Seventh Son of a Seventh Son – English Lyrics

• By: Iron Maiden
• Album: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (2015 Remaster)

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the epic tale of the 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son' and enhance your English skills with Iron Maiden's masterful storytelling. The song's rich, narrative-driven lyrics offer a fantastic opportunity to explore advanced vocabulary and complex themes of prophecy and destiny, all while experiencing a classic of the heavy metal genre.

[English]

Here they stand, brothers them all

All the sons, divided they'd fall

Here await the birth of the son

The seventh, the Heavenly, the chosen one

...

Here the birth from an unbroken line

Born the healer, the seventh, his time

Unknowingly blessed and as his life unfolds

Slowly unveiling the power he holds

...

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Then they watch the progress he makes

The good and evil which path will he take

Both of them trying to manipulate

The use of his powers before it's too late

...

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

Seventh son of a seventh son

...

Today is born the seventh one

Born of woman the seventh son

And he in turn of a seventh son

He has the power to heal

He has the gift of the second sight

He is the chosen one

So it shall be written

So it shall be done

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
son /sʌn/ A1	noun - a male child or descendant
seventh /ˈsɛvənθ/ A1	adjective - the ordinal number after sixth
born /bɔːrn/ A1	verb - to be brought into existence
healer /ˈhiːlər/ A2	noun - a person who heals or cures
blessed /blɛst/ A2	adjective - consecrated or sanctified
unfold /ʌnˈfoʊld/ B1	verb - to develop or reveal gradually
power /ˈpaʊər/ A1	noun - the ability to control or influence
manipulate /məˈnɪpjuːleɪt/ B2	verb - to control or influence cleverly
heavenly /ˈhɛvənlɪ/ B1	adjective - relating to heaven or celestial beings
chosen /ˈtʃoʊzən/ A2	adjective - selected as the best or most appropriate
progress /ˈprəʊɡres/ A2	noun - forward or onward movement
unbroken /ʌnˈbroʊkən/ B1	adjective - not interrupted or discontinued
sight /saɪt/ A1	noun - the ability to see
written /ˈrɪtən/ A2	verb - past participle of write
divide /dɪˈvaɪd/ A2	verb - to separate into parts

Key Grammar Structures

• All the sons, divided they'd fall

  ➔ Conditional clause with would + base verb (they'd = they would)

  ➔ The word "they'd" is a contraction of "they would", showing a future‑in‑the‑past or hypothetical outcome.

• Slowly unveiling the power he holds

  ➔ Present participle clause used as an adverbial phrase (unveiling)

  ➔ The word "unveiling" is a present participle that describes the manner in which something occurs: "slowly".

• Then they watch the progress he makes

  ➔ Simple present tense for habitual action (watch, makes)

  ➔ "watch" and "makes" are in the simple present, indicating actions that regularly occur.

• Both of them trying to manipulate

  ➔ Present participle phrase without a finite verb (gerundial clause)

  ➔ The word "trying" is a present participle that functions like a verb phrase, implying an ongoing action alongside the main clause.

• Today is born the seventh one

  ➔ Passive voice with the verb 'be born' (present simple passive)

  ➔ "is born" uses the passive form of "be" + past participle, focusing on the event of birth rather than the agent.

• He has the power to heal

  ➔ Noun + infinitive construction (power + to + verb) expressing purpose/ability

  ➔ "to heal" is an infinitive linked to the noun "power", showing what the power can do.

• He has the gift of the second sight

  ➔ Noun + of + noun phrase (gift of …) showing possession/attribute

  ➔ "the gift of the second sight" uses the preposition "of" to link the noun "gift" with its specific type, "the second sight".

• So it shall be written

  ➔ Future simple with modal verb 'shall' + passive infinitive (be written)

  ➔ "shall be written" combines the modal "shall" (future) with the passive infinitive "be written", indicating a destined action.