About The Song
“The Number of the Beast” is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It is Iron Maiden’s seventh single release, and the second single from their 1982 studio album of the same name. It was reissued in 2005 and also prior to that in 1990 in The First Ten Years box set on CD and 12″ vinyl, in which it was combined with the previous single, “Run to the Hills”.
Upon release in 1982, the song caused controversy in the United States where its religious subject matter caused outrage amongst religious groups. In spite of this, it remains one of the band’s more popular songs, reaching No. 18 in the UK singles charts on its original release, and No. 3 on two successive occasions in 1990 and 2005. It has been performed on almost all of their concert tours. Additionally, the song has been covered numerous times and has appeared in several video games and films.
“The Number of the Beast” is one of the band’s most popular songs, appearing at No. 7 on VH1’s 40 Greatest Metal Songs and No. 6 in Martin Popoff’s book The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time, a list said to be compiled from 15,000 votes submitted by musicians, music journalists and the general public.
Since its release, the song has been covered by Dream Theater, Avulsed, Iced Earth, Sinergy, Powderfinger, Djali Zwan (whose version was used for the soundtrack of the cult film Spun), The Iron Maidensand many other bands. In addition, it was covered on a String Quartet Tribute to the band.
The song has been featured in video games, such as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, and can be downloaded to Rock Band (originally offered as a cover version, the original master recording complete with spoken introduction was also uploaded along with “Run to the Hills” and a live performance version of “Hallowed Be Thy Name”). On top of this, it can be heard in the film Murder by Numbers and the British TV series Sherlock. In 2017, the song was featured in the episode “Sons a Witches” of the American animated television series South Park. The Netflix film Rebel_Ridge opens with the main character listening to the song on a “metal mix” on his phone while cycling.
Video
Lyrics
Woe to you, oh 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
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?
‘Cause in my dreams it’s always there
The evil face that twists my mind and brings me to despair
Night was black, was no use holding back
‘Cause 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?
Six six six, the number of the beast
Hell and fire was spawned to be released
Torches blazed and sacred chants were praised
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
Six six six, the number of the beast
Sacrifice is going on tonight
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 their eyes
Six six six, the number of the beast
Six six six, the one for you and me
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