This song was the band’s second single from their 1982 album. It was influenced by the 1978 horror movie Damien: Omen II, which is about the 13-year-old Antichrist. It is one of Iron Maiden’s most famous and one of heavy metal’s most recognizable songs.
Basically, this song is about a dream. It’s n...
[Intro: Barry Clayton]
Woe to you, o'er Earth and Sea
For the Devil sends the beast with wrath
Because he knows the time is short
Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast
For it is a human number
Its number is six hundred and sixty-six
[Verse 1]
I left alone, my mind was blank
I needed time to think, to get the memories from my mind
What did I see? Can I believe
That what I saw that night was real and not just fantasy?
Just what I saw, in my old dreams
Were they reflections of my warped mind staring back at me?
Cos in my dreams, it's always there
The evil face that twists my mind and brings me to despair
Yeah
[Verse 2]
Night was black, was no use holding back
Cos I just had to see, was someone watching me?
In the mist, dark figures move and twist
Was all this for real, or just some kind of hell?
[Chorus]
Six-six-six, the number of the beast
Hell and fire was spawned to be released
[Verse 3]
Torches blazed and sacred chants were phrased
As they start to cry, hands held to the sky
In the night, the fires are burning bright
The ritual has begun, Satan's work is done
[Chorus]
Six-six-six, the number of the beast
Sacrifice is going on tonight
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 4]
This can't go on, I must inform the law
Can this still be real, or just some crazy dream?
But I feel drawn towards the chanting hordes
Seem to mesmerize, can't avoid the eyes
[Chorus]
Six-six-six, the number of the beast
Six-six-six, the one for you and me
[Outro]
I'm coming back, I will return
And I'll possess your body and I'll make you burn
I have the fire, I have the force
I have the power to make my evil take its course
The Number of the Beast was written by Steve Harris.
The Number of the Beast was produced by Martin Birch.
Iron Maiden released The Number of the Beast on Mon Mar 22 1982.
They completely got the wrong end of the stick. They obviously hadn’t read the lyrics. They just wanted to believe all that rubbish about us being Satanists.
Basically, this song is about a dream. It’s not about devil worship.
—Steve Harris, composer, about complaints of the supposed satanic meani...
If you mean which verse is being referenced in the opening passage of the song, then it’s: Revelation 13:18 from the final ‘Book’ in the ‘New Testament’.
Also known as: ‘Book of Revelation,’ ‘Revelation to John,’ ‘Apocalypse of John’.
It’s often misquoted as Revelations.