I think its pretty obvious that this song is about giving up on religion. Iron Maiden members have stated they have nothing against religion, and most are deeply religious, but they still write some amazingly deep and introspective and thoughtful songs about (and against) religion.
"Weaving a thread round your heart and your soul
Deceiving your eyes and delaying your goal "
That part is about how religion tried to bind your life and what you do, and tries to keep your eyes closed to all else in the world and make you believe what they want you to believe, which in many cases dalays your goals, especially the pursuit of knowledge.
"Ships in the night when they pass out of sight
Deliver their cargo of earthly delights
To the women and children, the souls of the dead"
I'm still not sure about these lines, but I think it has something to do with how shallow the lives of people's are, always focusing on "Earthly delights", though the ship passing into the night might have a double meaning. And possibly "the souls of the dead" is saying that people who focus on earthly delights have dead souls maybe? Or possibly saying that followers of major religions have dead souls because they believe what the deceit of the religion, and therefore, their faith is going to waste.
"I've opened their book and no mercy is shed"
This is an obvious reference to the bible or qu'ran, or any holy book, and how eager the religious leaders are to pull you into their religion. Once you show a little interest, they relentlessly try to pull you in even further.
"You want forgiveness and you want it cheap
I don't give redemption rewards for the meek"
Those lines are about how people simply believe that by becoming religious, all the bad things theyve done are forgiven, instead of having to work to make things better. However, becoming religious does nothing to help make up for bad things the person might have done, hence why no redemption is given to the meek.
"Suffering evil when you pay the price of fame
There isn't a god to save you if you don't save yourself
You can't blame a madman if you go insane
Give me the strength so I carry on"
That part seems to be encouraging a person to not rely on religion to make all things better, and to actually do something themselves to help better the world and themselves. It also plays on how all things in life are attributed to god's will. "You cant blame a madman if you go insane" is about how someone answers questions about themselves and things they do by simply saying "thats how god made me!"
"Trapped in the web - but I cut the threads"
Shows how belief in religion is binding and constricting, much like a web, but by giving up religion, youre cutting the threads and freeing yourself.
"Trapped in the web - no mercy is shed "
Again, about how eager religious zealots are to pull other people in. Also, could be about how no exceptions are made for people, all people are equal to the same stipulations in religions. Though that would be contradictory of most common criticisms of religion, and how "everybody but us is going to hell". Also, possibly about how so many seemingly innocent and simple things are condemned by some religions.
"Trapped in the web - slaves to the dead"
Is about either how religious zealots live their lives based on how they want to live after death, granted there is an afterlife; or about how the founders of today's major religions are all dead, as is the logic behind belief in these religions, and yet people still believe them as if it were told to them by god himself.
"Show you the gates of tomorrow"
The gates of tomorrow is a metaphor for the act of giving up religion, and living life how you want to live your life. Its about achieving the freedom that comes with no longer living your life by the binding constriction of religions.
I think its pretty obvious that this song is about giving up on religion. Iron Maiden members have stated they have nothing against religion, and most are deeply religious, but they still write some amazingly deep and introspective and thoughtful songs about (and against) religion.
"Weaving a thread round your heart and your soul Deceiving your eyes and delaying your goal "
That part is about how religion tried to bind your life and what you do, and tries to keep your eyes closed to all else in the world and make you believe what they want you to believe, which in many cases dalays your goals, especially the pursuit of knowledge.
"Ships in the night when they pass out of sight Deliver their cargo of earthly delights To the women and children, the souls of the dead"
I'm still not sure about these lines, but I think it has something to do with how shallow the lives of people's are, always focusing on "Earthly delights", though the ship passing into the night might have a double meaning. And possibly "the souls of the dead" is saying that people who focus on earthly delights have dead souls maybe? Or possibly saying that followers of major religions have dead souls because they believe what the deceit of the religion, and therefore, their faith is going to waste.
"I've opened their book and no mercy is shed"
This is an obvious reference to the bible or qu'ran, or any holy book, and how eager the religious leaders are to pull you into their religion. Once you show a little interest, they relentlessly try to pull you in even further.
"You want forgiveness and you want it cheap I don't give redemption rewards for the meek"
Those lines are about how people simply believe that by becoming religious, all the bad things theyve done are forgiven, instead of having to work to make things better. However, becoming religious does nothing to help make up for bad things the person might have done, hence why no redemption is given to the meek.
"Suffering evil when you pay the price of fame There isn't a god to save you if you don't save yourself You can't blame a madman if you go insane Give me the strength so I carry on"
That part seems to be encouraging a person to not rely on religion to make all things better, and to actually do something themselves to help better the world and themselves. It also plays on how all things in life are attributed to god's will. "You cant blame a madman if you go insane" is about how someone answers questions about themselves and things they do by simply saying "thats how god made me!"
"Trapped in the web - but I cut the threads"
Shows how belief in religion is binding and constricting, much like a web, but by giving up religion, youre cutting the threads and freeing yourself.
"Trapped in the web - no mercy is shed "
Again, about how eager religious zealots are to pull other people in. Also, could be about how no exceptions are made for people, all people are equal to the same stipulations in religions. Though that would be contradictory of most common criticisms of religion, and how "everybody but us is going to hell". Also, possibly about how so many seemingly innocent and simple things are condemned by some religions.
"Trapped in the web - slaves to the dead"
Is about either how religious zealots live their lives based on how they want to live after death, granted there is an afterlife; or about how the founders of today's major religions are all dead, as is the logic behind belief in these religions, and yet people still believe them as if it were told to them by god himself.
"Show you the gates of tomorrow"
The gates of tomorrow is a metaphor for the act of giving up religion, and living life how you want to live your life. Its about achieving the freedom that comes with no longer living your life by the binding constriction of religions.