Phantom Of The Opera

Album: Iron Maiden (1980)
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  • Oh, oh, yeah

    I've been lookin' so long for you now
    You won't get away from my grasp
    You've been living so long in hiding, in hiding
    Behind that false mask
    And you know that I know that
    You ain't got long now to last
    Your looks and your feelings
    Are just the remains of your past

    You're standing in the wings
    There you wait, for the curtain to fall
    But knowing the terror and holding
    You have on us all
    Yeah, I know that you're gonna
    Scratch me and maim me and maul
    And you know I'm helpless from
    Your mesmerizing catcall

    Ooh

    Keep your distance, walk away
    Don't take his bait
    Don't you stray, don't fade away
    Watch your step, he's out to get you
    Come what may
    Don't you stray, 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

    (Torture me back at your lair) Writer/s: Stephen Percy Harris
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 16

  • Caitlin from Colmesneil, TxFor Ian, the song by Andrew Lloyd Webber was written in 1986, six years after this one.
  • Caitlin from Colmesneil, TxI discovered something creepy about this song: when you rip it from CD onto a computer using Windows Media Player, the original studio version comes out as a Windows Media Audio file with a file size of 6.66 megabytes, and it is the only pre-NOTB Maiden song to directly mention the devil in the lyrics. Spooky...
  • Emarkm from Cheshire, United KingdomPretty-much the first song I ever learned to play on lead guitar and, coincidentally, pretty-much the last song I played live with my old band on bass guitar. (Technically the actual last song we played at that last gig was Freebird - we always finished with that!)
  • V-starr from ??????, MiI first saw the sheet music for it before I listen to the song and still can't beleave that anyone can play guitar and bass at over 225+ beats per minute! oh love this song too!
  • Donna from Hunsel, NetherlandsOne of Maiden's best songs! :)
  • Eddie from Timbuktu, KazakhstanThe first time I heard this song, I was blown away, thinking, "how can anyone play that on the bass, or guitar on that note?"
  • Ringgo from Montclair, CaThis is the best early Maiden song to me...time changes, awesome solos from all guitars involved...this should've been in the 2005 movie (or at least the badly received Robert Englund version) along with the Webber stuff. That would've been cool!
  • Matt from Calgary, CanadaThis is easily one of Maidens best songs, along with Prowler and Wrathchild i think it really shows that the band was in full gear even before Bruce Dickenson. Sadly to Anthony's comment,"second to none in guitar, bass and drum playing." I have to say that they arn't the best guitar players in the world. They could easily have the best Drummer, one of the best Bassists, but as far as the guitar goes they are good but they arn't the best. The thing that makes them stick out though is the level of thier writing, it makes the good guitar players seem awsome. Im not trying to detract from maiden, dont get me wrong, they are easily my favorit band but i have to be honest with you guys. If you compare the guitar playing to say, the guys in Dream Theater, its a no contest. Anyways i hate to be the critic, sorry to rain on the party. Keep those heads banging. UP THE IRONS!
  • Anthony from Parsippany, NjAnother classic...I too, NEVER EVER get tired of listening to it. As a matter of fact, most Maiden songs are as freaking fresh as the first time I listened. Truly the best band...thought provoking lyrics and really, second to none in guitar, bass and drum playing. They got it all!
  • Judas from Brisbane, AustraliaMaiden rules!.....they'll never ever get musical credit from the likes of the webbers of the world who have made a career out of being exhaulted by stuffy critics who work for the mainstream media and producers. Disney tunes for musicaly challenged elitists who say"Webber" like it lends credit to their tastes. By the way, how is it that every movie that comes out buries the name of the original author to the story?
  • Steven from Penzance, EnglandPhantom Of The Opera is one of the all time great songs by this band. There are so many time changes that it dosn't get boring. The song is almost an instrumental as it has only around a minute of vocals at the begining and a minute at the end. UP THE IRONS.
  • Josh from Thornhill, CanadaI just went to an iron maiden concert and this song is the best song when they played it and it is one of the greatest songs ever created.
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScI think it's sort of funny that the song by Andrew Lloyd Webber and iron Maiden have the same title. That'd be pretty funny if either song was inspired by the ohter's work. I can't see iron Maiden listening to 'Fantom Of the Opera," but who knows, and vice versa.
  • Chris from Gzira, Europei personally think this song has one of the best solos ever written! i never get tired of listening to it :) its so rich and got lots of intricate detail

    wow simply stunning

    i think this is thier best song
    (including lost of others lol)
  • Iain from Newcastle, United StatesThe fast instrumental break in the middle was used as the backing music in TV adverts for Lucozade, a sports energy drink. The adverts also featured Daley Thompson, at the a time a recent winner of the Olympic gold in the decathlon.
  • Ian from San Marino, CaIf i am not mistaken, the "musical adaptation" written by Andrew Lloyd Webber that Brett reffered to was actually made in the mid or late '80s, long after this amazing song had ever been concieved of. Therefore, it would make more sense if Webber would have been inspired by Iron Maiden's work rather than Iron Maiden being influenced by Webber (which I doubt is the story anyways).

    UP THE IRONS!
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