Total Eclipse
Iron Maiden * Track #9 On The Number of the Beast
Download "Total Eclipse"
Album The Number of the Beast
Total Eclipse by Iron Maiden
Release Date
Performed by
Iron MaidenProduced by
Martin BirchWrited by
Clive Burr & Dave Murray & Steve HarrisAbout
This is a doomsday song describing the end of times by our own hand or by an ecological disaster. There was a debate whether to put this or Gangland on the album and they finally decided on Gangland, something Steve has regreted ever since
Total Eclipse Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Cold as steel, the darkness waits
Its hour will come
A cry of fear from our children, worshipping the sun
Mother Nature's black revenge on those who waste her life
War babies in the Garden of Eden shall turn our ashes to ice
[Chorus]
Sunrise has gone
Freezing up the fires
Sunrise has gone
Numbing our desires
Sunrise has gone
Sunrise has gone
[Verse 2]
Around the world, the people stop with terror-stricken eyes
A shadow cast upon them all to crush them like a fly
In the icy rain and whiplashed seas, there's nowhere left to run
The hammer blows of winter fall, like a hurricane
[Chorus]
Sunrise has gone
Freezing up the fires
Sunrise has gone
Numbing our desires
[Bridge]
Around the world, the nations wait
For some wise word from their leading light
You know it's not only madmen who listen to fools
"Is this the end?" the millions cried
Clutching their riches as they died
Those who survive must weather the storm
[Guitar Solo: Dave Murray]
[Guitar Solo: Adrian Smith]
[Outro]
Gone are the days when man looked down
They've taken away his sacred crown
To be so free, it took so long
It's not journey's end, it's just begun
Total Eclipse Q&A
Who wrote Total Eclipse's ?
Total Eclipse was written by Clive Burr & Dave Murray & Steve Harris.
Who produced Total Eclipse's ?
Total Eclipse was produced by Martin Birch.
When did Iron Maiden release Total Eclipse?
Iron Maiden released Total Eclipse on Fri Feb 12 1982.
What did Iron Maiden say about "Total Eclipse"?
We just chose the wrong track as the B-side. I think if “Total Eclipse” had been on the album instead of “Gangland” it would have been far better.
—Steve Harris, unhappy with the choice to put “Total Eclipse” as a bonus track.