2236 – Iron Maiden – The number of the beast (1982)

 

Escrita por Steve Harris, foi gravada em Londres em 1981 e lançada em 22 de março de 1982, no disco de mesmo nome, o terceiro disco da banda. Saiu também em compacto, em 26 de abril de 1982, com Remember tomorrow como Lado B. Foi produzida por Martin Birch. No lançamento, causou um grande furor por causa do tema. Apesar disso, é uma das canções mais populares da banda. Chegou ao número 18 no Reino Unido e número 19 na Irlanda. Steve Harris disse que a escreveu após ter um pesadelo depois de assistir Damien: Omen II. Começa com uma parte falada pelo ator Barry Clayton, que cita Revelation 12:12 e Revelation 13:18. É a número 7 da lista da VH1 das 40 greatest metal songs. E n;úmero 6 do livro The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of all time, de Martin Poppoff. Se trata de 15000 votos enviados por músicos, jornalistas de música e público em geral. Bruce Dickinson cantou. Dave Murray e Adrian Smith tocaram guitarras. Steve Harris tocou baixo e Clive Burr tocou bateria. Barry Clayton fez a voz falada do início.

 

A letra:

 

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

 

A versão do Iron Maiden:

 

A versão de O’Keefe Music Foundation:

 

A versão de 22 Acacia Avenue: