Empire of the Clouds
Iron Maiden
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To ride the storm, to an empire of the clouds To ride the storm, they climbed aboard their silver ghost To ride the storm, to a kingdom that will come To ride the storm, and damn the rest, oblivion Royalty and dignitaries, brandy and cigars Related giant of the skies, you hold them in your arms The millionth chance they laughed, to take down his majesty's craft To India they say, magic carpet float away, an October fateful day Mist is in the trees, stone sweats with the dew The morning sunrise, red before the blue Hanging at the mast, waiting for command His majesty's airship, the r101 She's the biggest vessel built by man, a giant of the skies For all you unbelievers, the Titanic fits inside Drum rolled tight, a canvas skin, silvered in the sun Never tested with the fury, with a beating yet to come The fury yet to come In the gathering gloom, a storm rising in the west The coxswain stared into the We must go now, we must take our chance with fate We must go now, for the politicians he can't be late The airship crew awake for thirty hours at full stretch, But the ship is in their backbone, every sinew, every inch She never flew at full speed, a trial never done A fragile outer cover, her Achilles would become An Achilles yet to come Sailors of the sky, a hardened breed Loyal to the king, and an airship creed The engines drum, the telegraph sounds Release the cords that bind us to the ground Said the coxswain, sir, she's heavy, she'll never make this flight Said the captain, damn the cargo, we'll be on our way tonight Groundsmen cheered in wonder, as she backed up from the mast Baptizing with her water, from the ballast fore and aft Now she slips into our past Feeling the wind as it blows you Feeling the beams as they pass you along Watching the channel below you Lower and lower, into the night Lights are passing below you Northern France, asleep in their beds Storm is raging around you A million to one, that's what he said Reaper standing beside you Wind inside cuts to the bone Panicked to make a decision Experienced men, asleep in their graves The cover is ripped and she's flooding Rain is flooding into the hold Bleeding to death and she's falling Lifting gas is draining away We're down lads, came a cry, bow plunging from the sky Three thousand horses silent as the ship began to die The flares to guide her path ignited at the last The empire of the clouds, just ashes in our past Just ashes at the last Here lie their dreams as they stand in the sun On the ground where they built, and the engines they run To the moon and the stars, now what have we done? Oh the dreamers may die, but the dreams live on Dreams live on Dreams live on Ooh Now a shadow on a hill, the angel of the east The empire of the clouds may rest in peace And in a country churchyard, laid head to the mast Eight and Forty souls who came to die in France
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Written by: Bruce Dickinson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Production"Empire of the Clouds" is British heavy metal band Iron Maiden's longest song ever.
- The song was written and performed entirely by Bruce Dickinson, the band's lead vocalist.
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Song SpecificationsUnlike many of Iron Maiden's previous songs, this one is a complex piece that lasts 18 minutes and 1 second.
- The song was included in their sixteenth studio album, "The Book of Souls," released in 2015.
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Influences and Concept"Empire of the Clouds" was inspired by the R101 airship disaster that occurred in 1930.
- The song narrates the story of the doomed British airship that crashed in France during its maiden overseas voyage.
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Musical AspectsThe song is distinctive due to its use of piano, which is unusual in Iron Maiden's music.
- It also includes a string section, which adds a cinematic element to the song.
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Song RecordingDickinson reportedly presented the song to the rest of the band in the studio by playing it on a baby grand piano.
- The song was recorded live in the studio, adding to its distinct and intense sound.
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Critical ReceptionThe song demonstrated a different side of Iron Maiden and was generally well-received by critics and fans alike.
- It's applauded for its ambitious and dramatic storytelling which enhances its overall appeal.
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Related MerchandiseIn 2016, Iron Maiden released a limited-edition 12-inch picture disc of "Empire of the Clouds" for Record Store Day.
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Live PerformanceDespite its popularity, "Empire of the Clouds" has never been performed live due to its complex and orchestral nature.
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RecognitionBruce Dickinson was awarded the "O2 Silver Clef" by Nordoff Robbins in recognition of this song in 2016.
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LegacyThough relatively newer in Iron Maiden's long-spanning career, "Empire of the Clouds" has already been recognized as one of their most ambitious and well-executed compositions.
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Citation
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"Empire of the Clouds Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32049552/Iron+Maiden/Empire+of+the+Clouds>.
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