Six Iron Maiden Songs that are sadly relevant in 2017

2 Minutes To Midnight

The recent news that the doomsday clock had been moved up to 2-1/2 minutes until midnight very naturally had me thinking about the classic Iron Maiden tune 2 Minutes To Midnight. A protest song about nuclear war, Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson says the song is more a critical look at the romance of war in general than a statement about the Cold War period in which the song was written. However, a quick look at the lyrics reveals a song that is sadly still very relevant 33 years later.

Consider the end of second verse...

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.

And the chorus.

2 minutes to midnight,
The hands that threaten doom.
2 minutes to midnight,
To kill the unborn in the womb.

Two references to dead babies in the song. It was written in 1984, which was when the moral majority and all that crap was a peak craziness. I wonder if Bruce was making a point there about Christians obsession with abortion when the leaders they elect are responsible for so many dead kids? A point that is directly applicable to Trump.

El Dorado

El Dorado is a cynical comparison of the legend of the city of gold with the 2008 financial crisis, However, it applies equally well today to the lies being sold by Trump.

I'm the jester with no tears
And I'm playing on your fears
I'm a trickster smiling underneath this mask of love and death
The eternal lie I've told
About the pyramids of gold
I've got you hooked at every turn your money's left to burn

Holy Smoke

This tune was written in the 90s as a reaction to a rash of scandals involving televangelists. However, it feels like he could be singing to the 81% of evangelical Christians that just voted for the most unchristian person to ever reside in the White House.

Believe in me - send no money
Died on the cross, that ain't funny
But my so called friends they're making me a joke
They missed out what I said like I never spoke
They choose what they wanna hear - don't tell a lie
They just leave out the truth as they're watching you die
Saving your soul by taking your money
Flies around shit, bees around honey"

Run To The Hills

One of Maiden's most well known songs, it is about the US War massacre of Native Americans. This can literally be about the current events at Standing Rock, or more metaphorically, about Trump and his cronies raping the land (and many of its inhabitants) by rolling back the environmental protections of the last 20+ years.

Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes, Galloping hard on the plains.
Chasing the Redskins back to their holes,
Fighting them at their own game.
Murder for freedom, stab in the back.
Women and children are cowards, attack!

For the Greater Good of God

This is 2006, so not that old. It's another look at the intersection of war and religion. This is probably a more timeless song, as it's going to remain relevant as long as we have religion being twisted by power hungry men.

More pain and misery in the history of mankind
Sometimes it seems more like
The blind leading the blind
It brings upon us more famine, death and war
You know religion has a lot to answer for

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

The tough of the track
With the wind
And the rain that's beating down on your back
Your heart's beating loud
And goes on getting louder
And goes on even more 'til the
Sound is ringing in your head
With every step you tread
And every breath you take Determination
Makes you run, never stop
Got to win, got to run 'til you drop
Keep the pace, hold the race
Your mind is getting clearer
You're over half way there
But the miles they never seem to end
As if you're in a dream
Not getting anywhere
It seems so futile

Is it a song about literal running, or is it a song about any long journey, like the next 4 years?