Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: hard-rock
Song Meaning of “The Number of the Beast – Live At Estadio Nacional, Santiago” by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden’s song ‘The Number of the Beast – Live At Estadio Nacional, Santiago’ is a hard-hitting metal tune that many fans have come to know and love. The song is about fear and dread in the face of religious persecution as seen in the Bible’s Book of Revelation. The “number of the beast” mentioned in the song is 666, a number that is often equated with the antichrist and the end times. The song also explores themes of good versus evil and human courage in the face of terror, further showcasing Iron Maiden’s deep sense of introspection.
The lyrics of the song are powerful and evoke a sense of fear and awe in the face of an unknown evil. The repetition of the phrase “six-six-six” is especially haunting and serves to add a feeling of dread to the song. The line “up the stairs into the fire” further speaks to the idea of facing potential mental and physical torture in order to stand up for one’s beliefs.
The live version of the song is especially powerful due to the crowd’s reaction and thunderous applause, emphasizing that despite fear, courage can still be found. Iron Maiden is able to use the power of song to explore the many emotions associated with facing religious persecution, displaying, through metal, a level of introspection and thoughtfulness that is uniquely their own.