Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Paschendale by Iron Maiden

In a foreign field he lay

lonely soldier unknown grave
on his dying words he prays
tell the world of Paschendale



Relive all that he's been through
last communion of his soul
rust your bullets with his tears
let me tell you 'bout his years



Laying low in a blood filled trench
killing time 'til my very own death
on my face I can feel the fallin' rain
never see my friends again
in the smoke in the mud and lead
the smell of fear and the feeling of dread
soon be time to go over the wall
rapid fire and the end of us all



Whistles, shouts and more gun-fire
lifeless bodies hang on barbed wire
battlefield nothing but a bloody tomb
be reunited with my dead friends soon
many soldiers eighteen years
drowned in mud, no more tears
surely a war no one can win 
killing time about to begin



Home, far away. From the war, a chance to live again
Home, far away. But the war, no chance to live again



The bodies of ours and our foes
the sea of death it overflows
in no-man's land God only knows
into jaws of death we go...



Crucified as if on a cross
allied troops, they mourn their loss
German war propaganda machine
such before has never been seen
swear I heard the angels cry
pray to God no more may die
so that people know the truth
tell the tale of Paschendale



Cruelty has a human heart
every man does play his part
terror of the men we kill
the human heart is hungry still



I stand my ground for the very last time
gun is ready as I stand in line
nervous wait for the whistle to blow
rush of blood and over we go...



Blood is falling like the rain
its crimson cloak unveils again
the sound of guns can't hide their shame
and so we die in Paschendale



Dodging shrapnel and barbed wire
running straight at canon fire
running blind as I hold my breath
say a prayer symphony of death
as we charge the enemy lines
a burst of fire and we go down
I choke I cry but no one hears
feel the blood go down my throat



Home, far away. From the war, a chance to live again
Home, far away. But the war, no chance to live again
Home, far away. From the war, a chance to live again
Home, far away. But the war, no chance to live again



See my spirit on the wind
across the lines beyond the hill
friend and foe will meet again
those who died at Paschendale


This is one of Maidens best tracks and I would recommend everyone to watch the live version on the Death on the Road DVD. Awesome is an understatement. Just to clarify a few misconceptions posted here, Adrian Smith wrote most of this track, Bruce and to a lessor degree Steve helped 'polish' it off but the main credit goes to Adrian.

It is and it isn't anti-war, the song is best described as a comment on the futility and horror of war, it makes no pro or anti comments or sentiments in itself but allows the listener make their own judgement by placing them in the trench and action with the soldier.
By not making any statement, it is a brilliantly clever composition and one worthy of the title of 'Classic'
Long live the Irons 



1 comment:

  1. Great song,great lyrics. Remind us not to choose war. Soldiers are suffering because of war. Stood between life and death, there is no way to escape. The peace we had today,we should appreciate.

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