Paschendale

Album: Dance Of Death (2003)
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  • 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 falling rain
    Never see my friends again

    In the smoke, in the mud and lead
    Smell the 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 guns fire
    Lifeless bodies hang on barbed wire
    Battlefield nothing but a bloody tomb
    Be reunited with my dead friends soon

    Many soldiers eighteen years
    Drown 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 the cannon 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 a 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 Writer/s: Adrian Frederick Smith, Stephen Percy Harris
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 26

  • Tommy from FloridaThe little drum intro is actually a rhythmic interpretation of the S.O.S. signal in Morse code... very dark.
    That small detail, among many others across all their songs, is why Iron Maiden excels in their adventurous writing style.
  • Edwin from PhiladelphiaWarmfart from philly, I have heard of people struggling to spell, this takes it to another level; I was probably at this same show but Bruce Dickenson does this type theatrics often, Iron Maiden are great, this song is great, seen Maiden 24 times in the U.S. and Canada,
  • Felix from Torontoit is an offense to even attempt to undermine the country of Canada with the suggestion Greece had anything to do with training what was a highly professional army in 1917, Constantine must be thinking of the assistance grease provided to the communists after the war leading up to WW2 because grease certainly had no involvement in the affairs of allied forces.
  • Constantine from GreeceGreek army trained Canadian army prior to invasion of paschendale so not to have another Gallipoli, skills passed along were perfect but execution of plan was indecisive based on cold weather mentality, greek army retrain British army after battle to cope with demoralization, success for greek army was with victory in 2018 when allies win battle against aggressor, western armies were strong and had better weapons, many casualties.
  • Warfak from Philly, PaI had seen iran maiden and they sung the song here, the signer was waering a suit from war, it was good music and lot of videos wear playing on the back, people realy got into it, was best show fore ever.
  • Jeff from NcI like this song, it reminds me of the KISS song cold gin, all the soldiers in WW1 were drinking gin, trying to battle the germans, and here comes a battle and they have to stop drinking and might get killed, you never know, it is really scary how that can happen. I listen to Iron Maiden and it makes it all clear.
  • Don from Maryland UsaGreat moving song, one can never realize the absolute horror and senslessness of that kind of warfare. But these men went to their early graves proudly honoring the flags they fought under.
    I want to thank some of the other comments too for providing some historical insight to this battle and the naming of the town.
    WW1 too often looms in the shadows of WW2 but in was almost unequalled in horror and loss of life.
  • Pete from Brisbane, AuThis song, to me, is perfect. Adrian Smith penned a masterpiece with this song. Bruce Dickinson's voice strains in harmony with the theme and story. It paints such a vivid picture lyrically, and the guitar and drum work punctuate how dreadful and sad it must have been in thos trenches. Sadder still, after several months of fighting at the city, and hundreds of thousands of deaths, the allies abandoned it to focus on more strategically important locations. If you don't choke up even a little after hearing this song, you need help. To me it's better than The Trooper because it hits into the emotions of those troops as they prepare to do battle. Pure genius.
  • Jesse from Paschendale, Belgiumi live in Paschendale and i'm a big fan of iron maiden, i've seen them live on graspop in 2010 and i really was crazy and overhappy, because it was an dream of me that come out, and i'm collecting also thins of WWI -. when we dig a hole in our garden, we find a bullet, a bomb or other things that remains us of that terrible war. so: NEVER FORGET THE VICTIMS!
  • Michael from Florence, ScVery powerful song I was hooked from the very first time I heard it. Went and looked up everything I could on the battle, and must say a lot of the comments here seem very unaccurate...(on a different note)...@neil from long island: submariner? Do you mean "Rime of the Ancient Mariner"?
  • Lennon from Georgetown, Kyi personally don't agree that hallowed by thy name is better than the trooper but i do think that the trooper and paschendale are equally good
  • Ray from London, United KingdomBest Maiden song ever! Up the Irons
  • Jarrod from Wellington, New ZealandI don't get why if it was the battle of Passchendaele that they spelled the song 'Paschendale'??
  • Emarkm from Cheshire, United KingdomTo Damien from Edmonton, just to clarify, I think that Adrian wrote most of the lyrics to this one, not Steve. I heard one of the band say, whilst writing and recording the album, they came into a room where Ade was sitting on the floor, surrounded by books about the First World War, and this was the song he was working on.
  • Ryan from Bethany, OkIf you think about for a while, this song is kinda scary. It's scarier than "The Longest Day".
  • Greg from Topsfield, Mai love this song being from a family of soldiers starting in the revolution and ending in vietnam and then one more in desert storm this song brings out the true grit of a battle where no sides winning i love this song for this reason and Iron Maiden for trying to bring about forgotten places that deserve NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN i just hope they make more songs like this WAR IS HELL and no song can compare to this for bringing this point out there besides The Longest Day
  • Damien from Edmonton, CanadaAbsolutely addicted to this song! Steve Harris gives us the history lesson of the battle of Paschendale. The lyrics are not words but images to me, Bruce's voice is better than ever, and the music itself kind of sounds like a war going on. Great song, and sounds even better live. Up the Irons!
  • James from Boston, MaIn the actual battle it was said that nobody was wounded in Passchendale. It had rained for three days before the battle, and nearly everyone that fell drowned in the mud.
  • Neil from Long Island, NyI fell in love with Iron Maiden when I first heard them in the 80's and as a military man and a historian I love the songs that tell a story,especially military ones. Songs like Tailgunner, submariner, The Trooper and many others. Who ever writes the songs is doing an incredible job of story telling and the blending of musical instruments too bring out a feeling. Keep up the good work and I will keep listening and attending the concerts. Long Island Neil
  • Wessel from Dedemsvaart, Netherlandsthis song shares my number one with the song ''different world''!
    i totally agree with derek from canada, it is awesome i almost had to cry too :) especcially in the middle when bruce sings like:''blood is falling like the rain, its crimson cloak unveils again,the sound of guns can't hide her shame,and so we die on paschendale''.
    iron maiden is the best band ever

    btw: check out the insane amount of posts at the stairway to heaven topic! it takes days to read all that!
  • Joshua from London, EnglandThis is the best Iron Maiden song I've heard yet.
    It's nice and sad, and also Rockin'
  • Ringgo from Montclair, CaLove the time changes on this song, and just how it all flows together. Another great history lesson-themed song by Maiden.
  • Todd from Poynette, WiThe third battle of Ypres took place from July 31st 1917- November 6th 1917. The Canadian corps took control of what was left of Passchendaele ending this battle. This was known as one of the bloodiest battles of WW1. Passendale is the modern spelling of the village.The old name of Passchendaele is now used only to refer to this battle. Passendale today forms part of the municipality of Zonnebeke, Belgium
  • Derek from Brooks, CanadaThere is no such thing as the battle of Paschendale. Paschendale was a village where the battles of Ypres happened. Key word in that sentance, WAS. after the third battle, which is the specific one that this song is about, there was not a brick left of that village. It was gone completely. In that single battle roughly 550,000 people died(300,000 allies, 250,000 germans. 100,000 bodies were unidentified, and 42,000 were never found.) Incredibly powerful song, i almost cried. Chronicling the last hours of a soldier who knows his inevitable fate.
  • Eric from Joelton, TnThis is probably my favorite Maiden song.
    A far better war-themed song than "The Trooper".
    I think this is just as good as "Hallowed Be Thy Name".
  • Devon from Westerville, OhI love this song. The middle chord progression is sweet. Maiden is where it's at. Up the Irons.
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