Iron Maiden - Montségur Lyrics






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

[Chorus:]
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

[Repeat chorus, 3rd verse]

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 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

[Repeat chorus]





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Iron Maiden Montségur Comments
  1. Y.... H....

    La cansion maravillosa Pero...... la portada. Mmmm flojita no me gusto mucho

  2. A.... ....

    I always play Cathar in Crusader Kings 2 thanks in great part to this song.

  3. D.... V....

    "In 1242 Hugues de Arcis led the military command of about 10,000 royal troops against the castle that was held by about 100 fighters and was home to 211 Perfects (who were pacifists and did not fight) and civilian refugees.[1] The siege lasted nine months, until in March 1244, the castle finally surrendered. Approximately 220 Cathars were burned en masse in a bonfire at the foot of the pog when they refused to renounce their faith. Some 25 actually took the ultimate Cathar vow of consolamentum perfecti in the two weeks before the final surrender."
    /Wikipedia.

  4. D.... M....

    Vatican killed all catar people. Because catars never believed catholic shits

  5. S.... P....

    This song is in my heart

  6. S.... S....

    this is about the innocent victims of the Cathar religion who were pacifists and would not give in to the Catholics.200 people burnt at the steak in Southen France.Maiden make people think not only superb musicians.up the irons

  7. T.... P....

    Very powerfull

  8. O.... C....

    That fucking cover.

  9. A.... C....

    Am i the only one that thinks the intro sounds a bit like naruto's theme?

  10. A.... J....

    Start of the song sound like rising fighting spirit

  11. S.... S....

    UP THE IRONS!

  12. T.... s....

    Damn I like it

  13. A.... a....

    Yes the commander of the catholic forces literally said those lines from the chorus when asked how they'd tell Cathar from Catholic.

  14. T.... U....

    I live near Montségur, in Foix, Ariège, and that's the first time I'm proud to live here. Makes me like the song even more !!!

  15. G.... L....

    I just live next to Montsegur. Come on in Occitanie visit us it's much better than Paris!

  16. D.... M....

    Definitely them going back to their Killers to Powerslave era in this song.

  17. A.... M....

    Best Maiden's album of the 00's in my opinion

  18. M.... ....

    My favorite Band 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎸

  19. T.... ....

    Everyone hates this song, but I think it's the most underrated song ever.

  20. C.... D....

    Essa é umas das belas músicas mais pesadas do.IRON MAIDEN ...Inesquecivel .

  21. V.... ....

    It's a naruto theme !

  22. T.... O....

    This song should have played live!

  23. L.... F....

    Fuck the cruisaders!

  24. D.... M....

    One of the best songs Janick ever wrote for Maiden.

  25. d.... ....

    if there are any german speaking folks here, that are into this perticular part of history: there's a highly interesting documentary on this topic called "Mysterien des Mittelalters: Der Kreuzzug gegen die Katharer" streamable from zdf.de for at least one more month.

    für die deutschsprachigen geschichtsinteressierten unter uns: sehr interessante doku über die katharer, abzurufen bei zdf.de unter dem namen "Mysterien des Mittelalters: Der Kreuzzug gegen die Katharer". sehr zu empfehlen, allerdings wohl nur noch einen monat online, also nix wie ran da ;)

  26. m.... ....

    24 priest fans

  27. R.... Z....

    The beginning sounds like The Fallen Angel

  28. M.... A....

    The intro sounds like naruto bgm. Haha

  29. T.... P....

    the 10 month siege of Montsegur after order by the Pope ...Among the prisoners they're were 250 Cathars who stayed true to their beliefs , so they burned them at the stake.,

  30. L.... D....

    3:40 solo de born in 58

  31. w.... d....

    I can't believe it's been 15 years since this album was released :/, and btw such an underrated song

  32. J.... D....

    prat des crémats

  33. A.... N....

    This song denounces the Catholic inquisition that murdered over 60,000 evangelical Christians who challenged Catholic heresies. From: São Paulo Brazil = Esta música denuncia a inquisição católica que assassinou mais de 60 mil cristãos evangélicos que desafiavam as heresias católicas

    A.... N....

    actually evangelicals didn't even exist in the middle ages and this song is about the Cathars, who believed the material world was created by Satan, and human souls were genderless angels trapped in physical form and destined to be reincarnated until they achieved salvation

  34. S.... D....

    1:15 favorite part

  35. N.... P....

    At the beginning it sounds like Dave Mustaine hijacked the recording and then walked away when the lyrics started. That riff is so Megadeth it's not even funny.

  36. H.... O....

    This riff inspired the book of souls (the music)

  37. t.... ....

    "It was reported that Amalric, when asked how to distinguish Cathars from Catholics, responded, 'Kill them all! God will know his own.' "

  38. A.... D....

    "The book of old testament crippled and black" - Knowing what the Cathars believed about the evil of the Old Testament and the evil of the God of the Jews, I wonder what Bruce's intensions were with this lyric considering this is a seemingly pro Cathar song.

    A.... D....

    I think that the song is more anti-Catholic rather than pro-Cathar.

  39. m.... ....

    i just don't know why they never played it live.........i cannot understand....

  40. a.... ....

    Immortality is Iron Maiden!

  41. M.... ....

    It's been said already, but the guitar intro is straight from Powerslave era

  42. W.... ....

    One of the most underrated Maiden songs, a real shame they never played it live.

    W.... ....

    Stop saying that!! Prague, Book of Souls part one tour. I was there!!

  43. D.... ....

    3:42 IT'S JUST AWESOMEE! *____*

  44. t.... ....

    Seriously sounds like something straight off powerslave...

    t.... ....

    wow, never thought of that, but you're right

    t.... ....

    tehCostHD i think at 3:44 it sounds straight out of killers

    t.... ....

    Specifically Losfer Words - Big ‘Orrah

  45. P.... H....

    For some reason dance of death isn't on Spotify anymore

  46. O.... ....

    To know the geopolitical context of the Battle of Montsegur (1244), last stronghold Cathar taken by the French (Saint Louis) during the Occitan wars, you have the details in this video: History of Occitania - The Thirteenth Century

  47. G.... ....

    Up the Irons! ^_^

  48. g.... e....

    great song but the Dance of Death album cover is just so terrible...

    g.... e....

    I remember when the image was first released, I thought the cover was hidden by rubbish CGI figures to avoid giving away the exact form of the cover. It was a bit of a surprise when the CD arrived and the figures were all still there.

    g.... e....

    They got Derek Riggs back for the BNW covers, but he only did Eddie, which was applied to the rest of the art. He did a much better Wicker Man illustration which apparently the band didn't like, hence the one chosen which more closely resembles that from the Wicker Man film.

    g.... e....

    @TayR0C The cover for A Matter of Life and Death is pretty cool imo.

    g.... e....

    @Haloid Kusnetsov yeah, it is. I don't remember even saying that. Also, FOTD has a great cover.
    Weird

    g.... e....

    @TayR0C are you kidding? What's shitty in 90's covers?

  49. I.... C....

    lovely and heavy.

  50. e.... r....

    Albigeois, remember 12 agust 1209.

  51. D.... A....

    Here is the answer to all Janick haters, the lad is a hell of a guitarist.

    D.... A....

    Who should have left in 1999.

    D.... A....

    Janick sends a hell of a great solo to his haters 🎸🎸

  52. P.... m....

    i'm living in front of montségur ^^ watching it every day ^^

    P.... m....

    veron morgan
    Wow.Super.
    I have wish to visit castle Montsegur.

    P.... m....

    I wanna go one day.., looks like such a tragic place.. I'd like to go pay my respects..

    P.... m....

    KGODSMACKC go,show respect.

    P.... m....

    That's a beautiful place to live

  53. T.... A....

    love this song!!!

  54. V.... K....

    Yes, I agree with most people, who have commented. This is bloody great song. And the history it reflects - all christians should hear this.

    V.... K....

    +Veli-Pekka Kultanen Catholics

    V.... K....

    +chloe davis agree.i am christened in catholic church but after reading the bible and all known gospels....The pope and church doesn't mean much to me.but they played a very important roles in defending Europe against invasions of all kinds.so not everything was wrong.

    V.... K....

    If it wasn't for Christians, Europe would be Islamic, so you wouldn't have the right to listen to music to begin with. Of course, this is happening right now and PCness is letting it happen, but that's another story...

    V.... K....

    @hugolafhugolaf christianity+ islam= middleeastern religions with little differences that directly or indirectly cause millions of deaths.

    P.s it has been claimed that islam wouldnt even exist but for christianity... What do you have to say to that?

    V.... K....

    If it wasn't for christians there wouldn't be an islam in the first place.

  55. A.... U....

    I think this is THE most underrated Iron Maiden song

    A.... U....

    i think almost all songs of iron maiden songs are the most underrated songs of iron maiden songs.

    A.... U....

    i agree.

    A.... U....

    Agreed, along with Journeyman, and pretty much every track on Virtual XI apart from Clansman and Futureal.

    A.... U....

    I agree perfectly

    A.... U....

    @Long-eared Bat anal treatment...?

  56. S.... ....

    Hats off to the creator of this great band Steve Harris and his troopers!!!!! NWOBHM!!!

  57. J.... ....

    Bruce is just too fucking good.

  58. T.... O....

    Great song!

    Worst album cover ever

    T.... O....

    Probably Ed Hunter. *shudders*

    T.... O....

    The idea is actually really cool. Sadly the execution is ass.

    T.... O....

    actually they had a complete, finished version but the band said they want the unfinished one which is this one

    T.... O....

    I think the idea is brilliant but it should have been drawn like most of the other maiden album covers.

    T.... O....

    Steve Harris was actually the one who decided to keep the album cover this way. The Artist who was making this gave them a rough render (the current cover) to show the band about what it would look like. Steve Harris liked it so much that he decided to use the rough render. The artist did not credit himself for the work because of how embarrassing it is. Always makes me wonder how cool the final rendering could have looked like.

  59. J.... L....

    seriously underrated album, this is one of my all time favorite maiden songs

    J.... L....

    dance of death is number 5 on my top 5 Maiden album list

    J.... L....

    #Seventh son of s seventh son (the song)

    J.... L....

    John Last while I think this album is a mixed bag overall, there are still some great and underrated tracks, this very much included. another showcase of janick's underappreciated writing prowess

  60. b.... ....

    When that third guitar harmony comes in at 4:55.....perfection!

    b.... ....

    +bmw66674134 YES!!

    b.... ....

    The one at 3:42 is amazing as well, it gives me asmr everytime!

  61. P.... M....

    Merci Franz !!!

  62. J.... W....

    nice dark maiden song \m/

  63. N.... ....

    Hell.  YES.

  64. W.... B....

    One of Bruce's best vocal performances of all time!

    W.... B....

    Imo The Talisman isn't far

    W.... B....

    Every song Bruce sings is his best performance!

  65. j.... f....

    4:05 this part sounds like it's in 4/4 time which the rest of the song is not (it's all in 3/4) - how very fucking Steve Harris, hahah...

    j.... f....

    @J.I Levula Same. I can only agree we're hearing it differently because triplets don't divide into four no matter what. You can think of this song - much the guitar solo section of "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" - as either 6 or 12 beats to a bar, or as a very fast 3/4 (semantics).
    OK I just looked at sheet music, it is 12/8. That's a 3 base not a 4. Best, J.
    http://www.musicaneo.com/data/upload/99858_w_560x720.jpeg

    j.... f....

    They're 12th not 16th notes. Like Where Eagles Dare, or most of the song Phantom Of The Opera (except the bridge 'Keep your distance...') The digg-it-ta digg-it-a rhythm I was describing IS the 3- (or 6 or 12-) beat base (not a 4, 8 or 16). Maiden do these a lot, and they do a 4/4 gallop a lot - each is different feel.

    j.... f....

    @jonas brave Let's just agree to disagree. All the best to you, man :)

    j.... f....

    @jonas brave Don't know what school of rhythm you hail from but Ancient Mariner is 4/4 except the spoken word bit in the middle which is 3/4.

    j.... f....

    Don't know what you're on about mate. In case it had never occurred to you, Maiden produce the heavy metal version of football anthems (see Steve Harris' obsession with Westham). Can you imagine a bunch of Maiden/football fans chanting along to a waltz e.g. 'The blue Danube'? in 3/4 time? Lol get real. All (nearly) Maiden tracks are in 4/4 time, it's just that McBrain is a brilliant drummer, and the galloping effect comes from Harris' bass playing style. Complex timings don't sell. If you want that go check out Stranglers' Golden Brown, or otherwise Wagner  (e.g. Ride of the Valkyries) or some Jazz. 

  66. A.... R....

    I wish maiden would make a thrash album.

  67. 0.... O....

    Speed X1.25 is much faster and heavier. 

  68. M.... P....

    It SO unfair this song was never played live...

    M.... P....

    Richter Siegfried this very well had to do with ones natural vocal range. For me being a tenor, it's doable, but still not easy....I'll tell you that . Peace

    M.... P....

    Oh my fucking god, that is exactly what I was thinking this whole time

    M.... P....

    It was played in Prague a few years ago. I was there. I sang along. Fucking brilliant!!

    M.... P....

    At Bruce's age, singing this live is most likely impossible. Too high. He could screw up the song, like he did with Flight of Icarus back in 1985. Don't get me wrong, big IM fan. But I know when they do something bad.

    M.... P....

    Agreed. I saw them 2 nights in a row on this tour & was gutted they didn't play it live.

  69. J.... T....

    Not only so metal, but historically accurate. Well-researched. This event took place in 1244. I can't imagine that this song wasn't written anywhere but inside the ruins of Montsegur itself. One very amazing piece of music!

    J.... T....

    Agreed! !!

    J.... T....

    The people who were burnt alive by the French Catholic were somewhat my ancestors since I was born few kilometres away from this remote place. I still speak our language but unfortunately it's dying out. It's like if the French have killed us twice.

    J.... T....

    The inside of the castle is a magical place, I agree

    J.... T....

    @chongtak just keep speaking it, no?

    J.... T....

    @Petr Vasilev Right, but it's harder and harder since France has systematically destroyed our efforts to keep our culture and language alive since the invasion. The same can be said about people in Basque country, Corsica, Catalunya, Britany and other places.

  70. M.... R....

    Amazing solo!

  71. G.... ....

    Favorite album. Mainly because of Rainmaker, Montsegur, Dance of Death and Passchendael

    G.... ....

    And journeyman

    G.... ....

    I also like age of innocence and no more lies. The intro song is not good imo though :(

    G.... ....

    No more lies?

    G.... ....

    Age of innocence is criminally underrated too

    G.... ....

    Those are nice tracks. The rest is dull

  72. s.... ....

    Milicie Templi!!!

  73. L.... T....

    I want a new album from them ALL MEDIEVAL.

    Lately they did stuff with "modern days" flavour (A matter of) and with futuristic and sci-fi taste (Final Frontier), now I WANT MEDIEVAL TIMES.

    Only them can do the RIGHT album, with stones, musk, demons from crypts, little legends from the ancient times creeping all around, that sense of adventure, of sincere love for details in descriptions of monsters or places or feelings.

    \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/

  74. S.... C....

    This album had the potential to fail, but this is one of the songs that revived the fuck out of it. So fucking metal. Rock on, Bruce. Rock on, Dave. Rock on, Steve. Rock on, Nicko. Rock on, Maiden!

  75. R.... V....

    Killer riff.

  76. O.... S....

    ROYALTY!!!

  77. G.... P....

    Bruce, now that you own a Cl215, (and I flew the one you own ) why not make a song on it?

  78. N.... R....

    oh wow, what a great song... I read about Castle of Montségur and the katars... they were judged as heretics but they had precious knowledge...

  79. D.... �....

    Holy shit. Your name is Susan!

  80. d.... i....

    Thats my daughter

  81. J.... H....

    My favorite from Dance of Death. Awesome song!!!

    J.... H....

    mine too

  82. R.... T....

    UP THEM IRONS

  83. T.... W....

    That's Rock bitch !!!!!!

  84. S.... D....

    yeahhh!! hahaha

  85. o.... ....

    March 16. 1244. Remember the victims.

  86. n.... ....

    lol. that would be kinda awesome for her if she was.

  87. t.... ....

    are you his daughter?

  88. S.... D....

    100% DICKINSON!

  89. l.... ....

    IRON MAIDEN FOREVER AND EVER. THE BEST BAND IN FUCKING UNIVERSE.