The Writing On The Wall – English Lyrics

• By: Iron Maiden
• Album: Senjutsu

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the potent lyrics and rich symbolism of Iron Maiden's "The Writing On The Wall." This track not only offers a thrilling heavy metal experience but also serves as a cultural commentary, drawing from biblical lore to reflect on contemporary issues. Discover how the band uses vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, offering a unique lens through which to view language and critical thinking.

[English]

Across a painted desert lies a train of vagabonds

All that's left of what we were, it's what we have become

Once our empires glorious but now the empire's gone

The dead gave us the time to live and now our time is done

Now we are victorious, we've become our slaves

A land of hope and glory building graveyards for the brave

Have you seen the writing on the wall?

Have you seen that writing?

Can you see the riders on the storm?

Can you see them riding?

Can you see them riding?

Holding on to fury is that all we ever know

Ignorance our judge and jury, all we've got to show

From Hollywood to Babylon, holy war to kingdom come

On a trail of dust and ashes when the burning sky is done

A tide of change is coming and that is what you fear

The earthquake is a-comin' but you don't wanna hear

You're just too blind to see

Have you seen the writing on the wall?

Have you seen that writing?

Can you see the riders on the storm?

Can you see them riding?

Can you see them riding, riding next to you?

Have you seen the writing on the wall?

Have you seen that writing?

Can you see the riders on the storm?

Can you see them riding?

Have you seen the writing on the wall?

Have you seen that writing?

Can you see the riders on the storm?

Can you see them riding?

Can you see them riding, riding next to you?

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
writing /ˈraɪtɪŋ/ B1	noun - words or symbols written or printed on a surface
wall /wɔːl/ A1	noun - a vertical structure that encloses or divides an area
empire /ˈempaɪər/ B2	noun - an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority
gone /ɡɒn/ A2	adjective - no longer present; departed
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
dead /ded/ A2	adjective - no longer alive
victory /vɪkˈtɔːri/ B2	noun - an act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition
slaves /sleɪvz/ B2	noun - a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.
land /lænd/ A1	noun - the part of the earth's surface that is not covered by water, as opposed to the sea or the air.
hope /həʊp/ A2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
glory /ˈɡlɔːri/ B2	noun - praise, honour, or admiration won by great achievements.
brave /breɪv/ A2	adjective - ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.
riders /ˈraɪdərz/ A2	noun - a person who rides a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle
storm /stɔːrm/ A2	noun - a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.
fury /ˈfjʊəri/ B2	noun - wild or violent anger.
judge /dʒʌdʒ/ B1	noun - a public officer appointed to decide cases in a court of law.
jury /ˈdʒʊəri/ B2	noun - a body of people sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court.
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country.
fear /fɪər/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
blind /blaɪnd/ B1	adjective - unable to see

Key Grammar Structures

• All that's left of what we were, it's what we have become

  ➔ Relative clauses + Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ This sentence uses a relative clause "that's left of what we were" and present perfect tense "we have become" to connect past identity with current state.

• Now we are victorious, we've become our slaves

  ➔ Present Simple vs. Present Perfect Contrast

  ➔ This contrasts present simple "we are victorious" with present perfect "we've become" to show the paradox of apparent victory leading to enslavement.

• Have you seen the writing on the wall?

  ➔ Present Perfect in Interrogative Form

  ➔ This uses the present perfect interrogative form "Have you seen" to ask about experience up to the present moment.

• Can you see the riders on the storm?

  ➔ Modal Verb "Can" for Ability/Possibility

  ➔ This uses the modal verb "can" in "Can you see" to question ability or possibility of perception.

• Holding on to fury is that all we ever know

  ➔ Gerund as Subject

  ➔ This uses the gerund "Holding on to fury" as the subject of the sentence, representing an action as a concept.

• Ignorance our judge and jury, all we've got to show

  ➔ Noun Phrase as Complement + Ellipsis

  ➔ This uses a noun phrase "Ignorance our judge and jury" as a complement with ellipsis of the verb "is", and includes "we've got" as a present perfect possession form.

• A tide of change is coming and that is what you fear

  ➔ Present Continuous for Future

  ➔ This uses present continuous "is coming" to express a future event that is already in motion or certain.

• You're just too blind to see

  ➔ "Too + Adjective + To-Infinitive" Structure

  ➔ This uses the structure "too blind to see" where "too" modifies the adjective "blind" and is followed by a to-infinitive to express excess leading to inability.

• The earthquake is a-comin' but you don't wanna hear

  ➔ Informal Contractions and Colloquialisms

  ➔ This uses informal contractions "a-comin'" (reduced form of "coming") and "wanna" (reduced form of "want to") to create colloquial speech.

• Can you see them riding, riding next to you?

  ➔ Participle Clause for Simultaneous Action

  ➔ This uses a participle clause "riding next to you" to describe an action happening simultaneously with the main verb "see".