Bruce Dickinson – Man of Sorrows Lyrics | Genius Lyrics

Man of Sorrows Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Here in a church
A small boy is kneeling
He prays to a God
He does not know, he cannot feel
All of his sins of childhood
He will remember
He will not cry, tears he will not cry

[Chorus]
Man of sorrows, I won't see your face
Man of sorrows, you left without a trace
His small boy wonders
What was it all about?
Is your journey over?
Has it just begun?

[Verse 2]
The vision of a new world
From the ashes of the old
Do what thou wilt
He screams from his cursed soul
A tortured seer
A prophet of our emptiness
Wondering why, wondering why
[Chorus]
Man of sorrows, I won't see your face
(I won't see your face)
Man of sorrows, you left without a trace
His small boy wonders
What was it all about?
Is your journey over?
Has it just begun?

[Instrumental Break]

[Bridge]
A man of sorrows
Wrecked with thoughts
That dare not speak their name
Trapped inside a body
Made to feel only guilt and shame
His anger all his life
I hate myself, he cried
Do what thou wilt
Do what thou wilt, he cried

[Chorus]
Man of sorrows, I won't see your face
(I won't see your face)
Man of sorrows, you left without a trace
(Left without a trace)
His small boy wonders
What was it all about?
Is your journey over?
Has it just begun?
[Chorus]
Man of sorrows, I won't see your face
(I won't see your face)
Man of sorrows, you left without a trace
(Left without a trace)
His small boy wonders
What was it all about?
Is your journey over?
Has it just begun?

[Outro]
Has it just begun?

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About

Genius Annotation

“Man of Sorrows” was about the young Aleister Crowley, Aleister Crowley as a boy. And what kind of feelings turn a twelve year old boy into, basically what inspires a twelve year old boy to make a life choice: ‘Hey, what do you want to be when you grow up?’ ‘I want to be the Antichrist.’

Bruce Dickinson

Aleister Crowley was an occultist and founder of Thelema. He considered himself to be the Antichrist. His most famous quote is; “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law”, part of which is sung in the song.

The title refers to a passage in the Bible, Isaiah 53:3, where someone is called a man of sorrows.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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