22 Acacia Avenue

Album: The Number of the Beast (1982)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the second song in the Charlotte The Harlot saga - the first is "Charlotte the Harlot," the third is "Hooks In You" and the fourth is "From Here To Eternity." Charlotte is a hooker you can meet on 22 Acacia Avenue; this song describes her life on the job. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ryan - Bethany, OK
  • Maiden bass player (and founder) Steve Harris wrote this song with their guitarist, Adrian Smith, who joined the band a year earlier. It's part of the third Iron Maiden album, The Number Of The Beast, their first with Bruce Dickinson on vocals.
  • On the cover of Iron Maiden's 1986 album Somewhere in Time, the band's mascot Eddie is standing on "Acacia Avenue." In one of the windows, you can see Charlotte.
  • There are Acacia Avenues all over London, so it works well as a generic but believable setting for this song. It's like how there are Springfields all over America, so that's where The Simpsons live.

Comments: 5

  • Invincible Shamu from Motel 6 El Cajon California. Rm 248. 7:00No that was Charlotte / Richard in Hollywood film "Orca"
  • Shadowstone from 2222 Acacia Avenue is 3rd song in the saga. The 2nd is Twilight Zone released as a single in 1981.
  • Richard Harris from Bc CanadaThe true Charlotte the Harlot (from the first album) was written by Dave Murray, Not Adrian Smith, 22 Acacia Ave was originally a rough draft of "Countdown" from Smiths old Band Urchin. at least he tells her to stop all that screwing and pack up her bags and come with me (pre - Pretty woman).
  • Anthony from Parsippany, NjClassic Maiden......
  • Jordan from St.catharines, OnIn a later part of the song one of Charlottes patrons is tring to convince here to quit because of the risk of getting an STD and also to consider the fact that the older she gets the less desireable she will be
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

90s Metal

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."