman is not a traveler, it is a rank between apprentice and master. It means you have successfully completed your apprenticeship but have not yet reached the rank of master.
The first ever acoustic song by Iron Maiden, it's a heavy metal anthem, through and through. It's also my personal anthem. Fantastic song
Mmm, and possibly the first ever song tributing the journeyman. Huzzah for apprentices.
Can't beleive there not more comment about SUCH a song.
Strangely the first time I heard it I was reading about the game planescape and the song's been linked to the game ever since.
GREAT SONG
this is a really good song ... anywayz iron maiden rock !!
bruce said somewhere that this song is about being a musician.. not typical of iron maiden, but none the less, it's good that they did at least one acoustic track!
Agree, this song is my anthem. It is so me I don't know how they came up with such a song.
I think the meaning behind this song is that you should look to and face your future with courage and build upon the memories of your past. Bruce did say that this is a song about being a musician but I suppose you could apply it to anything in life. It's a superb song and sounds great live. The intro reminds me a little of 'Dust in the Wind' by Kansas.
that is because the chord used, the A minor chord is also used in dust in the wind. the chord pregression is the same but the fingerpicking is different
that is because the chord used, the A minor chord is also used in dust in the wind. the chord pregression is the same but the fingerpicking is different
I adore this song, a very surprising end to the Dance of Death album. Just as all the world was going mad for war in 2003, here along came a positive, warm song that helps to put your mind, body and spirit at peace with an air of quiet, solemn determination.
I first wondered if this had religious meaning. There are a few whispered vocals after the long instrumental section which are hard to make out, something about scripture? I'm neither a Christian nor mad, so I'm pretty sure I wasn't going out to these things!
Either way, it's wonderful. So much so that my wife and I had our First Dance to this song at our wedding in 2004.