This song was inspired by a British television show of the same name. In it, a government agent is held captive in a village that seems idyllic but is actually a prison. He is known only as “Number 6,” and is constantly pressed for information.
The show’s episodes mostly revolved around Number 6 at...
[Intro]
We want information, information, information
Who are you?
The new number two
Who is number one?
You are number six
I am not a number, I am a free man!
[Verse 1]
I'm on the run, I kill to eat
And I'm starving now, feelin' dead on my feet
Goin' all the way, I'm nature's beast
Do what I want and do as I please
[Pre-Chorus]
Run, fight to breathe, it's tough
Now you see me, haha, now you don't
Break the walls, I'm comin' out
[Chorus]
Not a prisoner, I'm a free man
And my blood is my own now
Don't care where the past was
I know where I'm going, out
[Verse 2]
If you kill me, it's self-defense
But if I kill you, then I call it vengeance
Spit in your eye, I will defy
You'll be afraid when I call out your name
[Pre-Chorus]
Run, fight to breathe, it's gonna be tough
Now you see me and now you don't
Break the walls, I'm comin' out
[Chorus]
Not a prisoner, I'm a free man
And my blood is my own now
Don't care where the past was
I know where I'm going
I'm not a number, I'm a free man
Live my life where I want to
You'd better scratch me from your black book
Cos I'll run rings around you
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
Not a prisoner, I'm a free man
And my blood is my own now
Don't care where the past was
I know where I'm going
I'm not a number, I'm a free man
Live my life where I want to
You'd better scratch me from your black book
Cos I'll run rings around you
Not a prisoner, I'm a free man
And my blood is my own now
Don't care where the past was
I know where I'm going
The Prisoner was written by Adrian Smith & Steve Harris.
The Prisoner was produced by Martin Birch.
Iron Maiden released The Prisoner on Mon Mar 22 1982.