Running Silent, Running Deep

[The_Pharoah]

THIS is why I love Iron Maiden. Here's a song written by Bruce Dickinson (Vocals) and Steve Harris (Bassist) which is called Running Silent, Running Deep for the - you guessed it - uboats of WW2:

[Harris/Dickinson]

The convoy lights are dead ahead
The Merchantmen lay in their bed,
The trump of... diesels hammers down,
In the oily sea - the killing ground,
His knuckles white his eyes alight,
He slams the hatch on the deadly night,
A cunning fox in the chickens lair
A hound of hell and the devil don't care

[Chorus]
Running silent, Running deep, we are your final prayer,
Warriors in secret sleep, a merchantman's nightmare,
A silent death lies waiting, for all of you below,
Running silent, Running deep, sink into your final sleep

Chill the hearts of fighting men,
In open ocean wondering when?
The lethal silver fish will fly
The boat will shiver - men will die
A cast of millions - a part to play
Killer? Victim? or fool for a day
Obeying an order - men have to die
Us or them - a well rehearsed lie

[Chorus]

The lifeboats shattered the hull is torn,
The tar black smell of burning oil,
On the way down to Davy Jones,
Every man for himself - you're on your own
The wolf eyes watch the crosswire
"Stern tubes ready", "Aim and fire!"
They can pin some medal on your chest,
But in two more weeks - dead like the rest


I especially love the saying 'a cunning fox in the chicken's lair', esp when I'm in the midst of a convoy being chased by DDs.

Up the Irons!!

[Nopileo]

Originally Posted by The_Pharoah

I especially love the saying 'a cunning fox in the chicken's lair', esp when I'm in the midst of a convoy being chased by DDs.

It makes you ponder - again - which came first? The chicken or...? :hmm:

Anyway good post! I've never been an Iron Maiden fan, but as a hardcore flight sim enthusiast I have a deep respect for the singer Bruce Dickinson. Half the year he travels around the world dressing up and screaming, and the other half he also travels around the world, but then as a commercial pilot working for Iceland Air!

[PFC]

Just been reading "U-Boat War Patrol: The Hidden Photographic Diary of U564" by Lawrence Paterson, and interestingly enough, in the acknowledgements, he thanks Bruce Dickinson, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Steve Harris, Clive Burr and Nicko McBrain.... that made me go

Anyone know of the connection here?

[Dowly]

Yay! I love Iron Maiden`s WWII songs! That one`s a great one and then there`s the Aces High! It`s about Battle of Britain.
Here are the lyrics for it:

There goes the siren that warns of the air raid
Then comes the sound of the guns sending flak
Out for the scramble we’ve got to get airborne
Got to get up for the coming attack.

Jump in the cockpit and start up the engines
Remove all the wheelblocks there’s no time to waste
Gathering speed as we head down the runway
Gotta get airborne before it’s too late.

Running, scrambling, flying
Rolling, turning, diving, going in again
Run, live to fly, fly to live, do or die
Run, live to fly, fly to live. aces high.

Move in to fire at the mainstream of bombers
Let off a sharp burst and then turn away
Roll over, spin round and come in behind them
Move to their blindsides and firing again.

Bandits at 8 o’clock move in behind us
Ten me-109’s out of the sun
Ascending and turning our spitfires to face them
Heading straight for them I press down my guns

Rolling, turning, diving
Rolling, turning, diving, going in again
Run, live to fly, fly to live, do or die
Run, live to fly, fly to live, aces high.

I'm kind of an Iron Maiden fan too. Well, I used to be back in the day. They seem to write a lot of these types of songs. I think The Trooper and Tailgunner are other examples.

[seakrieg]

It's because I'm a massive Iron Maiden fan. I also have other books with other bands thanked for inspiration....
Cheers
Lawrence

[Marriott]

I've always been an Iron Maiden fan, and Aces High is a great song, I havent heard Running Silent, Running Deep before though

[Grrbob25]

where can we hear said song, linkie to page w/ it on it maybe?


never really a Iron Maiden fan myself, for me its been Rammstein all the way

[bookworm_020]

I wonder what the escorts would make of it when they here it from my gramaphone as I sink a convy before there eyes!!

[P_Funk]

I wonder where the hell a Metal band learned any of this **** and were compelled to write a song about it! I mean it's kinda weird you know.

[kylania]

Iron Maiden has lots of songs about history and literature. Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Alexander the Great, Aces High, Run Silent Run Deep, 2 Minutes to Midnight, Powerslave, Run to the Hills, Where Eagles Dare, Revelations, Flight of Icarus, Die With Your Boots On, The Trooper, To Tame a Land, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Prisoner, Tailgunner.

Run Silent Run Deep is off their "No Prayer For The Dying" album, and you can listen to a really crappy sound sample of the song from here.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Originally Posted by P_Funk

I wonder where the hell a Metal band learned any of this **** and were compelled to write a song about it! I mean it's kinda weird you know.

That would be Steve Harris. He's the primary songwriter.

I remember they did a song about Musashi, the swordsman. I wonder if that appears in the "Maiden Japan" album?

[seakrieg]

No, Maiden Japan is a five-track live EP from 1981. One of the last with Paul DiAnno on vocals.
Have to say it amazes me that people are amazed that metal bands know this stuff. For example....Lemmy is an avid collector of Third Reich collectibles and those from Imperial Germany. Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson etc are all extremely intelligent and well read men. Tony Iommi collects porcelin figures and historical autographs etc etc. I myself am now working on my eighth book related to U-boat history - and am drummer in the UK metal band Chokehold. History rocks!

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Originally Posted by seakrieg

No, Maiden Japan is a five-track live EP from 1981. One of the last with Paul DiAnno on vocals.
Have to say it amazes me that people are amazed that metal bands know this stuff. For example....Lemmy is an avid collector of Third Reich collectibles and those from Imperial Germany. Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson etc are all extremely intelligent and well read men. Tony Iommi collects porcelin figures and historical autographs etc etc. I myself am now working on my eighth book related to U-boat history - and am drummer in the UK metal band Chokehold. History rocks!

Heh. That would make you one Lawrence Paterson.

So, you met Peter Green and hung out w/Cozy Powell? Kewl!!

I actually rather liked Paul DiAnno's voice w/Iron Maiden.

I'm not sure who'd I'd define as "smartest rock star." Dexter Holland from the Offspring was the valedictorian of his high school class and is working on a PhD in molecular biology. Though, to tell you the truth, I don't think formal education necessarily marks one as smart.

[VoodooPriest]

There is also this great video from Airserbia featuring the song "Aces High" and footage from the movies "Pearl Harbor" and "Dark Blue World".

Watch it here