THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

666-Iron Maiden-Can I Play with Madness.

1988-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 2.41.As the old saying goes,’It’s heads down and I’ll see you at the other end.’At least I think it’s an old saying, although it is just possible I made it up myself.

Iron Maiden were formed in 1975 in Leyton, London, England by Steve Harris, they have had 11 members come and go, and remain active to this day. The classic lineup would probably be, Steve Harris (bass and keyboards,) Dave Murray (guitars,) Adrian Smith (guitars and keyboards,) Bruce Dickinson (vocals,) Nicko McBrain (drums,) and Janick Gers (guitars.) They have released 16 studio Albums to date, five of which have reached Number 1 in the UK. They have also achieved 34 top 40 UK singles, including their 1990 Number 1,’Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter.’

‘Can I Play with Madness’is taken from the bands seventh studio Album,’Seventh Son of a Seventh Son,’ from 1988. The Album in the main is a concept Album, with this song being part of it’s theme of the mysticism surrounding the folklore concept of being the ‘seventh sons of a seventh son, it is also the first Iron Maiden Album to include the use of keyboards.

The song was co-written by Smith, Dickinson and Harris, and tells the story of a young man wanting to learn his future from an old prophet with a crystal ball. The young man is suffering from visions and nightmares, and thinks he is going mad, but when the young man thinks that the prophets advise is lies, they become angry with each other.

‘Give me the sense to wonder, to wonder if I’m free. Give me a sense of wonder., to know I can be me.’