Death Of The Celts – English Lyrics

• By: Iron Maiden
• Album: Senjutsu

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a musical journey through Celtic history with Iron Maiden's 'Death Of The Celts.' Experience the epic tale of courage, sacrifice, and the undying spirit of a people. Through its rich lyrics and powerful melodies, discover the legends and beliefs that shaped the Celtic world.

[English]

The road it winds uphill all the way

Ride to glory on this day

Remember now to do him so proud

In God we trust, cry it out loud

Redeem my salve of winning ways

Remember all the darkest days

Of that I know will see me tread

Walketh upon the field of the dead

The burden of blood, the breaketh of bone

The battlefield now I make it my own

The glory of the morning we make

Praying the rose is still awake

Lord above, my spirit says

Death is not proud, no more, no less

Power of my soul will be free

Deliver us on to victory

Wither a pain that's almost a joy

Wander there, my heart will destroy

Dreaming of days of our youth again

Strangely, no wonder memories remain

Pour thy scorn upon the realm

Pity me none at the gates of our hell

For I am but a messenger one

Sent to do reckoning, what must be done

Praying to our wretched doom

Liberty, freedom, maybe death looms

Wishing upon a fair display

Hoping our cause done, faithfully

Wayward thunder over rain

Giving me time to think again

Send to their graves on this day

Silent where the battle dead lay

Vengeance is for all who lay dead

I have no fear, my body has bled

I will live on in rebirth again

Come to me now, embrace it my friend

Spirits cry for a god from the grave

In darkness, fortune favours the brave

Dying, a warrior Celt has no fear

Immortal, for he will live evermore

...

Dying, a warrior Celt has no fear

Immortal, for he will live evermore

Think I am, that I'm almost there

Following now the depths of despair

Beyond the light, darkness will fall

Coming to take the life from us all

Following now where god can't explain

Bidding fairwell, the life I'd have gained

Following those who came from hell

Came to witness the death of the Celts

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
glory /ˈɡlɔːri/ B2	noun - high renown or honor won by notable achievements verb - to show great pride or triumph
death /deθ/ A2	noun - the end of life
battle /ˈbætəl/ B1	noun - a fight between armed forces verb - to fight in a battle
warrior /ˈwɒriər/ B2	noun - a brave fighter, especially in ancient times
soul /soʊl/ B2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being
spirit /ˈspɪrɪt/ B2	noun - the non‑physical part of a person, often associated with courage or attitude
blood /blʌd/ A2	noun - the red liquid that circulates in the bodies of humans and animals
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ B1	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants
vengeance /ˈvɛndʒəns/ C1	noun - punishment inflicted or retribution for an injury or wrong
immortal /ɪˈmɔːrtəl/ C1	adjective - living forever; never dying
darkness /ˈdɑːrk.nəs/ B2	noun - the state of being without light; gloom
memory /ˈmeməri/ B1	noun - the mental ability to store and recall past events or information
proud /praʊd/ B1	adjective - feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction because of achievements
Celt /kɛlt/ C2	noun - a member of the ancient Indo‑European peoples of western Europe
redeem /rɪˈdiːm/ B2	verb - to compensate for the faults or harms; to rescue or save
victory /ˈvɪktəri/ B1	noun - the act of winning or prevailing over something
doom /duːm/ C1	noun - an adverse fate or destiny; destruction verb - to condemn to a terrible fate

Key Grammar Structures

• The road it winds uphill all the way

  ➔ Redundant subject pronoun after a noun phrase; standard order would be 'The road winds uphill all the way.'

  ➔ The word 'winds' shows subject-verb agreement with 'The road' (third-person singular).

• Ride to glory on this day

  ➔ Imperative mood with implicit subject 'you'; 'to glory' is a prepositional phrase indicating destination or goal; 'on this day' is a temporal phrase.

  ➔ The word 'Ride' is in the imperative mood, giving a command with an implied subject 'you'.

• In God we trust, cry it out loud

  ➔ Two independent clauses joined by a comma (comma splice); the first uses present simple 'trust' with subject 'we'; the second is an imperative 'cry' with object 'it' and adverbial 'out loud'.

  ➔ The word 'trust' is in the simple present tense; the second clause uses the imperative 'cry'.

• Walketh upon the field of the dead

  ➔ Archaic verb form -eth; third person singular present; standard modern English would be 'Walks upon the field of the dead'.

  ➔ The word 'Walketh' is the archaic form; it corresponds to the modern 'Walks'.

• The burden of blood, the breaketh of bone

  ➔ Parallel noun phrases; comma-separated list; second phrase uses archaic '-eth' verb 'breaketh' to create rhythm.

  ➔ The word 'breaketh' is an archaic form; it mirrors 'breaks' in modern English.

• For I am but a messenger one

  ➔ Conjunction 'For' often means 'because/since' in old-fashioned style; 'I am' is a copular verb in present; 'but' is used as an intensifier meaning 'only'.

  ➔ The word 'am' is the linking verb in the clause 'I am'; highlight this to show the copular construction.

• Praying to our wretched doom

  ➔ Present participle 'Praying' at sentence start; introduces a participial phrase describing action linked to the main clause.

  ➔ The word 'Praying' is a present participle; it forms a participial phrase.

• Dying, a warrior Celt has no fear

  ➔ Introductory participial phrase; 'Dying' describes the subject; it forms an absolute construction modifying the following noun phrase.

  ➔ The word 'Dying' is a present participle used in an absolute construction at the sentence start.

• Following now the depths of despair

  ➔ Present participle 'Following' used as a premodifier/participial phrase; 'now' emphasizes time; creates vivid, ongoing sense.

  ➔ The word 'Following' is a present participle used as a participial modifier.