Lyrical inspirations and themes
The storytelling style of Iron Maiden compositions is
often reflected in the construction of musical elements such as guitar parties,
harmonies, rhythm section articulation, and the narrative vibe of dramatic
vocal performances. In many songs, especially epic ones, the band's music
follows the lyrical context and the emotional dimension of their messages is a
pivotal element of Iron Maiden's works. The band's lyrical themes are mainly inspired by
philosophy, history, and the classics of world literature or
cinematography. The musicians were also inspired
by mythologies and tales from distant cultures, biographies of great heroes and
descriptions of historical events, battle stories, religious, mystical, or
esoteric books, and current socio-political affairs. The group also
touched upon difficult and controversial aspects, an example of which is the
lyrics of one of the biggest hits, "Run to the Hills", about the
tragic fate of the Indians
inflicted on them by the white arrivals from Europe.
