This song is about some man, who was supposed to be a king and who is in search for atonement for having killed someone in self-defence, although he seems to question the necessity of his act. The lyrics are very cryptic, so there can be multiple interpretations of the song’s meaning.
[Verse 1]
As he travels on the beast of burden
Moving up along the mountainside
As he gazes looking down the valley
No regrets but his pride
As he journeys across mountain passes
Insignificance sweeps over him
His reflection of the beauty round him
Feeling empty inside
He is running from his wildest thoughts
He is running from his everything
He is looking now to find something
Hoping he could be saved
[Verse 2]
He's searching for the answer now
It's something that he's managed to avoid up till now
Real conviction that he craves
He needs to find the answer sooner than later
Pushed himself to the limits
He had to strive for all the harder things in life
But what the cost to give in now?
His life, his time are the only things that he has
[Bridge]
Life is not a rehearsal
All he has is the one chance to get it right
Leaving really is the only way to know
Maybe one day, they'll forgive him what he's done
But now the pain of lying too early in the grave
[Chorus]
Destiny, no good to hide away
Penance now will be his only way
Understand, no good to run away
Penance now will be his saving grace
[Instrumental Break: 3:57-5:32]
[Verse 3]
He tries to make his peace with God
All is forgivable, but it's left a little late
Trying something that he's not
Is it possible to change such a lot?
He's taken someone's life away
There's not a day goes by he regrets what he's done
He should have found another way
But the Good Book says, "An eye for an eye"
In reflecting on decisions that were made
On the judgments that will haunt him till his grave
No one has the right to take another life
But in his mind, he had no choice, so be it
[Chorus]
Destiny, no good to hide away
Penance now will be his only way
Understand, no good to run away
Penance now will be his saving grace
Destiny, no good to hide away
Penance now will be his only way
Understand, no good to run away
Penance now will be his saving grace
[Outro]
Far, far away, the man who would be king
Far, far away, the man who would be king
So far away, the man who would be king
So far away, the man who would be king
Far, far away, the man who would be king
The Man Who Would Be King was written by Steve Harris & Dave Murray.
The Man Who Would Be King was produced by Steve Harris & Kevin Shirley.
Iron Maiden released The Man Who Would Be King on Mon Aug 16 2010.