"Flight Of Icarus"

Iron Maiden releases "Flight Of Icarus," from their album "Piece Of Mind," on this day, April 11, 1983. Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith share songwriting credits.

"Flight Of Icarus," is Iron Maiden's telling of the ancient Greek story of Icarus, son of master craftsman Daedalus, and his tragic flight on wings made of feathers and wax. What happens when you don't follow your father's instructions? What happens when you're full of complacency or you're over confident? For these answers go to the library or bust out your Google Fu skills. For now, here's a 17th Century relief. Check out the labyrinth. See Daedalus and Icarus falling? His dad warned him. 

"Flight Of Icarus"

"As the sun breaks, above the ground,
An old man stands on the hill,
As the ground warms, to the first rays of light
A birdsong shatters the still.

His eyes are ablaze,
See the madman in his gaze.

Fly, on your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun,
On your way, like an eagle,
Fly and touch the sun.

Now the crowd breaks and a young boy appears
Looks the old man in the eye
As he spreads his wings and shouts at the crowd
In the name of God my father I fly.

His eyes seem so glazed
As he flies on the wings of a dream,
Now he knows his father betrayed
Now his wings turn to ashes to ashes his grave.

Fly, on your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun,

On your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun."

"Flight Of Icarus" from  "Live After Death"