I've loved this song since first hearing it in 1982. My bands always played it back in the 80's (I'm bassist/vocalist, and a huge 'Arry fan).
I see allusions to Christianity in "don't stray from the Narrow Way," and "you're the devil...", and seeing in this song a warning that uses the STORY of Phantom of the Opera as a METAPHOR for life, and how the devil is always hiding around the corner, masked, the great deceiver...
And check the line "and you know and I know that you aint got long now to last" - think about the Biblical verse at the beginning of Number of the Beast, REVELATION 12:12 "...Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (KJV)
And you know what, I was not a Christian when I discovered Iron Maiden in 1982, but in the late 80's I gave my heart to Christ... As I've grown in Biblical knowledge (now actually holding a BA in Theology, having trained to be a Pastor... But becoming a Special Education teacher instead...), I've grown to see many allusions to Christian scriptures and concepts, especially in 'Arry's writings...
I've loved this song since first hearing it in 1982. My bands always played it back in the 80's (I'm bassist/vocalist, and a huge 'Arry fan).
I see allusions to Christianity in "don't stray from the Narrow Way," and "you're the devil...", and seeing in this song a warning that uses the STORY of Phantom of the Opera as a METAPHOR for life, and how the devil is always hiding around the corner, masked, the great deceiver...
And check the line "and you know and I know that you aint got long now to last" - think about the Biblical verse at the beginning of Number of the Beast, REVELATION 12:12 "...Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (KJV)
And you know what, I was not a Christian when I discovered Iron Maiden in 1982, but in the late 80's I gave my heart to Christ... As I've grown in Biblical knowledge (now actually holding a BA in Theology, having trained to be a Pastor... But becoming a Special Education teacher instead...), I've grown to see many allusions to Christian scriptures and concepts, especially in 'Arry's writings...