Songfacts®:

• Running This runs 9:53, this song was inspired by a series of science fiction novels by Orson Scott Card. They are about Alvin Maker, the seventh son of a seventh son (the first book in the series is called Seventh Son), who is born with second sight and the ability to use "folk magic" in an alternate reality. The song describes how his birth was eagerly anticipated by his siblings and how the forces of good and evil struggled over him.
• The album was a "concept album" and dealt with the life of the "seventh son." For instance, "The Clairvoyant" is about him coming to terms with his powers and learning to control them, "The Prophecy" is about him trying to get people to believe him and "Moonchild" is about "the Unmaker of all things" trying to prevent his birth. Four songs from the album became Top 10 singles in the UK.
• Derek Riggs, who designed the cover art for most Iron Maiden albums, depicted a skeletal upper torso hovering over water in an arctic region with UFO-like objects in the sky. He also displayed his trademark in the water, a unique symbol which depicts his initials with a mirrored D and an R on the right hand side. It is hidden in a subtle place on most of the albums, usually near Maiden's mascot, Eddie.
• Seven is the Hebrew and Biblical number of perfection. In ancient legend, the seventh son of a seventh son will have extraordinary powers, including magical healing skills.
• This was the band's seventh studio album. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for all above
• According to the mythology about the "seventh son of a seventh son," Septamus is supposed to be the Christian name of such a child. When Kerrang! magazine gave lead singer Bruce Dickinson a quiz that included the question "Which Christian name are you traditionally supposed to give to a seventh son of a seventh son?" his answer was "Steve." He ultimately scored 16 out of 25, although Kerrang! gave him "A slap on the wrist for not knowing the 'seventh son of a seventh son' one!" >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for all above