"The Trooper" is a song written by Iron Maiden bass player Steve Harris. It is Iron Maiden's ninth single, and the second from their 1983 album Piece of Mind. The single was released on June 20, 1983. The song is about the Battle of Balaclava in 1854 during the Crimean War, and is at least partially based upon Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade", taking the viewpoint of one of the slain troopers, who, in the cover art, is perceived as a bald Eddie with his lobotomy enhancements. Many Iron Maiden songs are based on books or movies; this seems to be a running theme in the band's work, especially songs written by Steve Harris.To this day, it is considered one of the band's best songs, and often when performed live Bruce Dickinson wears a replica army jacket and holds an enormous Union Flag. Sometimes, before playing the song live, Bruce Dickinson will read parts of the Tennyson's poem as an introduction. The poem was later referenced by Iron Maiden again in the song "Paschendale" from their 2003 album Dance of Death. This song was also one of only a few songs to get much radio airplay and to be a commercial hit in the US, thus peaking at # 28 on the US Mainstream Rock charts. This song, along with "Run to the Hills", was omitted from The Final Frontier World Tour set list to make room for their more recent material.The main song rhythm is very suggestive of horses galloping, to mirror the lyrical theme of the charge of the light brigade. What is also interesting is the dual lead fill between verses, this has the two guitarists, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, later replaced by Janick Gers, playing a diatonically harmonized lead fill, this gives the filler more depth. Since Smith's return in the band, the three guitarists play in 3-part harmony. The first solo is performed by Adrian Smith and by Janick Gers live from 1990 to 1999. Since 1999, they perform it together in harmony. The second one is played by Dave Murray and it also seems to have changed over the years. ******************************************************************* You take my life but I'll take yours too You fire your musket but I run you through So when you're waiting for the next attack You'd better stand there's no turning back. The bugle sounds - the charge begins But on this battlefield no one wins The smell of acrid smoke and horses breath As I plunge on into certain death. O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ohhh! O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ohhh! The horse he sweats with fear - we break to run The mighty roar of the Russian guns And as we race towards the human wall The screams of pain as my comrades fall. We hurdle bodies that lay on the ground And the Russians fire another round We get so near yet so far away We won't live to fight another day. O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ohhh! O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ohhh! We get so close near enough to fight When a Russian gets me in his sights He pulls the trigger and I feel the blow A burst of rounds take my horse below. And as I lay there gazing at the sky My body's numb and my throat is dry And as I lay forgotten and alone Without a tear I draw my parting groan. O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ohhh! O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ohhh! Lyrics courtesy of Sing365.com No copyright intended. I do not own this music.

• published: 15 Nov 2010
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