This song is about the general state of mind in the western world. The people have become dependent on news reports that are pre-digested and sometimes warped.
This song was written not too long after the Bosnian wars and the 9/11 attacks, where the entire world could watch the terrors of these eve...
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
Everybody's waiting for something to happen
Everybody's waiting for something to see
Lunatics waiting for bigger disasters
Everyone's waiting for news on TV
Winding lives at the end of the spiral
Waiting dictators with their next big thrill
Everyone's looking, but no one is listening
Everybody wants to be in at the kill
[Pre-Chorus 1]
I wait for the signs; they tell me true
I see the signs of the end-time
[Verse 2]
Everyone's searching, but nothing's revealing
Everyone's looking for the reason why
Everyone's hoping for life ever after
Everyone's looking at death from the sky
Everyone's nightmares are going to happen
Everybody's ripping the mask from their eyes
Everyone's praying, but no one's believing
Everybody's heroes tell everyone's lies
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I wait for the signs; they tell me true
I see the signs of the end
[Chorus]
So, I watch, and I wait, and I pray for an answer
An end to the strife and the world's misery
But the end never came
And we're digging the graves
And we're loading the guns for the kill
[Post-Chorus]
Can the end be at hand?
Is the face in the sand
Future memory of our tragedy?
Can the end be at hand?
Is the face in the sand
Future memory of our tragedy?
[Instrumental Break: 4:14-4:59]
[Chorus]
So, I watch, and I wait, and I pray for an answer
An end to the strife and the world's misery
But the end never came
And we're digging the graves
And we're loading the guns for the kill
[Post-Chorus]
Can the end be at hand?
Is the face in the sand
Future memory of our tragedy?
Can the end be at hand?
Is the face in the sand
Future memory of our tragedy?
Face in the Sand was written by Steve Harris & Bruce Dickinson & Adrian Smith.
Face in the Sand was produced by Kevin Shirley & Steve Harris.
Iron Maiden released Face in the Sand on Mon Sep 08 2003.