Hello Hivers!
Here we are again with the usual appointment with My idea of Song! If you missed the previous song you can find it here!
Today it's their turn.
Iron Maiden is one of the Metal band that literally made the history of Metal music, since 1975 born by the will of bassist Steve Harris, they were then noticed in '79 with their demo tape and in 1980 when they released the first album "Iron Maiden".
The lineup had the legendary, if touchy, Paul Di'Anno as the lead-voice; after many legal issues they decided to oust Paul from the band and Bruce Dickinson took his place.
When I first heard it, I immediately thought within myself: great ballad! Finally, even Iron is starting to play with "heart"!
Transported by the charm of these sounds, I carefully listened to the lyrics and translated them to myself.
Well, it's not really about matters of the heart, rather, these sounds create the mysterious environment of darkness!
The song is about a lonely man on a dark street and the fear he feels while walking like:
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's always there
But what feelings does this song give me?
After the first listen, and the translation of the lyrics, the sounds no longer sounded melodic to me, but I began to interpret them in a mysterious way.
As you know, I am extremely active, and in fact this aura of mystery that hovered in the notes, I tried to play them on the guitar as well, and I must say that I managed to get to a good point: until the solo I could not play!
The notes, played with certain effects, do not stimulate fear of the dark, but somewhat the feelings of agitation and alertness that one gets when one does not know what is on the other side...
In the passage where he says you ran your fingers over the wall and got chills on your neck as you look for the light switch...yeah it's not really nice!
Of course it all comes down to size when the guitars wake you up from this imaginative stupor and entice you to break out into a very fast and fun "Pogo"!
As the title of the column says, this is my interpretation of the song, clearly in the fear of the dark lies much deeper and social meanings than related to the fear of the unknown more properly a "leap into the dark."
Below are the full lyrics of the song:
I am a man who walks alone
And when I'm walking a dark road
At night or strolling through the park
When the light begins to change
I sometimes feel a little strange
A little anxious when it's dark
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's always there
Have you run your fingers down the wall
And have you felt your neck skin crawl
When you're searching for the light?
Sometimes when you're scared to take a look
At the corner of the room
You've sensed that something's watching you
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
Have a phobia that someone's always there
Have you ever been alone at night
Thought you heard footsteps behind
And turned around and no one's there?
And as you quicken up your pace
You find it hard to look again
Because you're sure there's someone there
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
have a phobia that someone's always there
Fear of the dark (8 times)
Watching horror films the night before
Debating witches and folklore
The unknown troubles on your mind
Maybe your mind is playing tricks
You sense and suddenly eyes fix
On dancing shadows from behind
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
Have a phobia that someone's always there
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's always near
Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark
Have a phobia that someone's always there
When I'm walking a dark road
I am a man who walks alone
I wanted to talk about this track because emotionally it got me very involved, not because of the fear of the dark (I'm at an age now where it doesn't affect me at all!) but because of the sounds that perfectly echo the imprints that fear of the dark instills in us at a very young age.
I challenge you to try it.
Slip on your headphones.
Turn off the light.
Wait a few seconds, now you can start the music....
Enjoy listening...