Iron Maiden - Paschendale Lyrics

[Instrumental Intro]

[Intro]
In a foreign field he lay
Lonely soldier, unknown grave
On his dying words he prays
Tell the world of Paschendale
Relive all that he's been through
Last communion of his soul
Rust your bullets with his tears
Let me tell you about his years

[Instrumental break]

[Verse 1]
Laying low in a blood filled trench
Killing time 'til my very own death
On my face I can feel the falling rain
Never see my friends again

[Verse 2]
In the smoke, in the mud and lead
Smell the fear and the feeling of dread
Soon be time to go over the wall
Rapid fire and the end of us all

[Verse 3]
Whistles, shouts and more gun fire
Lifeless bodies hang on barbed wire
Battlefield nothing but a bloody tomb
Be reunited with my dead friends soon

[Verse 4]
Many soldiers eighteen years
Drown in mud, no more tears
Surely a war no-one can win
Killing time about to begin

[Chorus]
Home, far away
From the war, a chance to live again
Home, far away
But the war, no chance to live again

[Bridge]
The bodies of ours and our foes
The sea of death it overflows
In no man's land, God only knows
Into jaws of death we go

[Verse 5]
Crucified as if on a cross
Allied troops they mourn their loss
German war propaganda machine
Such before has never been seen

[Verse 6]
Swear I heard the angels cry
Pray to God no more may die
So that people know the truth
Tell the tale of Paschendale

[Instrumental break]

[Verse 7]
Cruelty has a human heart
Every man does play his part
Terror of the men we kill
The human heart is hungry still

[Verse 8]
I stand my ground for the very last time
Gun is ready as I stand in line
Nervous wait for the whistle to blow
Rush of blood and over we go

[Instrumental break]

[Bridge]
Blood is falling like the rain
Its crimson cloak unveils again
The sound of guns can't hide their shame
And so we die in Paschendale

[Instrumental break]

[Verse 9]
Dodging shrapnel and barbed wire
Running straight at the cannon fire
Running blind as I hold my breath
Say a prayer symphony of death

[Verse 10]
As we charge the enemy lines
A burst of fire and we go down
I choke a cry but no-one hears
Feel the blood go down my throat

[Chorus x4]
Home, far away
From the war, a chance to live again
Home, far away
But the war, no chance to live again

[Outro]
See my spirit on the wind
Across the lines, beyond the hill
Friend and foe will meet again
Those who died at Paschendale