The departure of frontman Bruce Dickinson in 1993 was mixed among fans of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Surely many thought that his future career would be a failure, but in reality he succeeded much more than Iron Maiden with a new vocalist.
Moreover, even after returning to the group, Dickinson did not completely abandon work on solo projects.
History of creation and meaning
One of the most famous compositions that Bruce wrote during the breakup with Iron Maiden was the beautiful rock ballad Tears of the Dragon. It was released as the first single from Dickinson’s second album Balls to Picasso and is considered by most critics to be the best of the songs.
Subsequently, Bruce said that the words reflected his feelings and doubts associated with the decision to leave Iron Maiden. The text of Tears of the Dragon makes it clear that Dickinson did not make this decision easy.
Tears of the Dragon peaked at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXClBjNxiOA
Interesting Facts
- It is said that Bruce Dickinson borrowed the name of the album Balls to Picasso from the writing on the wall in the toilet.
Bruce Dickinson Tears of the Dragon Lyrics
For too long now, there were secrets in my mind
For too long now, there were things I should have said
In the darkness, I was stumbling for the door
To find a reason, to find the time, the place, the hour
Waiting for the winter sun and the cold light of day
The misty ghosts of childhood fears
The pressure is building and I can’t stay away
chorus:
I throw myself into the sea
Release the wave, let it wash over me
To face the fear I once believed
The tears of the dragon for you and for me
Where I was, I had wings that couldn’t fly
Where I was, I had tears I couldn’t cry
My emotions, frozen in an iced lake
I couldn’t feel them until the ice began to break
I have no power over this, you know I’m afraid
The walls I built are crumbling, the water is moving,
I’m slipping away
Slowly I awake, slowly I rise
The walls I built are crumbling,
The water is moving
I’m slipping away
Tears of the Dragon Lyrics Bruce Dickinson
For too long I’ve kept secrets
For too long I didn’t say what I should have said
In the dark I stumbled for the door
To find an explanation, to find a time, a place, an hour,
Waiting for the winter sun and cold daylight
Vague signs of childhood fears
The pressure is rising and I can’t keep aloof
Chorus:
I throw myself into the sea
Release the wave, let it wash over me
To face old fears
Dragon tears for you and me
Where I was I had wings that didn’t fly
Where I was I had tears but I couldn’t cry
My emotions frozen in an icy lake
I didn’t feel them until the ice started to break
I can’t handle it, you know I’m afraid
The walls I built are crumbling, the water is flowing
I slip away
Slowly I wake up, slowly rise
The walls I built are crumbling
The water is flowing
I slip away
Song quote
“It’s a song I wrote when I left Iron Maiden and it’s about fear, it’s about doubt, it’s about trying to deal with the shit in your life.”
Bruce Dickinson
