Man On The Edge – English Lyrics

• By: Iron Maiden
• Album: The X Factor

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw emotion and powerful storytelling of Iron Maiden's "Man On The Edge." This track offers a unique gateway into the English language through its compelling lyrics, which vividly depict a man confronting the pressures of modern society. The song's clear narrative, inspired by the film *Falling Down*, provides an excellent context for understanding vocabulary related to frustration, defiance, and mental resilience. Its energetic heavy metal style and Blaze Bayley's distinctive vocals make it a gripping and memorable listening experience, perfect for learners seeking to grasp English through impactful musical expression.

[English]

The freeway is jammed

and it's backed up for miles

The car is an oven and baking is wild

Nothing is ever the way it should be

What we deserve we just don't get you see

A briefcase, a lunch and a man on the edge

Each step gets closer to losing his head

Is someone in heaven are they looking down

'Cause nothing is fair just you look around

Falling down

Falling down

Falling down...

...

He's sick of waiting of lying like this

There's a hole in the sky for the angels to kiss

Branded a leper because you don't fit

In the land of the free

You can live by your wits

Once he built missiles a nations defence

Now he can't even give birthday presents

Across the city he leaves in his wake

A glimpse of the future a cannibal state

Falling down

Falling down

Falling down...

...

The freeway is jammed and its backed up for miles

the car is an oven and baking is wild

Nothing is ever the way it should be

What we deserve we just don't get you see

A briefcase, a lunch, and a man on the edge

Each step gets closer to losing his head

Is someone in heaven are they looking down

Nothing is fair just you look around

Falling down

Falling down

Falling down...

Falling down

Falling down

Falling down...

...

Key Grammar Structures

• The freeway is jammed and it's backed up for miles

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with 'be' (is) and Present Perfect Continuous (has/have been + -ing)

  ➔ The verb 'is' indicates a current state, while 'backed up' suggests a situation that started in the past and continues up to the present.

• Nothing is ever the way it should be

  ➔ Adverb of Frequency 'ever' with Present Simple

  ➔ The adverb 'ever' emphasizes the ongoing nature of the situation, suggesting it is always the case.

• What we deserve we just don't get you see

  ➔ Present Simple with 'do' for emphasis

  ➔ The use of 'do' before 'get' adds emphasis to the negation, highlighting the speaker's frustration.

• Each step gets closer to losing his head

  ➔ Present Simple with 'get' to describe gradual change

  ➔ The verb 'gets' with 'closer' indicates a gradual progression towards a state of losing control.

• There's a hole in the sky for the angels to kiss

  ➔ Present Simple with 'be' (there is) and metaphorical language

  ➔ The phrase 'a hole in the sky' is a metaphor, and 'there is' is used to describe its existence.

• Branded a leper because you don't fit

  ➔ Past Simple Passive Voice

  ➔ The passive voice 'branded a leper' indicates that the action is done to the subject, emphasizing the unfair treatment.

• Falling down, Falling down, Falling down...

  ➔ Present Continuous for repeated action

  ➔ The repetition of 'Falling down' in the present continuous tense emphasizes the ongoing and repetitive nature of the action.