"The Trooper" by Iron Maiden

Charge into battle with Iron Maiden's "The Trooper"! This iconic 1983 Heavy Metal anthem features one of metal's most recognizable galloping guitar riffs and historical themes. Inspired by poetry, its relentless energy and powerful storytelling make it an enduring fan favorite and live spectacle for the legendary band.

Released as a hit single from Iron Maiden's 1983 album Piece of Mind (drummer Nicko McBrain's first with the band), "The Trooper" instantly became a Heavy Metal classic. Written by bassist Steve Harris, it exemplifies the New Wave of British Heavy Metal sound with its signature galloping rhythm, harmonized twin lead guitars, and Bruce Dickinson’s commanding operatic vocals soaring over the mix.

Inspired by Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade," "The Trooper" vividly depicts the chaos and doomed bravery of the historic cavalry charge during the Crimean War from a soldier's viewpoint. A perennial highlight of Iron Maiden's live shows, often featuring dramatic flag-waving by Dickinson, the song's iconic riffs ensure its lasting legacy as one of metal's greatest anthems.

SONG MEANING: "The Trooper" recounts the harrowing experience of a British cavalry soldier participating in the historically disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War, drawing direct inspiration from Tennyson's famous poem. The lyrics provide a visceral first-person perspective of the battlefield chaos, the sounds of the charge ("The bugle sounds"), facing enemy fire ("Musket cracks"), the inevitability of death, and the soldier's final moments ("As I lay dying...").