Iron Maiden-7.Holy Smoke(Philadelphia 1991)

Iron Maiden - Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Jan. 29, 1991, during the '' No Prayer On The Road Tour'' 1990-1991.

Holy Smoke (Harris, Dickinson)

Bruce Dickinson:Vocals
Steve Harris:Bass
Janick Gers:Guitar
Dave Murray:Guitar
Nicko McBrain:Drums

[Lyrics]

Believe in me send no money
I died on the cross and that ain't funny
But my so-called friends are making me a joke
They missed out what I said like I never spoke
They choose what they wanna hear don't tell a lie
They just leave out the truth as they're watching you die
Saving your souls by taking your money
Flies round shit, bees around honey

Holy smoke, holy smoke
Plenty bad preachers for the Devil to stoke
Feed'em in feet first this is no joke
This is thirsty work making holy smoke

Jimmy Reptile and all his friends
Say they gonna be with you at the end
Burning records burning books
Holy soldiers Nazi looks
Crocodile smiles just wait a while
Till the TV Queen gets her make up clean
I've lived in filth I've lived in sin
And I still smell cleaner that the shit you're in

Holy smoke, holy smoke
Plenty bad preachers for the Devil to stoke
Feed'em in feet first this is no joke
This is thirsty work making holy smoke

They ain't religious but they ain't no fools
When Noah built his Cadillac it was cool
Two by two they're still going down
And the satellite circus just left town
I think they're strange and when they're dead
They can have a Lincoln for their bed
Friend of the President trick of the tail
Now they ain't got a prayer 100 years in jail

Holy smoke, holy smoke
Plenty bad preachers for the Devil to stoke
Feed'em in feet first this is no joke
This is thirsty work making holy smoke
...........................................
'Holy Smoke' is a song from Iron Maiden's album ''No Prayer For The Dying'',released in 1990.

''I've got a book by Jimmy Swaggart at home, Music: The New Pornography, with a big picture of Steve on the front! It was sent to me by a Bible-basher and a quite sincere letter came with it, very sincere. She sent me a copy of the Holy Bible, which was good because I didn't have one and I needed one to research for some songs. ''(Bruce Dickinson)

''This is about TV preachers and all the various lies they tell and I just had this big image of all those ovens in the death camps with the preachers' feet sticking out and holy smoke going up.'' (Bruce Dickinson)

''Holy Smoke' is a religion-mocking song, in the same vein as Metallica's 'Leper Messiah' and 'The God That Failed'. The song focuses on the greed and hypocrisy of T.V. preachers and the lyrics are actually very sharp and intelligent.

The first verse is obviously looking at the preachers from Jesus's point of view (whether or not he has really existed seems to remain open to speculation and some links provided may help to gain further insight into this matter). Basically, he's not impressed to realise that some unscrupulous characters are making money out of what was originally a free charity and a message of love and tolerance. Many preachers are more interested in "Saving your souls by taking your money" than in anything else and it's obvious that "They ain't religious but they ain't no fools". Those who want to get rich out of others' gullibility are probably in the best trade to become millionaires.

Unfortunately the lyrics of 'Holy Smoke' are not enough to save this song, which lacks that elusive deep and compelling mood. Maiden don't seem to be at their best with political or contemporary subjects instead their strength resides more in History, films, and literature.''

'No Prayer for the Dying' is the eighth studio album by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It is the first album recorded following the departure of guitarist Adrian Smith who left the band during the pre-production phase of the album. Smith does have one co-writing credit on this album, for "Hooks in You", the third installment of the ongoing story of Charlotte the Harlot. The album ushered in a change of vocal style for Bruce Dickinson from the operatic sound of the '80s to a raspier way of singing.

'No Prayer for the Dying' also produced Maiden's only number one single to date, "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter", originally written and recorded by Dickinson alone for the A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child movie soundtrack. The version that appears on No Prayer for the Dying was rerecorded by the band as a whole. "Holy Smoke" and "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" were released as singles, with the latter reaching the #1 position in the UK charts.

Adrian Smith was replaced by Janick Gers who had assisted Dickinson in the recording of his first solo-album, Tattooed Millionaire, and had also worked with Fish and Ian Gillan, among others.