Album: Dance Of Death (2003)

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• I stand alone in this desolate space
  In death, they are truly alive
  Massacred innocence, evil took place
  The angels were burning inside
  
  Centuries later I wonder why
  What secret they took to their grave
  Still burning heretics under our skies
  Religion's still burning inside
  
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  
  As we kill them all, so God will know his own
  The innocents died for the Pope on his throne
  Catholic greed and its paranoid zeal
  Curse of the grail and the blood of the cross
  
  Templar believers with blood on their hands
  Joined in the chorus to kill on demand
  Burned at the stake for their soul's liberty
  To stand with the Cathars, to die and be free
  
  The book of Old Testament, crippled and black
  Satan, his weapon is lust
  Leaving this evil damnation of flesh
  Back to the torture of lies
  
  The perfect ones willingly died at the stake
  And all of their followers slain
  As for the knowledge of God they had claimed
  Religion's still burning inside
  
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  
  As we kill them all, so God will know his own
  The innocents died for the Pope on his throne
  Catholic greed and its paranoid zeal
  Curse of the grail and the blood of the cross
  
  Templar believers with blood on their hands
  Joined in the chorus to kill on command
  Burned at the stake for their soul's liberty
  Still running heretics under our skies
  
  As we kill them all, so God will know his own
  Laugh at the darkness and in god we trust
  The eye in the triangle smiling with sin
  No Passover feast for the cursed within
  
  Facing the sun as they went to their grave
  Burn like a dog or you live like a slave
  Death is the price for your soul's liberty
  To stand with the Cathars and to die and be free
  
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel
  At the gates and the walls of Montségur
  Blood on the stones of the citadel Writer/s: Bruce Dickinson, Janick Gers, Stephen Percy Harris
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

• Rex Mundi from Brownsville, TexasAmazing (very knowledgeable) comments here. I am a Catholic (no offense to me), climbed Montsegur in 2007 after reading about it in 1982, and a Maiden fan. Additional comments:
  1. Rex Mundi "King of this World". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharism.
  2. The Perfect One (Parfait) - Cathars who have attained the highest spirituality (consulamentum)
  3. Graal - San Graal (Holy Grail) vs. Sang Raal (Holy Blood)?
  4. "To die and be free" is the Cathar belief that the flesh is the work of Rex Mundi. Die, and the spirit is free (considered martyrdom nowadays).
  5. Et in Arcadia Ego
• Nick from Philadelphia, PaThis song like many of Iron Maidens states the horrible past of Catholosism. You can conclude that Bruce or someone else in the band has strong feelings about this sect of Christianity. (my spelling may be off)
• D. from Columbus, Oh"As we kill them all so God will know his own" refers to the quote of the papal legate before the massacre in Beziers in 1209, when asked how to tell the Catholics from the Cathars. "Neca eos omnes, Deus suos agnoscet" - Kill them all, God will know his own OR "Caecite eos, Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eiud." Kill them all, the lord will recognize his own."
  I'm not really sure if I have the grammer correct in those though.
  "The Book of the Old Testament{...}satan{..}lust" - Quite possibly refers to the fact that Cathars believed that the 'God' of the Old testament was satan and therefore rejected the OT totally. Plus, the Cathars were against the Roman church's luxurious Church, seeing it as an embodiement of Rex Mundi, which, I believe, is the equivalent to Satan.
  "To Stand with the Cathars, to die and be free" - possibly refers to the fact that Catholics in Bezier were given oppurtunity to leave but refused and fought with the Cathars.
  The reference to the Templar Knights refers to the popular modern belief that there is a link between the Knights Templar, Cathars, and Montsequr.
  
  The Albigensian crusade was authorised by Pope Innocent III. Later on, The Inqusition in 1229 hung and burned Cathars. Heretic sympthisers and those who recanted were required to sew a yellow cross to their dress.
  In 1243-44 the Cathars were besieged at Montsegur by French Troops. The Cathars surrended and 200+ were burned en masse in a bonfire when they refused to renounce their faith.
  
  I couldnt figure out the possible meaning of the secret they took to the grave until I read this page. Thanks!
• Bradley from San Luis Obispo, CaI like the Song, but i can't sing along to the negative catholic comments. Even still, Iron Maiden isn't Against any religion, the song is about an event in history not about bashing a religion.
• Alberto from Carpi, ItalyAwesome powerful song, like most of Iron Maiden's. Moreover it's against Catholic Church, which is always a good thing.
• Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScWhen they talk about the Graaal in the songfacts, is is the same thing as the Holy Graal? That seems to be what it is, but I'm not certain.
• Simon from Adelaide, AustraliaI absolutly love this song but I would like to see some other Dance of Death songs, including the title song and new frontier!!!
• Devon from Westerville, Ohthe album dance of death is awesome. this song's intro is pretty sweet. Maiden is the ultimate metal band.
• Dave from London, EnglandThis is a fantastic song, from a fantastic album. Maiden back at their best:o)

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