2 Minutes to Midnight
Iron Maiden
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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
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
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.
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Album ReleaseThe song was released in 1984, as part of the band's fifth studio album titled "Powerslave."
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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.
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Song LengthThe track has a running time of 6 minutes and 04 seconds, making it one of the longer tracks on "Powerslave."
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SongwritersThe 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.
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Music VideoThe music video for "2 Minutes to Midnight" was directed by Julian Doyle, who is also known for his work on several Monty Python films.
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Concert FavoriteThe song remains a favorite in concert and has been performed on nearly every Iron Maiden tour since its release.
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InspirationThe track's lyrics, much like many Iron Maiden songs, are rooted in warfare. Specifically, the song criticizes the horrors of nuclear warfare.
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LegacyThe 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."
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A Side and B SideThe song was released as a single with the B-side featuring a cover of British progressive rock band Beckett’s song "Rainbow's Gold."
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Popularity In U.SDespite 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.
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ArtworkThe 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.
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Live Album InclusionThe live performance of the song is included in the band's "Live After Death" album, which was released in 1985.
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Citation
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