Hell on Earth, Iron Maiden

Senjutsu has been out four years (Sept. 2021), long enough that I feel confident in selecting a favorite song.

That song is "Hell on Earth."

"Darkest Hour" and "The Writing on the Wall" are fantastic, but "Hell on Earth" is truly special.

When you get to be an old fart you get disgusted by the eternal hell we keep delivering unto ourselves. Steve Harris’ lyrics reflect this sad reality.

We’re unfortunately never going to have a heaven on this earth—I don’t think it’s possible, even though I think we could be doing far better as a species. We know how to live ethical lives; we have the wisdom of the ancients at our hands.

Yet we don’t bother to acknowledge it, let alone strive to learn it or live by it. 

You dance on the graves who bled for us

Do you really think they'll come for us?

Knowledge and virtue, taken by lust

Live on the edge of those that you trust

You think that you have all the answers for all

In your arrogant way only one way to fall

Burning a lamp that is fire in your hands

Taking you further from these lands

We still have children waging wars for old men’s ambitions, vanity.

Despite its bleak outlook it’s a beautiful song. The composition is fantastic; at more than 11 minutes it takes you on a journey. It features some of Bruce’s most inspired singing of the album (“Lost in anger, life in danger”). And it offers hope that one day we’ll see our loved ones again, after death. We sense there is something better beyond, from our past, deep in our memories… far away from this hell on earth.

I wish I could go back

I'll never be the same again

Bled for all upon this hell on Earth

And when I leave this world

I hope to see you all again

On the other side of hell on Earth

Upon the eyes of good

I'm following the light again

In between the dark of hell on Earth

On the other side, I'll see again in heaven

So far away from this hell on Earth