Aces High

(Harris)

There goes the siren that warns of the air raid
Then comes the sound of the guns sending flak
Out for the scramble we've got to get airborne
Got to get up for the comming attack.

Jump in the cockpit and start up the engines
Remove all the wheel blocks there's no time to waste
Gathering speed as we heed down the runway
Gotta get airborne before it's too late

Running, scrambling, flying
Rolling, turning, diving, going in again
Run, live to fly, fly to live, do or die
Won't you run, live to fly, fly to live, Aces high

Move in to fire at the mainstream of bombers
Let off a sharp burst and then turn away
Roll over, spin round and come in behind them
Move to their blindsides and firing again

Bandits at 8 o'clock move in behind us
ten ME - 109's out of the sun
Ascending and turning out spitfires to face them
Heading straight for them I press my guns.

Rolling, turning, diving
Rolling, turning, diving, going in again
Rolling, turning, diving
Rolling, turning, diving
Run, live to fly, fly to live, do or die
Run, live to fly, fly to live, Aces high.

2 Minutes To Midnight

(Smith / Dickinson)

Kill for again or shoot to maim
But we don't need a reason
To Golden Goose is on the loose
And never out of season,
Blackened pride still burns inside
This shell of bloody treason
Here's my gun for a barrel of fun
For the love of living death.

The killer's breed or the Demon's seed,
The glamour, the fortune, the pain,
Go to war again, blood is freedom's stain
But don't you pray for my soul anymore.

2 minutes to midnight,
The hands that threaten doom.
2 minutes ot midnight,
To kill the unborn in the womb.

The blind men shout let the creatures out
We'll show the unbeliverers,
The Napalm screams of human flames
Of a prime time Belsen Feast ... YEAH!
As the reasons for the carnage cut their meat
   and lick the gravy.
We oil the jaws of the war machine
   and feed it with our babies.

*Chorus*
The body bags and little rags of children
   torn in two
And the jellied brains of those who remain
   to put the finger right on you
As the madmen play on words and make us all
   dance to their song
To the tune of starving millions
   to make better kind of gun.

*Chorus*
Midnight ... all night ...
(repeat)

The Trooper

(Harris)

You'll take my life but I'll take yours too.
You'll fire your musket but I'll run you through
So when you're waiting for the next attack
You'd better stand, there's no turning back.

The Bugle sounds and the charge begins,
But on this battlefield no-one wins.
The smell of acrid smoke and horses breath,
As I plunge on into certain death.

The horse he sweats with fear, we break to run,
The mighty roar of the Russian guns.
And as we race towards the human wall,
The screams of pain as my comrades fall.

We hurdle bodies that lay on the ground,
And the Russians fire another round.
We get so near yet so far away,
We won't live to fight another day.

We get so close near enough to fight,
When a Russian gets me in his sights.
He pulls the trigger and I feel the blow,
A burst of rounds take my horse below.

And as I lay there gazing at the sky,
My body's numb and my throat is dry.
And as I lay forgotten and alone,
Without a tear I draw my parting groan.

Revelations

(Dickinson)

"O God of Earth and Altar,
Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter,
Our people drift and die,
The walls of gold entomb us,
The swords of scorn divide,
Take not thy thunder from us,
But take away our pride."
(G.K. Chesterton: English Hymnal)

Just a babe in the black abyss,
No reason for a place like this,
The walls are cold and souls cry out in pain,
An easy way for the blind to go,
A clever path for the fools who know
The Secret of the Hangman - the smile on his lips.

The light of the Blind - you'll see,
The venom that tears my spine,
The Eyes of the Nile are opening - you'll see.

She came to me with a serpents kiss,
As the Eye of the Sun rose on her lips,
Moonlight catches silver tears I cry,
So we lay in a black embrace,
And the Seed is sown in a holy place
And I watched and I waited for the Dawn.

The light of the Blind - you'll see,
The venom that tears my spine,
The Eyes of the Nile are opening - you'll see.

Bind all of us together,
Ablaze with Hope and Free.
No storm or heavy weather,
Will rock the boat you'll see.
The time has come to close your eyes,
And still the wind and rain.
For the one who will be King,
Is the watcher in the Ring.
It is You.

Flight Of Icarus

(Smith / Dickinson)

As the sun breaks, above the ground,
An old man stands on the hill.
As the ground warms, to the first rays of light,
A birdsong shatters the still.

His eyes are ablaze,
See the madman in his gaze.

Fly, on your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun.
On your way, like an eagle,
Fly and touch the sun.

Now the crowd breaks and young boy appears,
Looks the old man in the eye.
As he spreads his wings and shouts at the crowd,
"In the name of God my father I fly."

His eyes seem so glazed,
As he flies on the wings of a dream.
Now he knows his father betrayed.
Now his wings turn to ashes, to ashes his grave.

Fly, on your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun.
On your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun.

Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

(Harris)

Hear the rime of the Ancient Mariner
See his eye as he stops one of three
Mesmerises one of the wedding guests
Stay here and listen to the nightmares
   of the sea.

And the music plays on, as the bride passes by
Caught by his spell and
   the Mariner tells his tale.

Driven south to the land of the snow and ice
To a place where nobody's been
Through the snow fog flies on the albatross
Hailed in God's name,
   hoping good luck it brings.

And the ship sails on, back to the North
Through the fog and ice and
   the albatross follows on

The mariner kills the bird of good omen
His shipmates cry against what he's done
But when the fog clears, they justify him
And make themselves a part of the crime.

Sailing on and on and North across the sea
Sailing on and on and North 'till all is calm.

The albatross begins with its vengeance
A terrible curse a thirst has begun
His shipmates blame bad luck on the Mariner
About his neck, the dead bird is hung.

And the curse goes on and on at sea
And the thirst goes on and on for them and me.

"Day after day, day after day,
   we stuck nor breath nor motion
As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean
Water, water everywhere and
   all the boards did shrink
Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink."
(SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (1798-1834)

There, calls the Mariner,
   there comes a ship over the line
But how can she sail with no wind
   in her sails and no tide.

See ... onward she comes
Onwards she nears, out of the sun
See ... she has no crew
She has no life, wait but there's two

Death and she life in Death,
   they throw their dice for the crew
She wins the Mariner and he belongs to her now.
Then ... crew one by one
They drop down dead, two hundred men
She ... She, Life in Death.
She lets him live, her chosen one.

Narrative
"One after one by the star dogged moon,
too quick for groan or sigh
each turned his face with a ghastly pang,
and cursed me with his eye
four times fifty living men
(and I heard nor sigh nor groan),
with heavy thump, a lifeless lump,
they dropped down one by one."
(SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (1798-1834)

The curse it lives on in their eyes
The Mariner he wished he'd die
Along with the sea creatures
But they lived on, so did he.

And by the light of moon
He prays for their beauty not doom
With heart he blesses them
God's creatures all of them too.

Then the spell starts to break
The albatross falls from his neck
Sinks down like lead into the sea
Then down in falls comes the rain.

Hear the groans od the long dead seamen
See them stir and they start to rise
Bodies lifted by good spirits
None of them speak
   and they're lifeless in their eyes.

And revenge is still sought, penance starts again
Cast into a trance and the nightmare carries on.

Now the curse is finally lifted
And the Mariner sights his home
Spirits go from the long dead bodies
Form their own light and
   the Mariner's left alone

And then a boat came sailing towards him
It was a joy he could not believe
The pilots boat, his son and the hermit
Penance of life will fall onto Him.

And the ship it sinks like lead into the sea
And the hermit shrieves the Mariner of his sins

The Mariner's bound to tell of his story
To tell his tale wherever he goes
To teach God's word by his own example
That we must love all things that God made.

And the wedding guest's a sad and wiser man
And the tale goes on and on and on.

Powerslave

(Dickinson)

Into the Abyss I'll fall - the eye of Horus
Into the eyes of the night - watching me go
Green is the cat's eye that glows -
   in the Temple
Enter the risen Osiris - risen again.

*Chorus*
Tell me why I had to be a Powerslave
I don't wanna die, I'm a God,
   why can't I live on?
When the Live Giver dies,
   all around is laid waste,
And in my last hour,
   I'm a slave to the Power of Death.

When I was living this lie - Fear was my game
People would worship and fall -
   drop to their knees.
So bring me the blood and red wine
   for the one to succeed me,
For he is a man and a God -
   and He will die too.

*Chorus*

Now I am cold but a ghost lives in my veins,
Silent the terror that reigned -
   marbled in stone.
Shell of man God preserved -
   a thousand ages,
But open the gates of my Hell -
   I will strike from my grave.

*Chorus*
Tell me why I had to be a Powerslave
I don't wanna die, I'm a God,
   why can't I live on?
When the Live Giver dies,
   all around is laid waste,
And in my last hour,
   I'm a slave to the Power of Death.
Slave to the Power of Death ...
Slave to the Power of Death ...

The Number Of The Beast

(Harris)

I left alone, my mind was blank.
I needed time to get the memories from my mind.

What did I see, can I believe
That what I saw last night was real
and not just fantasy.

Just what I saw in, my old dreams,
Were they reflections of my warped mind
staring back at me.

'Cause in my dream it's always there,
The evil face that twists my mind and brings
me to despair.

The night was black, was no use holding back
'Cause I just had to see, was someone watching me
In the mist, dark figures move and twist
Was this all for real, or some kind of hell.
666 the number of the beast.
Hell and fire was spawned to be released.

Torches blazed and sacred chants were praised
As they start to cry, hands held to the sky.
In the night, the fires burning bright
The ritual has begun, Satan's work is done.
666 the number of the beast.
Sacrifice is going on tonight

This can't go on, I must inform the law.
Can this still be real or some crazy dream
but I feel drawn towards the chanting hordes
They seem to mesmerise me ... can't avoid their eyes
666 the number of the beast.
666 the one for you and me.

I'm coming back, I will return,
And I'll possess your body and I'll make you burn.
I have the fire, I have the force
I have the power to make my evil take it's course.

Hallowed Be Thy Name

(Harris)

I'm waiting in my cold cel,l when the bell begins to chime.
Reflecting on my past life and it doesn't have much time.
'Cause at 5 o'clock they take me to the Gallows pole,
The sands of time for me are running low.

When the priest comes to read me the last rites,
I take a look through the bars at the last sights,
Of a world that has gone very wrong for me.

Can it be that there's some sort of an error.
Hard to stop the surmounting terror.
Is it really the end, not some crazy dream.

Somebody please tell me that I'm dreaming,
It's not easy to stop from screaming,
The words escape me when I try to speak.
Tears flow but why am I crying,
After all I'm not afraid of dying.
Don't I believe that there never is an end.

As the guards march me out to the courtyard
Somebody cries from a cell "God be with you".
If there's a God then why has he let me go?

As I walk all my life drifts before me,
Though the end is near I'm not sorry.
Catch my soul, it's willing to fly away.

Mark my words believe my soul lives on.
Don't worry now that I have gone.
I've gone beyond to see the truth.

When you know that your time is close at hand.
Maybe then you'll begin to understand,
Life down here is just a strange illusion

Iron Maiden

(Harris)

Won't you come into my room
I want show you all my wares
I just want to see your blood
I just want to stand and stare

See the blood begin to flow,
As it falls upon the floor,
Iron Maiden can't be fought
Iron Maiden can't be sought

Oh well, wherever, wherever you are,
Iron Maiden's gonna get you
No matter how far,
See the blood flow, watching it shed
Up above my head
Iron Maiden wants you for dead.

Won't you come into my room
I want show you all my wares
I just want to see your blood
I just want to stand and stare

See the blood begin to flow,
As it falls upon the floor,
Iron Maiden can't be fought
Iron Maiden can't be sought

Oh well, wherever, wherever you are,
Iron Maiden's gonna get you
No matter how far,
See the blood flow, watching it shed
Up above my head
Iron Maiden wants you for dead.

Run To The Hills

(Harris)

White man came across the sea,
Brought us pain and misery.
Killed our tribes, killed our creed,
Took our game for his own need.

We fought him hard, we fought him well,
Out on the plains we gave him hell.
But many came, too much for Cree,
Oh will we ever be set free?

Riding through dustclouds and barren wastes,
Galloping hard on the plains.
Chasing the redskins back to their holes,
Fighting them at their own game.
Murder for freedom, the stab in the back.
Women and children and cowards attack.

Run to the hills, run for your lives
Run to the hills, run for your lives

Soldier blue in the barren wastes
Hunting and killing for game.
Raping the women and wasting the men,
The only good Indians are tame
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold,
Enslaving the young and destroying the old.

Run to the hills, run for your lives
(repeat to end)

Running Free

(Harris / Di'anno)

Just sixteen a pickup truck
Out of money, out of luck
I got no place to call my own
Hit the gas and here I go

I'm Running Free yeah, I'm Running Free
I'm Running Free yeah, I'm Running Free

Spent the night in an L.A. jail
Listened to the sirens wail
But they ain't got a thing on me
I'm running wild, I'm Running Free

I'm Running Free yeah, I'm Running Free
I'm Running Free yeah, I'm Running Free

Pulled her at the Bottle Top
Whiskey dancing disco hop
And all the boys are after me
And that's the way it's gonna be

I'm Running Free yeah, I'm Running Free
I'm Running Free yeah, I'm Running Free

Wrathchild

(Harris)

I was born into a scene,
Of angriness and greed,
Of dominance and persecution.

My mother was a queen,
My dad I've never seen,
I was never meant to be.

Now I spend my time
looking all around,
For a man that's nowhere
To be found.
Until I find him,
I'm never gonna stop searching,
I'm gonna find my man,
Gonna travel around.

'Cos I'm a wrathchild,
Yeah I'm a wrathchild,
Well I'm a wrathchild.
I'm coming to get you,
Ooh yeah yeah.

Some say it shouldn't matter
Ain't nothin' gonna alter,
The course of my destination.

But I know I've gotta find,
Some serious peace of mind,
Or I know I'll just go craz.

Now I spend my time
Looking all around.
For a man thats nowhere
To be found.
Until I find him,
I'm never gonna stop searching,
I'm gonna find my man,
Gonna travel around.

'Cos I'm a wrathchild,
Yeah I'm a wrathchild,
Well I'm a wrathchild.
I'm coming to get you,
Ooh yeah yeah.

22 Acacia Avenue

(The continuing saga of Charlot The Harlot)
(Harris / Smith)

If you're feeling down depressed and lonely,
I know a place where we can go
22 Acacia Avenue, meet a lady we I know
So if you're looking for a good time,
And you're prepared to pay the price.
Fifteen quid is all she asks for
Everybody's got their vice.

If you're waiting for a long time,
for the rest to do their piece.
You can tell her that you know me,
and you might even get it free.
So any time you're down the East End,
don't you hesitate to go,
You can take my honest word for it,
she'll teach you more than you can know.

Charlotte can't you get out from all of this madness
Can't you see it only brings you sadness
When you entertain your men
don't you know the risk of getting disease

Some day when you're reaching the age of forty
I bet you'll regret the days when you were laying
Nobody then will want to know
You won't have any beautiful wares to show any more

22 the avenue that's the place where we all go
You will find it's warm inside the red light's burning bright tonight

Charlotte isn't it time you stopped this mad life
Don't you ever think about the bad times
Why do you have to live this way
Do you enjoy your lay or is it the pay

Sometimes when you're strolling down the avenue
The way you walk it makes men think of having you
When you're walking down the street
Everybody stops and turns to stare at you

22 the avenue that's the place where we all go
You will find it's warm inside the red light's burning bright tonight

Beat her, mistreat her, do anything that you please
Bite her, excite her, make her get down
on her knees
Abuse her, misuse her, she can take all
that you've got
Caress her, molest her, she always doest
what you want

You're running away, don't you know
what you're doing
Can't you see it'll lead you to ruin
Charlotte you've taken your life and
you've thrown it away.
You believe that because what you're earning
Your life 's good, don't you know that you're hurting
All the people that love you, don't cast them aside
All the men that are constantly drooling
It's no life for you, stop all that screwing
You're packing your bags and you're
coming with me

Children Of The Damned

(Harris)

He's walking like a small child
But watch his eyes burn you away
Black holes in his golden stare
God knows he wants to go home
Children of The Damned
(repeat another 3 times)

He's walking like a dead man
If he had lived he would crucified us all
Now he's standing on the last step
He thought oblivion, well it beckons us all
Children of The Damned
(repeat another 3 times)

Now it's burning his hands, he's turning to laugh
Smiles as the flame sears his flesh
Melting his face, screaming in pain
Peeling the skin from his eyes
Watch him die according to plan
He's dust on ground what did we learn

You're Children of The Damned,
Your back's against the wall.
You turn into the light
You're Children of The Damned,
Like candles watch them burn.
Burning in the light,
You'll burn again tonight.
You're Children of The Damned.

Die With Your Boots On

(Smith / Dickinson / Harris)

Another Prophet of Disaster,
Who says the ship is lost.
Another Prophet of Disaster,
Leaving you to count the cost.
Taunting us with Visions,
Afflicting us with fear,
Predicting War for millions,
In the hope that one appears.

No point asking when it is,
No point asking who's to go,
No point asking what's the game,
No point asking who's to blame,
'Cause if you're gonna die, if you're gonna die,
'Cause if you're gonna die, if you're gonna die,

If you're gonna die, die with your boots on,
If you're gonna try, well stick around.
Gonna cry, just move along.
If you're gonna die, you're gonna die.

13 the Beast is Rising,
The Frenchman did surmise,
Through earthquakes and starvation,
The Warlord will arise.
Terror, Death, Destruction,
Pour from the Eastern sands,
But the truth of all predictions,
Is always in your hands.

They died with their boots on,
Yes they died.
They died with their boots on
We died - We died - We died.

No point asking when it is,
No point asking who's to go,
No point asking what's the game,
No point asking who's to blame,
'Cause if you're gonna die, if you're gonna die,
'Cause if you're gonna die, if you're gonna die,

If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.
If you're gonna try, just stick around.
Gonna cry, just move along.
If you're gonna die, you're gonna die.

Phantom Of The Opera

(Harris)

I been looking so long for you now
You won't get away from my grasp
You've been living so long in hidding,
Hidding behind that false mask

You know and I know that you ain't got
that long tu last
Your looks and your feelings are just the
remains of your past.

Standing in the wings there,
you wait for the curtain to fall
Knowing the terror and holding
you have on us all

I know that you're going to scratch me
and maim me and maul
You know I'm helpless from you
mesmerising cat call

Keep your distance,
walk away don't take it bait
Don't you stay, don't youl fade away.

Watch your step, he's out to get you
Come what may
Don't you stay, from the narrow way

I'm running and hiding,
in my dreams you're always there
You're the Phantom of the Opera,
you're the devil you're just out to scare.

You damaged my mind and my soul
it just floats through the air
You haunt me, you taunt me, you torture me
back at your lair.