Flight of Icarus

Iron Maiden

About Flight of Icarus

"Flight of Icarus" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released as their eighth single and the first from their fourth studio album, Piece of Mind (1983). It was the band's first single to be released in the United States, becoming one of their few songs to gain substantial airplay, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Top Album Tracks chart - the highest position of any Iron Maiden single in the US. It was also a success in the UK, peaking at No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart. It is also the band's first release to feature Nicko McBrain, who replaced Clive Burr on drums in 1982. Despite being one of Iron Maiden's most famous songs, "Flight of Icarus" was not performed live after 1986 until it was finally performed again on May 26, 2018. 


Year:
1994
431 
#2

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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 a 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.

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Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London that was formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter, Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; ten live albums; four EPs; and seven compilations. more »

9 fans

Written by: Adrian Frederick Smith, Bruce Dickinson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Inspiration
"Flight of Icarus" is based on the ancient Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus, who tried to escape from the island of Crete by flying with wings made from feathers and wax.
Album Information
This song is from their fourth studio album, "Piece of Mind," which is often considered as one of their best work.
Chart Performance
It was a commercial success. In the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at No. 11, and it's Iron Maiden's first single to be released in the United States, where it also did well, reaching No. 8 on Billboard's Top Album Tracks chart.
Song Structure
"Flight of Icarus" is known for its fast-paced tempo and Bruce Dickinson's high-pitched vocals, indicative of the band's signature style.
Video Creation
The music video for "Flight of Icarus" featured the band dressed up in ancient Greek attire and was shot in the Bahamas.
Bruce Dickinson’s Role
This was the first Iron Maiden single with Bruce Dickinson having a hand in the writing. Up until this point, bassist Steve Harris and guitarist Adrian Smith had done the bulk of the songwriting.
Song Length
With a length of 3 minutes and 51 seconds, it is Iron Maiden's second shortest song to date, only surpassing "Prowler" from their self-titled debut album.
Live Performances
Despite its success, the song did not become a staple in Iron Maiden's live concerts and was not played frequently in their tours after the "Piece of Mind" tour.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by a number of renowned artists like Carly Smithson, Altaria, and Evenoire.
Debates with Band Members
There were debates within the band about the change of direction in their music. Dickinson opposed bassist Steve Harris over the speed of the song, with Dickinson preferring a slower pace in contrast to Harris's preference for a faster tempo.

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