2 Minutes to Midnight

Iron Maiden

About 2 Minutes to Midnight

"2 Minutes to Midnight" is a song by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, featured on their fifth studio album, Powerslave (1984). It was released as the band's tenth single, and first from the album on 6 August 1984. It rose to number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and number 25 on Billboard Top Album Tracks. The band's first single to exceed five minutes in length, it remained their longest until the release of "Infinite Dreams" in November 1989.


Year:
1990
6:07
91 
#1

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Kill for gain or shoot to maim
But we don't need a reason
The Golden Goose is on the loose
And never out of season
Some blackened pride still burns inside
This shell of bloody treason
Here's my gun for a barrel of fun
For the love of living death.

The killer's breed or the demon's seed,
The glamor, the fortune, the pain,
Go to war again, blood is freedom's stain,
But don't you pray for my soul anymore.
Two minutes to midnight
The hands that threaten doom.
Two minutes to midnight
To kill the unborn in the womb.

The blind men shout let the creatures out
We'll show the unbelievers
The napalm screams of human flames
Of a prime time Belsen feast, yeah!
As the reasons for the carnage cut their meat and lick the gravy,
We oil the jaws of the war machine and feed it with our babies.

The killer's breed or the demon's seed,
The glamor, the fortune, the pain,
Go to war again, blood is freedom's stain,
But don't you pray for my soul anymore.
Two minutes to midnight
The hands that threaten doom.
Two minutes to midnight
To kill the unborn in the womb.

The body bags and little rags of children torn in two
And the jellied brains of those who remain to put the finger right on you.
As the madmen play on words and make us all dance to their song,
To the tune of starving millions to make a better kind of gun.

The killer's breed or the demon's seed,
The glamor, the fortune, the pain,
Go to war again, blood is freedom's stain,
But don't you pray for my soul anymore.
Two minutes to midnight
The hands that threaten doom.
Two minutes to midnight
To kill the unborn in the womb.

Midnight, all night

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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


13 facts about this song

Song Title & Meaning
"2 Minutes to Midnight" is a song by British heavy metal band "Iron Maiden." The title apparently refers to the symbolic Doomsday Clock; two minutes to midnight represents how close the world is to a global catastrophe.
Album Release
The song was released in 1984, as part of the band's fifth studio album titled "Powerslave."
Critical Success
"2 Minutes to Midnight" is recognized as one of Iron Maiden's most successful songs, reaching number 11 in the UK Singles Chart.
Song Length
The track has a running time of 6 minutes and 04 seconds, making it one of the longer tracks on "Powerslave."
Songwriters
The song was written by Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith. Dickinson is the lead vocalist of the band, and Smith is one of the band's guitarists.
Music Video
The music video for "2 Minutes to Midnight" was directed by Julian Doyle, who is also known for his work on several Monty Python films.
Concert Favorite
The song remains a favorite in concert and has been performed on nearly every Iron Maiden tour since its release.
Inspiration
The track's lyrics, much like many Iron Maiden songs, are rooted in warfare. Specifically, the song criticizes the horrors of nuclear warfare.
Legacy
The song is now iconic in the metal genre and is frequently covered by other artists. It is also often featured on video games soundtracks, such as "Guitar Hero: Smash Hits."
A Side and B Side
The song was released as a single with the B-side featuring a cover of British progressive rock band Beckett’s song "Rainbow's Gold."
Popularity In U.S
Despite being a hit in the UK, the song did not chart in the United States. However, it eventually gained recognition and is now considered a classic Iron Maiden track in the U.S.
Artwork
The original sleeve artwork for "2 Minutes to Midnight" was created by long-time band collaborator and artist, Derek Riggs. It depicts Eddie, the band's mascot, in what appears to be the aftermath of a nuclear explosion.
Live Album Inclusion
The live performance of the song is included in the band's "Live After Death" album, which was released in 1985.

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