Iron Maiden-9.Afraid To Shoot Strangers(Milan 1993)

Iron Maiden - Forum, Milan, Italy, May 9, 1993, during the '' A Real Live Tour'' 1993.
Afraid To Shoot Strangers (Harris)
Bruce Dickinson:Vocals
Steve Harris:Bass
Janick Gers:Guitar
Dave Murray:Guitar
Nicko McBrain:Drums
[Lyrics]
Lying awake at night I wipe the sweat from my brow
But it's not the fear 'cause I'd rather go now
Trying to visualise the horrors that will lay ahead
The desert sand mound a burial ground
When it comes to the time, are we partners in crime?
When it comes to the time, we'll be ready to die
God let us go now and finish what's to be done
Thy Kingdom come, thy shall be done... on Earth
Trying to justify to ourselves the reasons to go
Should we live and let live, forget or forgive?
But how can we let them go on this way?
The reign of terror corruption must end
And we know deep down there's no other way
No trust, no reasoning, no more to say
Afraid, afraid to shoot strangers
...........................................
'Afraid To Shoot Strangers' is a song from Iron Maiden's album ''Fear Of The Dark'',released in 1992.
Bruce Dickinson told the crowd at the Live At Donington concert what this song is about:
''[This song] was written about the people that fought in the Gulf War. It's a song about how shitty war is, and how shitty war is that it's started by politicians and has to be finished by ordinary people that don't really want to kill anybody. ''(Bruce Dickinson - 22nd August 1992)
Unlike most war songs that usually deal with the combat itself, like 'The Trooper', or with its terrible consequences, like 'The Aftermath' or Metallica's 'One', 'Afraid To Shoot Strangers' takes us into the mind of a soldier preparing for battle. Although he is nothing but an anonymous element of the powerful tool used by the government of his country and known as the Army, he remains human, with his feelings and his doubts. He's "trying to visualise the horrors that will lay ahead", the main one being the fact that he probably will have to kill (hence, "afraid to shoot strangers").
These verses are probably the worst written since those of 'Quest For Fire', with the dinosaurs walking the earth at the same time as Man. Not only in retrospect, but even at the time, it was obvious that the First Gulf War was not about ending a dictatorship, but about protecting (and controlling) the crude oil drilling in Kuwait. There's a "reign of terror, corruption" in many other countries, but no one is interested enough in ending any of them in any way. Steve's lyrics sound here like the headlines of The Sun or any other disgustingly jingoistic tabloid "trying to justify to [the gullible population] the reasons to go." It is obvious that the use of force can be necessary in certain situations and that "we know deep down there's no other way", but in the case of this particular war, such justification doesn't stand a close examination of the real reasons to engage in a conflict. What is a fantastic song musically is quite sadly somehow ruined by lyrics that seem to condone a rather dubious international action. ''
'Fear of the Dark' is the ninth studio album released by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It topped the UK albums chart. Released on 11 May 1992, it was the final studio album to feature Bruce Dickinson as lead vocalist who left the band following the album's support tour to pursue a solo career. He was succeeded by Blaze Bayley, formerly of Wolfsbane, for two studio albums until Dickinson returned to Iron Maiden for the 2000 release of Brave New World.

[@aosiha2266]

One of the best song of all time from the best metal band in this whole dawn universe... no comparison . I’m out, speechless...

[@yoritonakamura1960]

yee😂

[@eamonahern7495]

You know what? I think that was one of Janick's best solos.

[@Braz438]

Rock in Rio 1985 2001 2013 2019... MAIDEN!!!!!!

[@paes.landim.]

Amazing Dave Murray!

[@susannewilliamsson8339]

One of their most mesmerizing songs no doubt.....marvellous guitar harmonies, epic riffs and solos, thunderous drums, climbing bass-line and the lyrics: MASTERPIECE.....and THIS is why I´ve always called the Iron Maiden the true metal ICONS.....

[@franke6278]

susanne williamsson I 100% agree and like everything you say. You say everything I think about Iron Maiden. I wish I knew more people like you.

[@susannewilliamsson8339]

@@franke6278 I´m grateful for your words, they mean the world to me...

[@ritabogner4873]

Fantastic talented musician guys. .I like it .day'&night everytime!!!

[@susannewilliamsson8339]

Brilliant !! A gorgeous song, the gentle beginning, amazing riffs, solos, godgiven voice of Bruce...the melodic tension, changes in tempo, all of it really, absolutely breathtaking......an emotional epic !!!

[@JC-ol6bz]

I’ve seen Iron Maiden 3 times and they are my top favorite band

[@ritabogner4873]

Excellent Bruce!!!

[@sigui.habana]

this concert should be on dvd

[@joanperezgimenez6346]

Ernesto Redondo Castillero I have it in DVD.

[@rafaeldoamaralpeniche6290]

​@@joanperezgimenez6346compartilha uma cópia João?

[@AFABIANO1]

the most amazing version live this song. vocals of bruce is blue... amazing performance

[@maleasmalakomaleas4088]

By the years his voice gets better and better

[@ekasukesti9007]

💯💯💯💯👍👍👍👍😍😇

[@user-ry7vl1ji5l]

LA MEJOR BANDA DEL PLANETA!!! desde Peru

[@ritabogner4873]

Fantastic Power!!

[@j_freed]

This is one of the most Maiden of Maiden songs. Even with that long, drifty spacey intro. Hearing this in the car for the first time I really thought it was both pretty heavy and also arty as the best Genesis or Pink Floyd song.

[@rockmatanga1]

Maiden es la máquina perfecta del rock

[@maxfernandez1808]

Todas las bandas del mundo se rinden ante los pies de Maiden en esta obra maestra .

[@Darryl6636]

Great song I never heard this one before nice to hear Bruce sing something mellow for a change because he also does that very well

[@marccushing]

Precious. At least there were times when Bruce did a good job in this tour. Thanks!

[@user-sd5if8ii3z]

Ні, я помилилась. Ті 2 коментарі повинні були бути в 1. У брюса дікінсона і досі голос чистий і сильний. Видно, що не палить і не п'є. Молодець.

[@Carlosroberto-fc4wf]

Madein pra sempre!

[@markhancock4437]

Wish I could have been there!

[@ignaziovilardo8280]

Bellissima canzone Up the irons

[@janickbethyname666]

Good Voice mister Bruce :) 5/5

[@melinda75maid]

Thank you very much for the upload *-* Beautiful concert!!!!

[@ichalcorpse3662]

3:25 best part

[@wojtekmetal4ever398]

For me 6:11 part is also a great one, the crowd chanting loudly yeah, yeah, it always sends shivers down the spine

[@philvocal1]

Muito bom!

[@Niromwell]

and also Dave!!!!!!!

[@slevinprincejacksoniii2839]

So F3333C11K AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING IRON MAIDEN 4EVER 🙏🙏🇬🇧🇧🇷🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@pablobarboza7573]

Q temazo x dios

[@ms-iw8ox]

is just my mind or this guitar talks?

[@michagabrys7176]

czas na radykalne zmiany!

[@ichalcorpse3662]

lol omg Bruce looks like Jason Statham with long hair

[@arealgoodJoe]

@zeldaplayer15 me too man ,me too

[@bijumaniabiju6529]

BOLSONARO BRASIL 🇧🇷

[@d3moson3]

sigo creyendo que nací en la época equivocada........

[@MetalRock-lf8bc]

Dan Bruno yo igual nací el 2005

[@hugocantillohiguera2815]

Jóvenes, aquí si se considera verdadera la frase “Todo tiempo pasado fue mejor”. Tuve la fortuna de nacer 3 días antes que Bruce Dickinson , en el año 1958. Los que nacimos en esa década somos privilegiados de haber disfrutado desde sus inicios a las mejores bandas de todos los géneros del Rock, en especial a Iron Maiden !

[@budershank]

Grreat performance... but Bruce's moves are a bit.. odd in this one :)

[@mikeypiros6647]

Cause it was done by blaze originally.

[@budershank]

@@mikeypiros6647 I meant his dance moves around 4:04 :)