Hallowed Be Thy Name

"Hallowed Be Thy Name" is a song by Iron Maiden, written by bassist Steve Harris, and is the eighth and final track from the 1982 studio album The Number of the Beast. It has been acclaimed as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time.

The live version of the song from the live album A Real Dead One was released as a single in October 4th, 1993, and was the last single to feature vocalist Bruce Dickinson until 2000's "The Wicker Man".

UK 7" Red Single

 * 1) "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Live at the Olympic Arena, Moscow, Russia, 4 June 1993)
 * 2) "Wrathchild" (Live at the Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 27th August 1992)

UK 12" Picture Single

 * 1) "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Live at the Olympic Arena, Moscow, Russia, 4 June 1993)
 * 2) "The Trooper" (Live at the Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 27th August 1992)
 * 3) "Wasted Years" (Live at the Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany, 16 April 1993)

CD-Maxi Single

 * 1) "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Live at the Olympic Arena, Moscow, Russia, 4 June 1993)
 * 2) "The Trooper" (Live at the Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 27th August 1992)
 * 3) "Wasted Years" (Live at the Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany, 16 April 1993)
 * 4) "Wrathchild" (Live at the Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 27th August 1992)

Lyrics
I'm waiting in my cold cell, When the bell begins to chime Reflecting on my past life, And it doesn't have much time 'Cause at 5 o'clock, They take me to the Gallows Pole The sands of time, For me are running low, Running low, yeah

When the priest comes to read me the last rites I take a look through the bars at the last sights Of a world that has gone very wrong for me

Can it be that there's some sort of error Hard to stop the surmounting terror Is it really the end, not some crazy dream?

Somebody please tell me that I'm dreaming It's not easy to stop from screaming The words escape me when I try to speak

Tears flow, but why am I crying After all I'm not afraid of dying Don't I believe that there never is an end

As the guards march me out to the courtyard Somebody cries from a cell "God be with you" If there's a God then why has he let me go?

As I walk all my life drifts before me And though the end is near I'm not sorry Catch my soul, it's willing to fly away

Mark my words, believe my soul lives on Don't worry now that I have gone I've gone beyond to seek the truth

When you know that your time is close at hand Maybe then you'll begin to understand Life down here is just a strange illusion

Yeah, yeah, yeah Hallowed be thy name Yeah, yeah, yeah Hallowed be thy name Yeah

Length

 * Album version: 7:11
 * 1985 live: 7:17
 * 1993 live single: 7:26

Personnel

 * Bruce Dickinson - vocals
 * Dave Murray - guitar
 * Adrian Smith - guitar
 * Steve Harris - bass guitar
 * Clive Burr - drums, percussion