Revelations

Album: Piece Of Mind (1983)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song is largely about Aleister Crowley, who claimed to be Antichrist 666 as predicted in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. It is one of the few Maiden songs written solely by Bruce Dickinson, who later wrote more songs about Crowley, including "Accident Of Birth" and "Man Of Sorrows." In 2008, Dickinson wrote the screenplay for the film Crowley (released outside the US with the title Chemical Wedding) that also deals with Aleister Crowley.

    "It's a song about religion, but not conventional religion, the occult and alchemical side of it, which is a theme I've always been interested in," Dickinson told Planet Rock.
  • The lyrics in the first verse are lifted from a hymn by the English writer G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) called "O God Of Earth And Altar." Bruce Dickinson grew up listening to the hymn and always liked it - as church music goes, it's pretty cool:

    The walls of gold entomb us
    The swords of scorn divide
    Take not thy thunder from us
    Take away our pride


    Dickinson thought it would sound great with some heavy music behind it, forming a nice contrast, so he used it to open the song.
  • "Revelations" is part of Iron Maiden's fourth album, Piece Of Mind. It was their first album with drummer Nicko McBrain, bringing together what would become their classic lineup for the first time.

Comments: 7

  • Paulo Pereira from Yonkers, Ny"The whole first verse is taken straight from the book of Revelations in the King James Version of the bible"

    No. It's from a hymnal by G. K. Chesterton.
  • Simon from Usa@Ashleigh - The first verse in this song is from 'A Hymn' by (G. K.) Chesterton, http://www.bachlund.org/A_Hymn_Chesterton.htm ("O God of earth and altar[...]")
    You're right in that there *is* a Maiden song that quotes the Book of Revelation, that song is "The Number of the Beast." Using KJV, the first part of the opening "Woe to you[...]" is from Revelation 12:12 and the second part "Let him who hath understanding[...]" is from Revelation 13:18.
    Up the Irons \m/
  • Ashleigh from Melbourne, AustraliaThe whole first verse is taken straight from the book of Revelations in the King James Version of the bible
  • Mark from Hshshshss, Wallis And Futuna Islandsthis song is about washing your car, actually it's about opening a pair of curtains
  • Marcelo from San Jose, OtherMaiden live is just awesome...saw them 2 times in Costa Rica on their Somewhere Back in Time World Tour...wow...they're amazing...
  • Edgar from Athens, GreeceOne of the best songs ever!!The live version is magnificent!!!
  • Ryan from Bethany, Okthis is my favorite maiden song next to "where eagles dare"
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