Ghost of the Navigator Lyrics
I have sailed to many lands
Now I make my final journey
On the bow, I stand
West is where I go
Through the night, I plough
Still my heart, calculate and pray
As the compass swings, my will is strong
I will not be led astray
[Hook 1]
Mysteries of time, clouds that hide the sun
But I know, but I know, but I know
[Pre-Chorus]
I see the ghosts of navigators, but they are lost
As they sail into the sunset, they'll count the cost
As their skeletons accusing emerge from the sea
The sirens of the rocks, they beckon me
[Chorus]
Take my heart and set it free
Carried forward by the waves
Nowhere left to run, navigator's son
Chasing rainbows all my days
I only know the place I've been
Dreams, they come and go, ever shall be so
Nothing's real until you feel
[Verse 2]
I steer between the crashing rocks
The sirens call my name
Lash my hands onto the helm
Blood surging with the strain
I will not fail now
As sunrise comes, the darkness left behind
For eternity, I follow on, there is no other way
[Hook 1]
Mysteries of time, clouds that hide the sun
But I know, but I know, but I know
[Pre-Chorus]
I see the ghosts of navigators, but they are lost
As they sail into the sunset, they'll count the cost
As their skeletons accusing emerge from the sea
The sirens of the rocks, they beckon me
[Chorus]
Take my heart and set it free
Carried forward by the waves
Nowhere left to run, navigator's son
Chasing rainbows all my days
I only know the place I've been
Dreams they come and go, ever shall be so
Nothing's real until you feel
[Pre-Chorus]
I see the ghosts of navigators, but they are lost
As they sail into the sunset, they'll count the cost
As their skeletons accusing emerge from the sea
The sirens of the rocks, they beckon me
[Chorus]
Take my heart and set it free
Carried forward by the waves
Nowhere left to run, navigator's son
Chasing rainbows all my days
Where I go, I do not know
I only know the place I've been
Dreams they come and go, ever shall be so
Nothing's real until you feel
About
This song is another maritime epic from Iron Maiden in the same vein as “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”.
The lyrics are a metaphor for life, with the ship sailing west towards the setting sun representing death. The titular “Ghost of the Navigator” could be an allusion to all those who go through life without truly realizing it, being therefore lost and not in control of their navigation.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
I wrote the thing, the verse and the chorus, with Jan and he came up with this riff, and I just got this thing in my head of, like, Vikings!. Like smashing through the seas, big boats and pioneers. Then I thought about navigation. So being a vaguely arty bloke on occasions it struck me as a metaphor for life, so suddenly I had a plot for the song. It was a great epic sea-faring journey and the journey was life and the navigator was us. As we were writing it, Steve said ‘that’s a really cool middle bit, and we can have this bit in it too’, and I really liked it. I do not know if he was on the same wavelength as me but it sounds to me like a big storm. I’ve already got the navigator lashed to the helm so as not to be tempted by the sirens on the rocks trying to distract him, trying not to be distracted by all the ghosts of the other navigators, the ghosts of his subconscious, the ghosts of his failed aspirations, and also his own fears that it may all be pointless when he gets there. He does it because he must, that’s the only real answer he can possibly give.
- 2.Ghost of the Navigator
- 8.The Nomad
