So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
When I stand before you shining in the early morning sun
When I feel the engines roar and I think of what we've done
Oh the bittersweet reflection as we kiss the earth goodbye
As the waves and echoes of the towns become the ghosts of time
Over borders that divide the earthbound tribes
No creed and no religion, just a hundred winged souls
We will ride this thunderbird, silver shadows on the earth
A thousand leagues away, our land of birth
To Albion's land
Coming home when I see the runway lights
In the misty dawn the night is fading fast
Coming home, far away as their vapor trails align
Where I've been tonight, you know I will not stay
Curving on the edge of daylight 'til it slips into the void
Waited in the long night, dreaming 'til the sun is born again
Stretched the fingers of my hand, covered countries with my span
Just a lonely satellite, speck of dust and cosmic sand
Over borders that divide the earthbound tribes
Through the dark Atlantic, over mariners stormy graves
We will ride this thunderbird, silver shadows on the earth
A thousand leagues away, our land of birth
To Albion's land
Coming home when I see the runway lights
In the misty dawn the night is fading fast
Coming home, far away as their vapor trails align
Where I've been tonight, you know I will not stay
To Albion's land
Coming home when I see the runway lights
In the misty dawn the night is fading fast
Coming home, far away as their vapor trails align
Where I've been tonight, you know I will not stay
Coming home, far away when I see the runway lights
In the misty dawn the night is fading fast
Coming home, far away as their vapor trails align
Where I've been tonight, you know I will not stay
When I feel the engines roar and I think of what we've done
Oh the bittersweet reflection as we kiss the earth goodbye
As the waves and echoes of the towns become the ghosts of time
Over borders that divide the earthbound tribes
No creed and no religion, just a hundred winged souls
We will ride this thunderbird, silver shadows on the earth
A thousand leagues away, our land of birth
To Albion's land
Coming home when I see the runway lights
In the misty dawn the night is fading fast
Coming home, far away as their vapor trails align
Where I've been tonight, you know I will not stay
Curving on the edge of daylight 'til it slips into the void
Waited in the long night, dreaming 'til the sun is born again
Stretched the fingers of my hand, covered countries with my span
Just a lonely satellite, speck of dust and cosmic sand
Over borders that divide the earthbound tribes
Through the dark Atlantic, over mariners stormy graves
We will ride this thunderbird, silver shadows on the earth
A thousand leagues away, our land of birth
To Albion's land
Coming home when I see the runway lights
In the misty dawn the night is fading fast
Coming home, far away as their vapor trails align
Where I've been tonight, you know I will not stay
To Albion's land
Coming home when I see the runway lights
In the misty dawn the night is fading fast
Coming home, far away as their vapor trails align
Where I've been tonight, you know I will not stay
Coming home, far away when I see the runway lights
In the misty dawn the night is fading fast
Coming home, far away as their vapor trails align
Where I've been tonight, you know I will not stay
Lyrics submitted by star tripper
Coming Home Lyrics as written by Bruce Dickinson Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Bruce Dickinson wrote beautifully pictorial lyrics about landing his aircraft after a long journey through the air, which could be interpreted also as the end of life or retirement - going along with the dual themes of The Final Frontier.
Something that caught my attention was the pre-chorus. The two separate pre-choruses are about the things that can divide humans: religion and country of origin. Though on earth there may be racial and religious tensions, no belief system or place of birth can divide this team of brothers.
Unless Bruce is taking pot-shots at Christianity with his lyrics for this album (unlikely, even on Starblind), this is likely the correct interpretation. Feel free to continue this point, though.
Its not about retirement. In there is an interview in the mission edition CD and they said that they want to keep making albums until the cant anymore.
The album theme may not be Iron Maiden's retirement, but nonetheless, it is about the subject in general...
I was at the concert last night, and Bruce introduced the song by explaining how humbling it is each time he gets into the plane and about flying it all the way around the world.<br /> <br /> He also noted about how when they are all on the plane, (pre chorus) there is no separation, discrimination, and no one cares what religion are believe in, where you come from, or who you are, and that we are just one hundred million souls coming home!<br /> <br /> Amazing song and even better Live!!
Bruce also said when he introduced this song in manchester on the 28th of july that its about there somwhere back in time world tour, about the flying experience ect and that at the end of tours there always "coming home" playing in the uk last
@Octavarium64 Yes I agree that it has some aircraft relevance to the magic of flight BUT I researched some key words after looking at the lyrics and it turns out Albion is possibly ancient word for Great Britain so this may either mean Bruce Dickinson is indeed coming home to England OR it may refer to the Bombers of WWII returning to their airfields after bombing missions over Germany: "As the waves and echoes of the towns become the ghosts of time"<br />