List of songs recorded by Iron Maiden
are an English heavy metal band formed by bassist Steve Harris in 1975. The band's first album, 1980's Iron Maiden, was written primarily by Harris, with vocalist Paul Di'Anno co-writing two tracks and guitarist Dave Murray contributing "Charlotte the Harlot". The 1981 follow-up, Killers, was written almost entirely by the bassist, with frontman Di'Anno contributing only to the title track, "Killers". Bruce Dickinson replaced Di'Anno after the release of Killers, although he did not contribute any songwriting to The Number of the Beast, released in 1982, which featured three songs co-written by guitarist Adrian Smith. The Number of the Beast also spawned Iron Maiden's first UK Singles Chart top ten in the form of "Run to the Hills", which charted at number seven on its release. It was not until 1983's Piece of Mind that the songwriting process became a more varied and collaborative approach, with just four of its nine tracks being credited solely to Harris, two to Dickinson and Smith, one to Harris and Murray, one to Dickinson alone, and one to Harris, Dickinson, and Smith. The Dickinson and Smith-penned "Flight of Icarus" was the first Iron Maiden single to chart in the United States, reaching number eight on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Powerslave followed in 1984, which featured one of Iron Maiden's longest songs to date in the form of "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", written by Steve Harris and running for almost 14 minutes. Somewhere in Time was notable for having both its singles written by someone other than Steve Harris, in this case Adrian Smith, who wrote three of the songs on the album. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son featured songwriting from a combination of Harris, Dickinson, Smith, and Murray, before Smith left the group during the recording of its follow-up in 1990 having contributed to one song, "Hooks in You"; the resulting album, No Prayer for the Dying, was the first to feature guitarist Janick Gers, although he did not write any material for the record. It was also the first to spawn a UK number-one single - Bruce Dickinson's "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter". Gers contributed to his second album with Iron Maiden, 1992's Fear of the Dark, co-writing three tracks with Dickinson, who would leave after the album's release, and two with Harris, who also produced for the first time.
In 1995, the band released The X Factor, their first album since 1981's Killers without Bruce Dickinson on vocals. Blaze Bayley replaced the frontman, and received songwriting credits for five of the album's eleven tracks, all of which were alongside Harris, Gers, or both. The band's first compilation album, Best of the Beast, was released in 1993, which featured a new song and single in the form of "Virus", credited to Harris, Bayley, Murray, and Gers. Bayley recorded a second album with Iron Maiden, Virtual XI, on which he only contributed songwriting for three songs, the rest being written almost entirely by Harris.
Both Dickinson and Smith returned to the band for the recording of Brave New World, the first Iron Maiden album produced by Kevin Shirley, which was released in 2000 and spawned two UK top-20 singles in the form of "The Wicker Man" and "Out of the Silent Planet". Another largely collaborative album, only one song was written by Harris alone. The 2003 follow-up, Dance of Death, was even more commercially successful than Brave New World, and also featured the first track in the band's history to be written with long-term drummer Nicko McBrain, "New Frontier". [|A] Matter of Life and Death, the band's first release to chart in the top ten of the US Billboard 200 albums chart, was released in 2006 and was largely written by Harris, Dickinson, and Smith, with Gers and Murray also contributing to a couple of tracks. The Final Frontier, released in 2010, was their first album since Fear of the Dark to top the UK Albums Chart and was another collaborative effort from the band, with Harris, Dickinson, and Smith again leading the songwriting. The Final Frontier also led to the band's first Grammy Award win, as single "El Dorado" won the award for Best Metal Performance at the 2011 ceremony. Their 2015 studio album, The Book of Souls, is their longest to date, at 92 minutes, and their first double album. It features "Empire of the Clouds", written by Dickinson, which surpasses "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" as the band's longest song, with a running time of 18 minutes.
Since their formation, Iron Maiden have also released numerous additional songs as B-sides to their singles, including original songs and cover versions. A collection of these B-sides were compiled and released in the form of Best of the 'B' Sides, one of three albums included in the Eddie's Archive box set released in 2002. Included on this album was a range of B-sides released since the band's formation, including originals "Burning Ambition", "Black Bart Blues", and "Justice of the Peace", and covers "Cross-Eyed Mary", "Communication Breakdown", and "My Generation". The album also contained 1988 re-recordings of Iron Maiden tracks "Prowler" and "Charlotte the Harlot", released as B-sides to "The Evil That Men Do", and a 1999 live version of "Wasted Years" from the 1986 album Somewhere in Time, released as a B-side to "Out of the Silent Planet" in 2000. Iron Maiden also contributed a cover of Deep Purple's "Space Truckin'" to the 2012 tribute album .
Songs
Indicates song released as a single | |
Indicates song written solely by Steve Harris |
0-9ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVW |
Song | Credit as writer | Release | Year | Ref. |
"2 A.M." | Steve Harris Blaze Bayley Janick Gers | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"2 Minutes to Midnight" | Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Powerslave | 1984 | |
"22 Acacia Avenue" | Steve Harris Adrian Smith | The Number of the Beast | 1982 | |
"Aces High" | Steve Harris | Powerslave | 1984 | |
"Afraid to Shoot Strangers" | Steve Harris | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"The Aftermath" | Steve Harris Blaze Bayley Janick Gers | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"Age of Innocence" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"The Alchemist" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Janick Gers | The Final Frontier | 2010 | |
"Alexander the Great" | Steve Harris | Somewhere in Time | 1986 | |
"All in Your Mind" | Del Bromham | "Holy Smoke" | 1990 | |
"The Angel and the Gambler" | Steve Harris | Virtual XI | 1998 | |
"Another Life" | Steve Harris | Killers | 1981 | |
"The Apparition" | Steve Harris Janick Gers | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"The Assassin" | Steve Harris | No Prayer for the Dying | 1990 | |
"Back in the Village" | Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Powerslave | 1984 | |
"Bayswater Ain't a Bad Place to Be" | Bruce Dickinson Janick Gers | "Be Quick or Be Dead" | 1992 | |
"Be Quick or Be Dead" | Bruce Dickinson Janick Gers | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"Black Bart Blues" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson | "Can [|I] Play with Madness" | 1988 | |
"Blood Brothers" | Steve Harris | Brave New World | 2000 | |
"Blood on the World's Hands" | Steve Harris | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"The Book of Souls" | Janick Gers Steve Harris | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"Brave New World" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Dave Murray | Brave New World | 2000 | |
"Brighter Than a Thousand Suns" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | A Matter of Life and Death | 2006 | |
"Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" | Bruce Dickinson | No Prayer for the Dying | 1990 | |
"Burning Ambition" | Steve Harris | "Running Free" | 1980 | |
"Can I Play with Madness" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 1988 | |
"Caught Somewhere in Time" | Steve Harris | Somewhere in Time | 1986 | |
"Chains of Misery" | Bruce Dickinson Dave Murray | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"Charlotte the Harlot" | Dave Murray | Iron Maiden | 1980 | |
"Childhood's End" | Steve Harris | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"Children of the Damned" | Steve Harris | The Number of the Beast | 1982 | |
"The Clairvoyant" | Steve Harris | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 1988 | |
"The Clansman" | Steve Harris | Virtual XI | 1998 | |
"Coming Home" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | The Final Frontier | 2010 | |
"Communication Breakdown" | Jimmy Page John Paul Jones John Bonham | "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" | 1990 | |
"Como Estais Amigos" | Blaze Bayley Janick Gers | Virtual XI | 1998 | |
"Cross-Eyed Mary" | Ian Anderson | "The Trooper" | 1983 | |
"Dance of Death" | Steve Harris Janick Gers | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"Death or Glory" | Adrian Smith Bruce Dickinson | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"Deja-Vu" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | Somewhere in Time | 1986 | |
"Die with Your Boots On" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Piece of Mind | 1983 | |
"Different World" | Steve Harris Adrian Smith | A Matter of Life and Death | 2006 | |
"Doctor Doctor" | Michael Schenker Phil Mogg | "Lord of the Flies" | 1996 | |
"Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger" | Steve Harris | Virtual XI | 1998 | |
"Dream of Mirrors" | Steve Harris Janick Gers | Brave New World | 2000 | |
"Drifter" | Steve Harris | Killers | 1981 | |
"The Duellists" | Steve Harris | Powerslave | 1984 | |
"The Edge of Darkness" | Steve Harris Blaze Bayley Janick Gers | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"The Educated Fool" | Steve Harris | Virtual XI | 1998 | |
"El Dorado" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | The Final Frontier | 2010 | |
"Empire of the Clouds" | Bruce Dickinson | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"The Evil That Men Do" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 1988 | |
"Face in the Sand" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"The Fallen Angel" | Steve Harris Adrian Smith | Brave New World | 2000 | |
"Fates Warning" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | No Prayer for the Dying | 1990 | |
"Fear Is the Key" | Bruce Dickinson Janick Gers | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"Fear of the Dark" | Steve Harris | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"Flash of the Blade" | Bruce Dickinson | Powerslave | 1984 | |
"Flight of Icarus" | Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Piece of Mind | 1983 | |
"For the Greater Good of God" | Steve Harris | A Matter of Life and Death | 2006 | |
"Fortunes of War" | Steve Harris | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"From Here to Eternity" | Steve Harris | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"The Fugitive" | Steve Harris | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"Futureal" | Steve Harris Blaze Bayley | Virtual XI | 1998 | |
"Gangland" | Adrian Smith Clive Burr | The Number of the Beast | 1982 | |
"Gates of Tomorrow" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Janick Gers | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"Genghis Khan" | Steve Harris | Killers | 1981 | |
"Ghost of the Navigator" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Janick Gers | Brave New World | 2000 | |
"The Great Unknown" | Adrian Smith Steve Harris | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"Hallowed Be Thy Name" | Steve Harris | The Number of the Beast | 1982 | |
"Heaven Can Wait" | Steve Harris | Somewhere in Time | 1986 | |
"Hocus Pocus" | Thijs van Leer Jan Akkerman | "Different World" | 2006 | |
"Holy Smoke" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson | No Prayer for the Dying | 1990 | |
"Hooks in You" | Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | No Prayer for the Dying | 1990 | |
"I Can't See My Feelings" | Burke Shelley Tony Bourge | "From Here to Eternity" | 1992 | |
"The Ides of March" | Steve Harris | Killers | 1981 | |
"If Eternity Should Fail" | Bruce Dickinson | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"I Live My Way" | Steve Harris Blaze Bayley Janick Gers | "Man on the Edge" | 1995 | |
"I'm a Mover" | Paul Rodgers Andy Fraser | "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" | 1990 | |
"I've Got the Fire" | Ronnie Montrose | "Flight of Icarus" | 1983 | |
"Infinite Dreams" | Steve Harris | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 1988 | |
"Innocent Exile" | Steve Harris | Killers | 1981 | |
"Invaders" | Steve Harris | The Number of the Beast | 1982 | |
"Invasion" | Steve Harris | "Women in Uniform" | 1980 | |
"Iron Maiden" | Steve Harris | Iron Maiden | 1980 | |
"Isle of Avalon" | Steve Harris Adrian Smith | The Final Frontier | 2010 | |
"Journeyman" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"Juanita" | Steve Barnacle Derek O'Neil | "Stranger in a Strange Land" | 1986 | |
"Judas Be My Guide" | Bruce Dickinson Dave Murray | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"Judgement Day" | Blaze Bayley Janick Gers | "Man on the Edge" | 1995 | |
"Judgement of Heaven" | Steve Harris | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"Justice of the Peace" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | "Man on the Edge" | 1995 | |
"Kill Me Ce Soir" | George Kooymans Barry Hay John Fenton | "Holy Smoke" | 1990 | |
"Killers" | Steve Harris Paul Di'Anno | Killers | 1981 | |
"King of Twilight" | Roye Albrighton Derek Moore Ron Howden Allan Freeman Mick Brockett | "Aces High" | 1984 | |
"The Legacy" | Steve Harris Janick Gers | A Matter of Life and Death | 2006 | |
"Lightning Strikes Twice" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | Virtual XI | 1998 | |
"The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" | Steve Harris | Somewhere in Time | 1986 | |
"The Longest Day" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | A Matter of Life and Death | 2006 | |
"Look for the Truth" | Steve Harris Blaze Bayley Janick Gers | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"Lord of Light" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | A Matter of Life and Death | 2006 | |
"Lord of the Flies" | Steve Harris Janick Gers | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"Losfer Words " | Steve Harris | Powerslave | 1984 | |
"The Man of Sorrows" | Dave Murray Steve Harris | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"Man on the Edge" | Blaze Bayley Janick Gers | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"The Man Who Would Be King" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | The Final Frontier | 2010 | |
"Massacre" | Phil Lynott Scott Gorham Brian Downey | "Can I Play with Madness" | 1988 | |
"The Mercenary" | Steve Harris Janick Gers | Brave New World | 2000 | |
"Montségur" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Janick Gers | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"Moonchild" | Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 1988 | |
"More Tea Vicar" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith Janick Gers Dave Murray Nicko McBrain | "Rainmaker" | 2003 | |
"Mother of Mercy" | Steve Harris Adrian Smith | The Final Frontier | 2010 | |
"Mother Russia" | Steve Harris | No Prayer for the Dying | 1990 | |
"Murders in the Rue Morgue" | Steve Harris | Killers | 1981 | |
"My Generation" | Pete Townshend | "Lord of the Flies" | 1996 | |
"New Frontier" | Nicko McBrain Adrian Smith Bruce Dickinson | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"No More Lies" | Steve Harris | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"No Prayer for the Dying" | Steve Harris | No Prayer for the Dying | 1990 | |
"Nodding Donkey Blues" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Janick Gers Dave Murray Nicko McBrain | "Be Quick or Be Dead" | 1992 | |
"The Nomad" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | Brave New World | 2000 | |
"The Number of the Beast" | Steve Harris | The Number of the Beast | 1982 | |
"Only the Good Die Young" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 1988 | |
"Out of the Shadows" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson | A Matter of Life and Death | 2006 | |
"Out of the Silent Planet" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Janick Gers | Brave New World | 2000 | |
"Paschendale" | Steve Harris Adrian Smith | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"Pass the Jam" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith Janick Gers Dave Murray Nicko McBrain | "Wildest Dreams" | 2003 | |
"Phantom of the Opera" | Steve Harris | Iron Maiden | 1980 | |
"The Pilgrim" | Steve Harris Janick Gers | A Matter of Life and Death | 2006 | |
"Powerslave" | Bruce Dickinson | Powerslave | 1984 | |
"The Prisoner" | Steve Harris Adrian Smith | The Number of the Beast | 1982 | |
"Prodigal Son" | Steve Harris | Killers | 1981 | |
"The Prophecy" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 1988 | |
"Prowler" | Steve Harris | Iron Maiden | 1980 | |
"Public Enema Number One" | Bruce Dickinson Dave Murray | No Prayer for the Dying | 1990 | |
"Purgatory" | Steve Harris | Killers | 1981 | |
"Quest for Fire" | Steve Harris | Piece of Mind | 1983 | |
"Rainbow's Gold" | Terry Slesser Kenny Mountain | "2 Minutes to Midnight" | 1984 | |
"Rainmaker" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Dave Murray | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"Reach Out" | Dave Colwell | "Wasted Years" | 1986 | |
"The Red and the Black" | Steve Harris | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | A Matter of Life and Death | 2006 | |
"Remember Tomorrow" | Steve Harris Paul Di'Anno | Iron Maiden | 1980 | |
"Revelations" | Bruce Dickinson | Piece of Mind | 1983 | |
"Rime of the Ancient Mariner" | Steve Harris | Powerslave | 1984 | |
"Roll Over Vic Vella" | Chuck Berry | "From Here to Eternity" | 1992 | |
"Run Silent Run Deep" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson | No Prayer for the Dying | 1990 | |
"Run to the Hills" | Steve Harris | The Number of the Beast | 1982 | |
"Running Free" | Steve Harris Paul Di'Anno | Iron Maiden | 1980 | |
"Sanctuary" | Iron Maiden | Iron Maiden | 1980 | |
"Satellite 15... The Final Frontier" | Steve Harris Adrian Smith | The Final Frontier | 2010 | |
"Sea of Madness" | Adrian Smith | Somewhere in Time | 1986 | |
"Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" | Steve Harris | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 1988 | |
"Shadows of the Valley" | Janick Gers Steve Harris | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"Sheriff of Huddersfield" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith Dave Murray Nicko McBrain | "Wasted Years" | 1986 | |
"Sign of the Cross" | Steve Harris | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"Space Station #5" | Ronnie Montrose Sammy Hagar | "Be Quick or Be Dead" | 1992 | |
"Space Truckin' | Ritchie Blackmore Ian Gillan Roger Glover Jon Lord Ian Paice | 2012 | ||
"Speed of Light" | Adrian Smith Bruce Dickinson | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"Starblind" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | The Final Frontier | 2010 | |
"Still Life" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | Piece of Mind | 1983 | |
"Strange World" | Steve Harris | Iron Maiden | 1980 | |
"Stranger in a Strange Land" | Adrian Smith | Somewhere in Time | 1986 | |
"Sun and Steel" | Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Piece of Mind | 1983 | |
"Tailgunner" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson | No Prayer for the Dying | 1990 | |
"The Talisman" | Steve Harris Janick Gers | The Final Frontier | 2010 | |
"Tears of a Clown" | Adrian Smith Steve Harris | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"That Girl" | Merv Goldsworthy Pete Jupp Andy Barnett | "Stranger in a Strange Land" | 1986 | |
"These Colours Don't Run" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | A Matter of Life and Death | 2006 | |
"The Thin Line Between Love and Hate" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | Brave New World | 2000 | |
"To Tame a Land" | Steve Harris | Piece of Mind | 1983 | |
"Total Eclipse" | Steve Harris Dave Murray Clive Burr | "Run to the Hills" | 1982 | |
"Transylvania" | Steve Harris | Iron Maiden | 1980 | |
"The Trooper" | Steve Harris | Piece of Mind | 1983 | |
"Twilight Zone" | Steve Harris Dave Murray | Killers | 1981 | |
"The Unbeliever" | Steve Harris Janick Gers | The X Factor | 1995 | |
"Virus" | Steve Harris Blaze Bayley Dave Murray Janick Gers | Best of the Beast | 1996 | |
"Wasted Years" | Adrian Smith | Somewhere in Time | 1986 | |
"Wasting Love" | Bruce Dickinson Janick Gers | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"Weekend Warrior" | Steve Harris Janick Gers | Fear of the Dark | 1992 | |
"When the River Runs Deep" | Adrian Smith Steve Harris | The Book of Souls | 2015 | |
"When the Wild Wind Blows" | Steve Harris | The Final Frontier | 2010 | |
"When Two Worlds Collide" | Steve Harris Blaze Bayley Dave Murray | Virtual XI | 1998 | |
"Where Eagles Dare" | Steve Harris | Piece of Mind | 1983 | |
"The Wicker Man" | Steve Harris Bruce Dickinson Adrian Smith | Brave New World | 2000 | |
"Wildest Dreams" | Steve Harris Adrian Smith | Dance of Death | 2003 | |
"Women in Uniform" | Greg Macainsh | "Women in Uniform" | 1980 | |
"Wrathchild" | Steve Harris | Killers | 1981 |