This song is most likely about the battle of Alesia, where the Celts under Vercingatorix leadership were defeated by Caesar, which could be considered the end of the Celts as an independent people in mainland Europe. But most of those celts who remained went on to thrive in Ireland and England.
[Instrumental Intro]
[Verse 1]
The road, it winds uphill all the way
Ride to glory on this day
Remember now to do him so proud
"In God we trust," cry it out loud
[Verse 2]
Redeem my salve of winning ways
Remember all the darkest days
Of that I know will see me tread
Walketh upon the field of the dead
[Verse 3]
The burden of blood, the breaketh of bone
The battlefield now I make it my own
The glory of the morning we make
Praying the rose is still awake
[Verse 4]
"Lord above," my spirit says
"Death is not proud, no more no less
Power of my soul will be free
Deliver us on to victory"
[Verse 5]
Wither a pain that's almost a joy
Wander there, my heart will destroy
Dreaming of days of our youth again
Strangely, no wonder memories remain
[Verse 6]
Pour thy scorn upon the realm
Pity me none at the gates of our hell
For I am but a messenger, one
Sent to do reckoning what must be done
[Verse 7]
Praying to our wretched doom
Liberty, freedom, maybe death looms
Wishing upon a fair display
Hoping our cause done faithfully
[Verse 8]
Wayward thunder over rain
Giving me time to think again
Send to their graves on this day
Silent where the battle dead lay
[Verse 9]
Vengeance is for all who lay dead
I have no fear, my body has bled
I will live on in rebirth again
Come to me now; embrace it, my friend
[Chorus 1]
Spirits cry for a god from the grave
In darkness, fortune favours the brave
[Chorus 2]
Dying, a warrior Celt has no fear
Immortal, for he will live evermore
[Instrumental Break]
[Guitar Solos]
[Chorus 2]
Dying, a warrior Celt has no fear
Immortal, for he will live evermore
[Verse 10]
Think I am, that I'm almost there
Following now, the depths of despair
Beyond the light, darkness will fall
Coming to take the life from us all
[Outro]
Falling now where God can’t explain
Bidding farewell, a lifeline again
Following those who came from hell
Came to witness the death of the Celts
Death of the Celts was written by Steve Harris.
Death of the Celts was produced by Steve Harris & Kevin Shirley.
Iron Maiden released Death of the Celts on Fri Sep 03 2021.
Adrian Smith:
It’s funny – Steve [Harris] will have these ideas and then look at me, Dave [Murray] or Janick [Gers]. The ideas are usually quite complicated, so sometimes you might see guitarists hiding away behind their amps, waiting for the others to take up the gauntlet and learn these super-com...