Iron Maiden-2.The Prisoner(Club L'Amour,NY 1988)

Iron Maiden - Club L'Amour, Brooklyn, New York, US, May 08, 1988, during the ''Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour'' 1988.

The Prisoner (Smith, Harris)

Bruce Dickinson:Vocals
Steve Harris:Bass
Dave Murray:Guitar
Adrian Smith:Guitar
Nicko McBrain:Drums

[Lyrics]

We want information... information... information...
Who are you? The new number two.
Who is number one? You are number six.
I am not a number! I am a free man!

I'm on the run I kill to eat
I'm starving now feeling dead on my feet
Going all the way I'm nature's beast
Do what I want I'll do as I please

Run, fight, to breathe it's tough
Now you see me now you don't break the walls I'm coming out

Not a prisoner I'm a free man and my blood is my own now
Don't care where the past was I know where I'm going... Out!

If you kill me it's self defence
If I kill you then I call it vengeance
Spit in your eye I will defy
You'll be afraid when I call out your name

Run, fight, to breathe it's gonna be tough
Now you see me now you don't break the walls, I'm coming out

Not a prisoner I'm a free man and my blood is my own now
Don't care where the past was I know where I'm going
Not a number I'm a free man I'll live my life how I want to
You'd better scratch me from your black book 'cause I'll run rings around you

Not a prisoner I'm a free man and my blood is my own now
Don't care where the past was I know where I'm going
Not a number I'm a free man live my life where I want to
You'd better scratch me from your black book 'cause I'll run rings around you

Not a prisoner I'm a free man and my blood is my own now
Don't care where the past was I know where I'm going
....................................................

''The opening for this song is from the actual Prisoner T.V. series with Patrick McGoohan. Adrian took the solo on this one and it's one of his favourites. It's a very strong live number, although we don't play it on the set now. ''(Steve Harris)

Inspired by the 17-episode British TV cult-series of the same name starring Patrick McGoohan, 'The Prisoner' begins with the famous spoken dialogue that also constitutes the introduction of every episode of the series. The full transcript is:

Where am I? In The Village.
What do you want? Information.
Which side are you on? That would be telling.

We want information... information... information...
You won't get it. By hook or by crook we will.
Who are you? The new number two.
Who is number one?You are number six.
I am not a number! I am a free man!

A great drum rhythm and heavy guitar lead into this relatively fast-paced song of individuality, defiance, and freedom. While the song itself is fairly average (by Maiden standards), guitar solos in this song are absolutely inspired.

Mick Wall explains in the authorised biography of the band how they managed to get permission to use the intro dialogue from Patrick McGoohan himself:

'' [...] the recording of Number Of The Beast, like any Maiden album, also had its lighter moments, none more memorable than the evening Rod sat down to phone actor Patrick McGoohan and ask for his permission to use a recording of his voice on the album. Taking its title from the name of the cult '60s TV series, the band had come up with the idea of prefacing 'The Prisoner' with McGoohan (who played the central character, known simply as Number Six) uttering his famous catchphrase from the show: "I am not a number, I am a free man!" DJ Tommy Vance had helped out by lending them an original recording of the quote from the show, but they still needed McGoohan's permission before they could go ahead.

Steve recalls how, for once, their unflappable manager looked almost star-struck as he nervously dialled on the phone. "Oh, bloody 'ell," Rod moaned later. "It's alright dealing with these arsehole rock stars, but he's a real bona fide superstar actor. I was fucking terrified!" The rest of the band watched and laughed as Rod hesitantly began explaining the details to the actor, who was speaking from his home in Los Angeles. "What was the band's name again?" he asked. "Iron Maiden," Rod replied. "A rock band, you say," McGoohan mused. "Do it!" he snapped in the most imperious manner of his TV character and hung up the phone. So they did.''

Mick Wall (2001) Run To The Hills The Authorised Biography of Iron Maiden Revised Edition p. 227.

Ironically, the Prisoner manages to escape from the Village at the end of the song ("Not a prisoner I'm a free man, and my blood is my own now, don't care where the past was, I know where I'm going"), only to find himself back to square one in the 1984 song 'Back in the Village' on the Powerslave album. This particular twist of the tale is reminiscent of the seventh episode of the series, where Number Six escapes only to find himself tricked into returning to the Village. ''