A heavy metal plea from a mind on the edge, with Bruce Dickinson's voice cutting through the storm.
This isn't a song about winning a battle.
It's about being worn down by one that started before you were born.
Lyric guide
Stratego
A heavy metal plea from a mind on the edge, with Bruce Dickinson's voice cutting through the storm.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
Quick meaning
A fast read before the full lyric
Editor's note
Iron Maiden's 'Stratego' and the Devil's Track
A heavy metal plea from a mind on the edge, with Bruce Dickinson's voice cutting through the storm.
Ocean is black the devil's track
This isn't a song about winning a battle. It's about being worn down by one that started before you were born. The resignation in 'I think I've lost my mind' feels more exhausted than defiant.
The phrase 'Ocean is black the devil's track' repeats like a grim anchor. It's not just scenery; it's where the fight happens, 'beneath the sea' and in the 'eye of the storm.' The narrator's stuck there, bearing a 'cross' and a 'heavy faith' that won't quit.
That line paints the whole landscape in one stroke. It's not a metaphor you unpack; it's just the color of the water where this story drowns.
Dickinson's delivery on 'Pray for me I'm almost there' carries a real weight, less a shout for help than a tired admission.
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Listen for
What to keep in your ear
the pull of "I think I've lost my mind"
how "Ocean is black the devil's track" turns into a mantra
the pull of "beneath the sea"
Lyrics
Stratego
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
How do you read a madman's mind
Teach me the art of war
For I shall bring more
Than you bargained for
Give me an ultimatum
That I could not dream of
Spills of a crying nation
Upon my soul
For I have not a mortal soul
That you already know
Look at my eyes
There’s no surprise
Ocean is black the devil's track
Looking beyond beneath the sea
Eye of the storm is here again
Been there before you were ever born
Beyond the dark I feel the pain
It's hidden but I can’t explain
A cross to bear
A heavy faith
My sorrow whispers
Time again
I hear you calling my name
Come to claim my life again
Pray for me I'm almost there
The pain almost too much to bear
I try to find my way back home
To feel the same again
The voice of nothing
Listened far too long
Little by little eat away
I think I've lost my mind
Too late to change now
What I left behind
Hear me listen my call
I am ready to fall
Lord hear me now
Let me go
Ocean is black the devil's track
Looking beyond beneath the sea
Eye of the storm is here again
Been there before you were ever born
Beyond the dark I feel the pain
It's hidden but I can't explain
A cross to bear
A heavy faith
My sorrow whispers
Time again
Quick answers
What this page can answer fast
What is "Stratego" by Iron Maiden about?
A heavy metal plea from a mind on the edge, with Bruce Dickinson's voice cutting through the storm. This isn't a song about winning a battle. It's about being worn down by one that started before you were born.
Who performs "Stratego"?
Iron Maiden performs "Stratego", and this lyric page sits inside the Iron Maiden catalog on LyroVerse.
Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for "Stratego"?
Yes. The page carries the LyroVerse editor's note "Iron Maiden's 'Stratego' and the Devil's Track", followed by the full lyric and related songs.
Are there related songs to explore after "Stratego"?
Yes. The related section below points to Run To The Hills and Flight Of Icarus with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Iron Maiden?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Iron Maiden's lyric pages.
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