2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A

Jerusalem Lyrics

And did those feet in ancient times
Walk upon England's mountains green?
Was the holy lamb of god
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the countenance divine
Shine forth on our clouded hill?
Was Jerusalem built here
In England's green and pleasant land?

Let it rain
Let it rain
Wash the scales from my eyes
Let it rain
Let it rain
Let me see again...

Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
I shall not sleep till the clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire

Let it rain
Let it rain
Tears of blood fall out of the sky
Let it rain
Let it rain
Wash me clean again...

From the frozen waters
The king will rise again
With two suns in the sky...

I shall not cease from mental flight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land

Let it rain
Let it rain
Tears of blood fall out of the sky
Let it rain
Let it rain
Wash me clean again...

See the gleaming spires of the citadel
The king and queen will dwell
In our hearts...

Can Jerusalem be rebuilded here
In this trivial time, in this land of fear?
In Jerusalem, where the grail remains
Walk into the light and dissolve the chains

Jerusalem...

Here is her secret place
From hence she comes forth on the churches in delight
Here is her cup, filled with its poisons
In these horrid veils
And here, her scarlet veil, woven in pestilence and war
Here is Jerusalem, bound in chains
In the dense of Babylon...
2 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Add your thoughts...
Cover art for Jerusalem lyrics by Bruce Dickinson

This is one of my favorite songs by Bruce Dickinson off Chemical Wedding. When he was writing this album, it was originally about Alchemy. But then he found some of the more recent poems by William Blake, that were about a made-up world that Dickinson was able to completely lose himself in. One of the poems was called Jerusalem. It went like so:

And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold! Bring me my arrows of desire! Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Till we have built Jerusalem In England's green and pleasant land.

Bruce loved the poems and so he wrote choruses to a few of them and stuck them in with the others and I think he did a fantastic job of it. He's a genius.

Cover art for Jerusalem lyrics by Bruce Dickinson

This poem is based on a legend. Legend in which Jesus travelled to England with his apostles.

That is right, Lord Hamster. Does not the legend also suggest that Jesus himself learned from the Druids, and thus had similar teachings?

 
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

Ask a question...